How can I use Flip Cards and Hotspots to make course content more interactive? (Creator+)

Using Flip Cards to Review Key Concepts

Flip Cards allow instructors to present a term, concept, or question on the front of a card and reveal additional information on the back when students interact with it. This format works well when introducing new terminology or reviewing important ideas.

For example, a nutrition lesson might introduce major nutrient groups using Flip Cards.

Flip Cards allow students to review concepts one at a time rather than reading through a long list of definitions.

Using Hotspots to Explore Visual Content

Hotspots allow instructors to add clickable points to an image. When students select a point, additional information appears. This makes hotspots especially useful for diagrams, maps, or visual models.

In a nutrition course, an instructor might use a MyPlate diagram to help students explore the different food groups in a balanced meal.

Students could click each section of the plate to learn more about the role that food group plays in a healthy diet.

For example:

How to Add Flip Cards in Talon

Flip Cards are most effective when each card focuses on a single concept or key term.

1. Navigate to the Content area in Talon and open the page where you would like to add the Flip Cards.
2. Select Edit HTML or Create New File. 
   
3.  Place your cursor where you want the Flip Cards to appear in the content.
   
4. Click the paintbrush/pencil icon. 
5. Click Insert Element in the Creator+ toolbar. 
   
6. From the list of Creator+ elements, select Flip Cards.
   
7. Choose the layout style you want (for example, a grid of cards).
8. Enter the text that will appear on the front of the card. This is typically the term, concept, or question.
9. Enter the text that will appear on the back of the card. This usually includes the definition, explanation, or answer.
10. Add additional cards by selecting Add Card until you have included all of your concepts.
11. When finished, select Done and then Save your page.
    

How to Add Hotspots

Hotspots work best when the image clearly represents a concept or process and when only a few clickable points are used. Hotspots are most effective when the image clearly represents a process, structure, or visual model.

1. Navigate to the Content area in Talon and open the page where you want to add the image interaction.
   
2. Select Edit HTML or Create New File. 
   
3.  Place your cursor where you want the Hotspot to appear in the content.
   
4. Click the paintbrush/pencil icon. 
5. Click Insert Element in the Creator+ toolbar. 
6. Select Hotspots from the list of Creator+ elements.
7. Upload an image or select one from your course files.
8. Once the image appears, click on the image to add a hotspot point.
9. Enter a title and description for the information that will appear when students click the hotspot.
10. Repeat this process to add additional hotspot points to different parts of the image.
    
11. 

    You will need to add alternative text for the overall image and for each hotspot by clicking "Accessibility" otherwise it will not allow you to save.
12. When finished adding hotspots, select Done and then Save the page.

Ideas for Using Flip Cards and Hotspots in Kirkwood Courses

These Creator+ elements can be used in many different disciplines.

1. Health and Nutrition
   
1. Use Flip Cards to review nutrients, vitamins, or health terms.
   
2. Use Hotspots on a MyPlate diagram or anatomy image.
   
2. Psychology
   
1. Use Flip Cards for key terms such as types of memory or learning theories.
2. Use Hotspots on a labeled brain diagram.
   
3. Biology or Anatomy
   
1. Use Flip Cards for vocabulary terms and definitions.
   
2. Use Hotspots to label parts of a cell or human body system.
   
4. Statistics or Math
   
1. Use Flip Cards for key statistical concepts or formulas.
   
2. Use Hotspots on graphs or charts to explain parts of a distribution.
   
5. Business or Marketing
   
1. Use Flip Cards to review key terms or concepts.
   
2. Use Hotspots on diagrams that illustrate business processes or organizational structures.
   
6. Trades or Technical Programs
   
1. Use Flip Cards to review terminology related to tools or safety procedures.
   
2. Use Hotspots to label parts of equipment or machines.
   

Getting Started

You don’t need to redesign an entire lesson to use these tools. Start with a topic that already includes key terms or a diagram students need to understand.

Small interactive elements like Flip Cards and Hotspots can help students review concepts and explore course content in a more engaging way.