Russel Tarr from Classtools has devised another great tool for teachers and students. The new Image Hotspot Generator on Classtools makes it easy to add interactive annotations to every photo that you upload to the site. The annotations that you add to your images can contain text and links. Your annotated images can be shared by embedding them in a blog post or web page, as I did below. Your annotated images can also be shared by simply spreading the URL assigned to them.
Using the Image Hotspot Generator is easy. You do not have to register to use the tool. Go to classtools.net/hotspot/ and then click the upload button at the bottom of the page and then upload the image that you want to annotate. Once your image has been uploaded, click on it where you want an annotation to appear. Click on the Save button when you have finished adding all your annotations. When you click Save, you will be asked to choose a password for your project, remember that password if you want to go back later and edit your annotations later. Click on the embed button to get an embed code, a QR code and a URL for your annotated image.
Applications for education
The Image Hotspot Generator can be a great tool for students to annotate all kinds of images, diagrams and maps. Because it does not require e-mail address or student information, it can be used at any level. I see the Image Hotspot Generator being used in a geography lesson to get students to make annotated maps. In a biology lesson, students were able to use the Image Hotspot Generator to create interactive diagrams of cells. In an art class, students can use the Image Hotspot Generator to identify and label techniques or important aspects of an artwork.
