Fun with Video Tools

I have seen so many commercials and presentations using video tools, and they all look amazing. The graphics are unique, the picture is clear, and the sound bites or music add the cherry on top. I played around with three different video tool websites: Powtoon, Animoto, and Wideo. Unfortunately, what I came to eventually learn after several days of working with these sites, is that not all video making tools are created equal!

Animoto

Animoto was a tool that has been used frequently by students in my current school. Our previous ITC used to work with classes to create short video projects (or maybe longer - I'm not sure if the school has a license membership) throughout the school year. Though I have never seen a completed Animoto product, I figured, "If the students could figure it out, so could I!" 

With that I began to look at the various template options for the free trial. I found the Animoto seemed more like a tool used for presentations rather than for making videos. I decided to create a video slide show of my dog Rudy. I used a colorful template and uploaded several photos to include. With a 30 second time limit I found that I could only utilize seven photos. That may sound like a lot, but it was really difficult to tell the story of Rudy with only seven pictures! I tried to add a bit of text between each picture, but with each text page a picture was deleted. After several hours of frustration I decided to add a caption to each photo, however when the video played through the captions were very hard to read.

Of the three sites that I explored, Animoto was my least favorite due to the time restrictions and overall lack of options in the slide show creations. Though I wasn't a huge fan of this site, Animoto can still be incorporated into the classroom in many ways similar to how audio tools can be utilized. I can see this tool used by the teacher to issue an assignment, directions for a task, or to show a writing prompt. 

See my attempt at an Animoto video here: http://animoto.com/play/ru30J3waALQ5gg20lQ9O3A#. 

Wideo

After my trials with Animoto, I moved onto Wideo. This site was very bright and seemed to have more interactive tools than Animoto, but I also found the site to be less user friendly. The template options were limited and I found that when I chose a template I could not edit the background or overall design of the slide in any way. It could have been user error, but I tried continuously using many different templates without success. I also found it extremely different to figure out exactly how long the entire slide show was and how to preview the playback. Each page required its own settings and needed to be adjusted differently to transition, making the editing process more difficult than I felt that it needed to be.

There were many positive options on this site, including neat graphics, backgrounds (when you start from scratch not using a template), and fun transitions from page to page. There were several music options to accompany the video as well, which were fun to experiment with. As with the Animoto site, Wideo seemed to also function more as a slide show tool than a video tool. I ended up making a very basic slide show with uploaded images, graphics from the site, and text boxes. 

Wideo can be a fun tool to use in the classroom as a portfolio for students to showcase their work (maybe for Art) or for a project presentation also.

See my attempt at a Wideo video here: http://www.wideo.co/view/4038581403957382008-?from=cp. 

Powtoon

Powtoon was my favorite site to use, hands down. There were several template options with suggested uses from pitching a product to giving directions to Mission Impossible. Once I chose my template I found that there were even more themed design options including cartoon sketches, holidays, monsters, people, and so on. One of my favorite aspects of this tool was the freedom. I initially chose a template, but then I explored the site a little more and found the themed design options from which I was able to switch out everything. I changed the backgrounds, fonts, mixed & matches animated icons from different themes - it was amazing! It also had more font options, music choices, and slide length manipulation than any other site I had previously used.

I spent the most time working with Powtoon because it felt like my options were almost endless. I think I could have spent a week changing up my video because with each change brought a better design. Unlike Animoto and Wideo, Powtoon seemed more like an actual video making tool as opposed to a slide show creator. The clarity of the overall product was clean and professional looking, and it actually looked a little like those commercials I have seen!

I am very excited to use Powtoon with students in the future. This tool can be used in so many ways, but showcasing a science experiment or STEM project sticks out to me the most. The interactive nature of this tool can allow students to show the progression of an experiment with each stage of the Scientific Method, or show each of the trials for their STEM activity. 

See my attempt at a Powtoon video here: http://www.powtoon.com/p/caeAwIbVM44/. 

Sources

Animoto, video file download. http://animoto.com/. Animoto, n.d. Web. <http://animoto.com/>.

Powtoon, video file download. http://www.powtoon.com/. Powtoon, n.d. Web. <http://www.powtoon.com/>.

Wideo, video file download. http://wideo.co/. Wideo, n. d. Web. <http://wideo.co/>.

Exploring School Library Websites

Weebly Websites:

Anderson High School Library

[click to view website]

I was initially drawn to this website because of its design elements. I liked the charcoal and gray backgrounds, and the brightly colored font that made it easy for me to focus on what was written on the page.  I liked that the main page includes pictures of students using the library in different capacities. The pictures show students doing homework,  playing chess, checking out books, reading, and working in groups. This is an element that I would like to include also as this is a great way to advertise a small piece of what the library has to offer its students. The links on the left are clearly labeled and I did not have any difficulty navigating through the site. The left side links on the page provide viewers with valuable information including, but not limited to, the school district's online catalog (this is something that is very difficult to find through my school's website), upcoming events in the library, and ways that students can take part and become more involved with their library (book clubs). As a viewer this website appeared to be very welcoming, very active, and very student involved. 

Bailey Middle School Library

[click to view website]

The cool design of this website was very appealing to me. There is not a lot of text on the main page, causing me to draw my attention to the links displayed. The link to the online catalog is clearly visible at the top center of the page for students to use the inter-library loan system.  At the top of the page are information links that allow visitors to view the library calendar, explore research & project tools, reading lists, and cool sites for students to visit. The logo and link for Accelerated Reader are posted just below the library catalog link, leading me to conclude that AR is a big part of the library (kudos!!!). I have always been an advocate for AR and it seems to be losing momentum at my current school more and more each year. A link to AR and active involvement in the program is something I would like to incorporate in the future.My favorite aspect of this website was the Tweets from famous authors and publishing companies. This is a great way to connect students and books/authors through technology. Though I am not familiar with Twitter specifically, I would like to include some type of social media aspect in my website because it is both relevant and relatable to 21st century learners.

Lowe Elementary School Library

[click to view website]

Lowe Elementary School's library website was my favorite among all three. It was the first one that I saw with an audio tool on the main page and I loved the message from the school librarian. I would like to include a Voki message welcoming students to the library as well, or even use it as a means to make weekly announcements on the library home page. At the top are two stock images that are cute and colorful, which is both appropriate and appealing to students at the elementary level. My attention was immediately drawn to the large, kid type font that advertised where students can log their summer reading minutes through Scholastic. Towards the middle there was a slideshow that included pictures of the library and activities that have taken place there. I thought this could be useful for students new to the school. On the left side towards the bottom are links for catalogs for the iPhone, iPad, and smart phone, which is a great tech-savvy way to distribute what is available for check out. 


Wix Websites:

Hempstead High School Library

[click to view website]

The first item that caught my eye on the Hempstead's library is the panoramic slideshow view of the library media center at the top. I have seen picture slide shows on the Weebly websites, but this was the first site to showcase an interactive panoramic view. This is a great interactive tool that I would like to feature on my website. The design of Hempstead's website was also a plus for me. It was also the first website I visited that wasn't overloaded with images, text, or links, making it easy for me to find basic information like hours of operation and student resources. Under the "About Our Library" tab there is an interactive suggestion box where visitors to the site can type in suggestions for the library - another tool I would like to feature.

Kailua Elementary School Library

[click to view website]

Kailua's website has a great heading at the top: "Ask, think, READ everyday, create, share." It is clear from visiting this site that the library is a large part of the learning community at this school. The librarian writes a blog and posts the link on the homepage for viewers to see. In reading his blog, the librarian includes many neat elements, including what he has been reading, a cool tool for the family, and a 21st century learning tip. I love the idea of writing a blog and adding content like this for students, parents, and staff to read. Another plus on this website are the links to the class websites at the top. This further connects the library to both the school community and it is definitely a tool I would include as well. 

Woodrow Wilson Elementary School Library

[click to view website]

The website for this elementary school is absolutely adorable. It is whimsical and playfully designed - perfect for an elementary school! What I liked most about this library site, aside from the cute design, are the thumbnail images for each link. Adding that small visual for each link is a great strategy for students who are beginning or low readers. Many students can recognize the icons and images from familiar websites and these thumbnail images associated with each link can allow those students to access the same information as skilled readers. This is a great idea and resourceful tool that I would like to use. I also liked that under the heading for the links is a reminder that the usernames and passwords are available in the library for student log in. 

An Attempt at Audio Tools: My Voki Moose

I love the idea of adding audio to any piece of work. In the past I have assigned students Photostory projects on the water cycle and they would have to read a script to narrate each page. They loved the interactive component and had even more fun presenting their work. When I saw that we were going to take a look at other audio tool options I was very excited and eager to learn more!

I visited three websites during my exploration of audio tools this week: Audio Pal, Vocaroo, and Voki. In visiting all three and seeing the different options available, Voki was preferable to me by far. Audio Pal and Vocaroo were very basic and simply allowed you to record your voice. In contrast, Voki was very interactive. I was able to choose a background setting and a character or avatar. Once I recorded my message and played it back the avatar's lips moved along with the audio. I may be a little biased when it comes to Voki because I have seen other students (not in my class) use Voki presentations on Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. They not only enjoyed having a choice in the presentation and the aspect of recording their voice, but they were also entertained by the final products. Little did they know... they were learning while having fun!

There are a variety of ways that these audio tools can be incorporated into the classroom or library. As I mentioned with the classes above, students can create a biographical presentation on a famous American or famous person in history that they are learning about. The only drawback with that, however, are the time constraints. It is a little difficult to record a full report in only 60 seconds, so perhaps students could use a Voki as the introduction (ex: "Hello. My name is Abraham Lincoln and I was the 16th president of the United States. My friend Johnny is going to tell you a little more about my life."). Students can also use Audio Pal or Vocaroo in their ILA classes for an author's chair presentation. I like to have students share their writings and during our poetry unit they were very eager to present their creations. This could be a creative way to hear students' work without the intimidation of presenting in front of their classmates. 

I was very apprehensive about recording my voice and posting it to my blog! I have to admit... I must have recorded it eight times!!! Below is a screen shot of my Voki Moose - click him to hear my audio message!

Source
Voki, audio file download. http://www.voki.com/. Voki, n. d. Web. <http://www.voki.com/>.

TEDTalks: Educational Podcasts

After visiting the sites listed on "50 Educational Podcasts You Should Check Out" and exploring the different types of podcasts listed, I chose to narrow my focus to the TEDTalks series. I was first introduced to TEDTalks last summer when I stumbled across a podcast about the bond of siblings. It sparked my interest in hearing more from the series and when I found the time I would listen to podcasts of topics that interested me. 

In exploring the TEDTalks Education I saw several topics and speakers that I really wanted to listen to, so I began with Amy Tan's "Where Does Creativity Hide?" Tan has always been a favorite author of mine and as a teacher of gifted students I was very intrigued by what she has to say about creativity. Her podcast was very interesting and filled with humorous anecdotes from her childhood to present. I had difficulty, however, connecting her podcast to myself as a teacher or the students in my classroom. 

With that I moved onto another educational topic that I think most teachers can agree on; grit. Angela Lee Duckworth's podcast, "The Key to Success? Grit." discussed why she believes that the best predictor of success is grit. She defines grit by saying, "Grit is passion and perseverance for very long term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it's a marathon, not a sprint."

This podcast in particular stood out to me because I think many teachers struggle with the question, "what motivates my students?" Duckworth explains her time in the classroom as a 7th grade math teacher and the achievement trends she observed with her students. In her podcast she states, "What struck me was that I.Q was not the only difference between my best and my worst students. Some of my strongest performers did not have stratospheric I.Q. scores. Some of my smartest kids weren't doing so well." This statement struck a cord with me as I reflected on my students in the gifted classroom. I have been working with gifted students for four years and each year my class is a mixture of students who have qualified based on the district assessments and students who have been recommended to be in the class as a "principal placement" based on their academic progress throughout the year. One of the many lessons that I have learned in teaching these students, whether they are actually labeled "gifted" or whether they are bright learners, is that intelligence and I.Q. does not always equate high academic performance. Initially when I would come across a brilliant student who exhibited poor effort resulting in poor grades I was often at a loss. I would think to myself, "...but he's gifted! She's smart! Why is he/she doing so poorly?!" Duckworth explains that "...what we need in education is a much better understanding of students and learning from a motivational perspective, from a psychological perspective." After struggling with this during my first year teaching TAG, I finally realized that I needed to think back to everything I learned about student behaviors in the many Psychology classes required for my teaching license. I needed to figure out a way to motivate those students. 

Duckworth ends her podcast on student motivation and grit saying, "We need to take our best ideas, our strongest intuitions, and we need to test them. We need to measure whether we've been successful, and we have to be willing to fail, to be wrong, to start over again with lessons learned." This quote speaks volumes to me because as an educator I am always self reflecting; thinking about what I can do better next time and how one small change from me can make a difference. 

Sources

DeNeen, J. (2013, January 18). 50 Educational podcsats you should check out. Retrieved June 10, 2014, from http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/50-educational-podcasts-you-should-check-out/.

Duckworth, A. (2013, April). Angela Lee Duckworth: The key to success? grit. [video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit. 

Tan, A. (2008, February). Amy Tan: Where does creativity hide? [video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_tan_on_creativity. 

Infographics

When I saw that the assignment for this week was to explore and create an infographic, I couldn't help but think to myself, "an info-what?!?" Once I began looking around and exploring different websites (starting with Google Images) I realized that infographics are EVERYWHERE. I think I have seen one posted on social media almost daily, and I have also seen them posted on websites and other professional blogs. In my exploration I found a very neat website called Daily Infographic (http://dailyinfographic.com/) that showed very different types and styles of infographics that have been published. 

I had a very difficult time trying to creating my own infographic using fictional information. It seemed like such as easy task - make up something and place it in an infographic! Instead, I sought out the assistance of my school's Library Media Specialist for some data that is relevant to our school. I explored the different websites suggested and found that using http://infogr.am/ was the easiest for me to navigate. It provided a few different template options, however the editing options were limited unless you upgraded your membership. When creating this infographic I tried to keep in mind the "less is more" mentality. I found that too many infographics overload with images or text and make them very unappealing. I chose a simple white background with black text that it easy to read. I placed the student population data at the top as a frame of reference and listed the circulation statistics at the bottom, color coding the separately. 

I like the idea of using this with students for various subjects, but the subject that sticks out the most to me is math. I spoke with one of my teammates about potentially using this in the classroom next year when we begin our data and graphs unit. I also think that infographics can be a neat way to create anchor charts for students to use as well. As I become more familiar with using infographics I hope to be a little more creative!

{Here is a screenshot of the one I created based on the library data from my school. I also included a link to the preview on the website below to provide a better image.}

(https://infogr.am/app/#/preview/lrsilsbee_1402068548/library)

Source

Infographic, Digital Image download. http://infogr.am/. Infogram, n. d. Web. <http://infogr.am/>.