Thursday, July 22, 2010

Thing #4 Video Hosting (YouTube)

I've uploaded video to both Teacher Tube and to YouTube in the past. It's pretty simple. Sites like these are useful for sharing lesson ideas and getting new ideas visually. I think students could also use other people's video ideas for inspiration for their own projects.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Thing #3 - Video Web Connecting

My kids have been using Skype for awhile to stay in touch with some of their international friends, so this one isn't very new to me. My favorite ideas for application in the classroom are: guest lecturers, visits with museum curators, and sharing class productions. There are of course many more applications depending on the subject taught.

Monday, July 19, 2010

#2 Word Generators 2

I guess it's time to get the ball rolling and finish 11.5 More Things. I'm having real motivation problems (I'm really enjoying summer vacation and all things NOT educational), but I do see the end is near, and if I'm going to earn hours for the all-important flex day in January, I'd better get on with it.

I've loved Wordle since last summer and 23 Things. I've used it for posters in my classroom and I've even made rather evil word banks for students to use on vocabulary tests. WordSift is more left-brainish, so not as appealing to me, however I can see students making use of the suggested links.

Glogster is a fun site, and students love photo manipulation, so this is a very useful alternative to traditional posters. Yes, students need to be a bit more organized to turn in their posters online, but most students are capable of using this technology. Some students still prefer to use printed projects from Glogster on traditional poster board to create a kind of collage effect which can be very cool. Voice Thread didn't do much for me, perhaps because of the very dry narrator. It appears to be much more complicated and in-depth than my needs require.

Animoto is cool, but it reminds me of Windows Movie Maker but with fewer options. Windows Movie Maker allows you to create videos of any length with more ways to manipulate pictures and music. I can see how students would really get into Voki - they would LOVE making their avatars talk. This could be a cool alternative to traditional presentations.

Bookr would be a neat alternative to visual presentations in Social Studies and Science.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.