Yellowstone National Park 2009
Seems like some of the quality has been lost, but this is the free version and probably is more grainy! What do you think? I think that you can add text to the video, but I didn't do that. I can see a use for this in my class since we use flip videos and digital cameras. During our outdoor stream study days, I would have student-groups document what they are doing over a course of time, and then have them create video movie using Animoto (or even uploading their flip video) followed by typing in a summary or overview of what their video is documenting.
I also have been using Google Docs with my daughter, as she is drafting a document for some fundraising she wants to do for flood victims of Minot, ND (which is where she is living this summer). I could have students accessing Google Docs for their summaries in the stream study work so that I can edit and assess it before it gets "posted"! This idea came to me as I was checking out TEDx Classroom Project by Chris Long (where he described how he managed the project). I really liked the TED talks because I know it would also make my students think. I don't know that I would make a full blown project of it, but I will definately add TED talk to my Bellwork at the beginning of classes occassionally because they are all under 6 minutes long.
I guess it's just the fact that I'm using an iPad, but the video isn't there for me.
ReplyDeleteThis program looks great! Thanks for sharing. I think it could be a great visual component of any student presentation, especially if text can be added. It would also be nice for me to use just to show students pictures that I take during field trips.
ReplyDelete@Carol -- I think it is embedded using Flash...which iPads can't view (a MAJOR limitation in my book).
ReplyDeleteLori, I like your idea of using TED Talks as bellwork. They are not all less than 10 minutes, but many are.
This would be great for having kids document field trips. I like that idea a lot.
ReplyDeleteI also love Google Docs. What started as a kind of digital notebook for me (updated from lists and sheets of paper in my pocket), has become a very useful tool in the classroom. Our school email is Google-based, so Docs are built right into their accounts. I find when students are working with partners they can look at their collective information in real time, keep partners accountable (realizing that a partner hasn't done their homework is now obvious because of the time stamp and revision history features), and as you point out, Lori, it can be great for revising online before publishing.
I've got to check out Animoto.
Scott
I too like Animoto, and have found the students really enjoy using it too. I have had the students in my chem I class do an animoto on an element and give them a list of information they must cover in the Animoto. One criteria I put on the project was that they cannot use rap music- this really expanded seemed to make them look a little deeper for music. I was very pleased with the results. Animoto has also been free for teachers- go to animoto education website. You can sign up for a 6 month account which they renew, and this allows you to get a passcode for up to 50 free accounts for your students. Our department uses Animoto also for parent presentations- describing the classes we offer etc. and for putting on our school website when we want to highlight an activity.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I found out this week from my newly formed PLN, is that Google labs has a new program Google Swiffy- which converts swf files ( which I believe is Flash) to HTML .As I understand it, then Flash can be converted so that it c an be seen on ipads!
Thanks everyone for the great feedback! Mary- I appreciate the extra info on Animoto Education, which is what I signed up for... now I now I have more options when getting close to the 6 month for renewal...and like the idea of getting 50 free accounts for my students. Will have to think about that...
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of Animoto before, I love the idea of having an easy to edit video creation program that they can add text to. I wish I had a video camera to use with it, though my laptop does have a camera I may be able to make work. I will definitely try this one out. I have thought about having my students make videos before (well, have actually had one student make a video, but she made a rap and it wasn't a great project, but its a start). I generally have at least one project each year where the students are responsible for teaching the class a topic. I often suggest the creation of a video, especially for those shy about presenting in class. But don't get any takers. Most like to stick with the standard powerpoint method they are familiar with. But I think that if I introduce it as a video project, without the other platforms (powerpoint or poster) it may be received better. Perhaps it is all in the marketing. Especially if it became something we did frequently, like have them do a 5 minute review of every topic before a unit test, that they could then use at the end of the year to create a year-long review montage or something.
ReplyDeleteI agree that google docs are great. I use then OFTEN. They are great for keeping track of things like finances, posting assignments for kids who tend to get home and have no idea what the homework is even if they wrote it down, and allowing/providing a platform for group collaboration. So often I heard from students, oh, my partner isn't here, I can't work on our project. Now I say, the aren't here, email them! Share what you do with them via docs. Or even, "I give you permission, text them real quickly and ask them to send you what they have so you can keep working". Surprisingly this tactic works. They text their partner, they get a document in their email. They can work on this, and share it back to their partner! I love it!