Audio+Visual+Resources

Here are some great applications for students and teachers to use to create an audio or visual product

Screencast: http://www.screencast.com/users/aclark02/folders/Default/media/b8bd3c51-1331-4a93-917c-7b62c97b5066 [[image:animoto.jpg width="240" height="60"]]
I created my screencast on how to use Animoto. This is an application that I fell in love with last year. It is an amazingly easy online tool for creating videos and the people at Animoto keep making it better and better. I have used it several times in the classroom and have even purchased the subscription to have my own account.

What I like best about Animoto:

 * Very user friendly- doesn't overwhelm you with too many menu options
 * Has an educator account option so you can create accounts for your students and then they can make full length videos for free
 * Videos turn out beautiful
 * You can add music to your video
 * All the hard work is done for you- the production team at Animoto makes the video for you

What I have used Animoto for in the classroom:

 * Book Trailers- Students create videos to share a little bit about their favorite books or ones we read in class
 * Video Poems- Students use figurative language and pictures to write a poem
 * Mini Lessons- Students use the video to teach the class about a small topic (great for summarizing and note-taking skills)

Things I wish I could change:

 * Time limit on Educator account- As of right now, teachers can only use their educator account for 6 months, then you have to re-apply for a new one. It would be much easier if you could have the account for a year or at least 9 months
 * Time limit on educator account code- You are given a code to use so your students can set up an account but the code is only good for a month- it would be much easier if the code was good for as long as the account. Students change schools all throughout the year and it is frustrating to have to sign up for a new code just for one student.
 * Managing Videos- I would like it if Animoto made it so that as the teacher on the educator account, I could keep all the student videos in one place online and be able to access that from wherever.

**Overview:**
I found out about this great tool on Richard Byrne's blog "Free Technology for Teachers"  in a post on January 7th 2011. This is a free online tool to edit videos you find on the web. All you have to do is paste the link of the video that you want to use on their homepage: http://snipsnip.it/# and Snip Snip will let you easily edit the video from there.

**Uses in the Classroom:**
Like Byrne mentioned in his post, this would be useful for just showing the parts of a video that you need. In my school district, full length videos are looked down upon and it's frustrating to try and just start and stop a video for what you need. This would get you the clip you need and leave the rest out. Byrne also mentions that when you play the video clip it is set on a blank canvas so there won't be any side distracting elements to what you want to show.

**Overview:**
In a post from The Edublogger, on February 24th, 2008- from Sue Waters, I read about a great widget for adding a "human" element to your blog called, Voki. Voki allows you to create a talking avatar using your own voice! You get to design the look of your Voki and then you can record your voice to make it say whatever you like.

**Uses in the Classroom:**
Sue Waters posted some great ideas on how to use this in the classroom-
 * If students are using blogs in the classroom, this would be a great opportunity for them to be able to explain what their thoughts are in addition to what they write.
 * Students could use the Voki to ask questions of the readers or maybe share a story that goes with what they're blogging about
 * Students can now share their Voki without needing to access a website or a blog so sharing is much easier
 * Voki just launched "Voki for Education" which is free to use and ad free
 * There is a lesson plan database available for use and also a Teacher's Corner where teachers can share thoughts and ideas


 * 1) Students can create avatars that are similar in looks or personalities and record a message that tells about themselves.
 * 2) Students can exchange these avatars with e-pals either within their own setting or anywhere in the world.
 * 3) Students can generate questions to ask their avatar e-pals.
 * 4) ESL (English as a Second Language) students can use the speaking avatars to practice and listen to their speech. They may use the computerised voice first then record their own voice when they feel more comfortable. Writing, reading and pronunciation are all practised.
 * 5) Students can create an avatar that resembles a character from a story, add a setting and give it speech. The speech could be from the story or a creative point of view (POV) from the character on an event.

**Overview:**
In Larry Ferlazzo post on "Websites of the Day" on January 21st, 2011, I read about a brand new application called Projeqt\ It looks similar to Prezi but it seems like it allows you to do more and it looks easier to use. You can use it on any platform and your creation will be optimized to fit what you are viewing it on. Right now, users have to request an invite to be able to use the application, so I wasn't able to try it for myself but the main page has some very beautiful examples. http://projeqt.com/

**Uses for the Classroom:**
I would probably use this in a similar way that we would use Power Point, Prezi, Animoto, and others in the classroom. Projeqt is meant to share stories. Students would be able to share their own personal stories, stories they have created themselves, stories they have read about, and much more. This application will offer some variety for how we share our stories.