Dear Participants,
After a week of creating many fun and amazing cartoons and inspiring each other on our Posterous and EDmodo page, it is time to start our Week 3, that will be about Video Stories. This week, we will be looking into web tools that let us create animated video stories and we will explore different web tools that let us create our own videos to use in our classrooms to boost learning and motivate our students.
Please, check this page for our daily objectives and make sure that you check our Tutorial Page to learn how to use the web tools that we will be exploring this week; they are GoAnimate, Domonation, Dvolver, Animoto, and PhotoPeach.
Please, post your video stories to our Posterous page by simply sending an email with the link of your creation to digitalstorytellingevo2013@posterous.com
This week, we are going to use this page to discuss instead of EDmodo as we did last week.
WK 3 DQs: Please use the numbers then answer so we know which question you are responding to:
- Read Dave's blog post on video stories, Language, Camera, Action! Motivating Young Learners with Video. Let's talk about our experience of using and creating video stories in our classes. Do you use videos in the classroom? How do you integrate videos into your lessons? Do your students produce any videos? If so, which tools are you using?? How can we integrate videos into our lessons, what are your ideas?
- How we can use Animoto & Photopeach in our classes with our students?
- How we can integrate GoAnimate, DomoAnimate, & Dvolver into our lessons?
- What can be the pros and cons of using and creating videos in the classroom? Do the parents and your school let you to film your kids and publish them online?
Hope you are all motivated and ready for another exciting week on EVO with us.
We are looking forward to learning together!
Özge Karaoğlu, Esra Girgin, Juan Uribe
Week 3 moderators
Comments (Show all 109)
LaQuita Denson said
at 1:25 pm on Jan 30, 2013
Thanks Esra. I think it would also help the teacher to become familiar with the tool as well.
Gil said
at 2:31 pm on Jan 30, 2013
I love to use videos in my classes. Sometimes I use them to raise discussion or as warm up or follow up to the lessons. My favorite webtool is Animoto because it´s so easy to produce your video. Sometimes a 1 or 2 min video trigger long discussions in class, this is an oportunity for students to use the language in a more relaxed way, making assessment easier.
ozge said
at 11:38 am on Jan 31, 2013
Hi Gil, even though the children are not creating the videos, we can create our own videos to use in the class. As you have said, the videos can help us to create opportunities for discussions and brainstorming; promoting speaking skills in the classroom.
Elizabeth Slifer said
at 4:55 pm on Feb 2, 2013
Hi Gil and Ozge,
I shared my science space intro with my students (fourth grade). One of my boys made a video saying farewell to our electricity/magnetism unit and hello to space unit. Wow! They are really enjoying making and creating. Just think what skills they are using to create such work. Love it!
Juan Uribe said
at 6:23 am on Feb 1, 2013
Hi Gil! Videos are certainly involving resources for beginning a class. They can also be used at the end of projects to give students feedback and celebrate!
Eva said
at 6:16 pm on Jan 30, 2013
A lesson idea for the first week of the school. http://evasimkesyan.edublogs.org/2012/07/30/describe-my-holiday/
I used it with my grade 11 students and it worked.
Eileen Hurley said
at 6:17 am on Jan 31, 2013
Both Animoto and Photopeach are easy to use. Animoto seems to do more to make up for my lack of an artistic side! I think students could use either in a variety of ways: summarizing a story, teaching a concept, step-by-step demonstration of an experiment. I really enjoy being able to use the Animoto app too. The app makes using it that much easier when wanting to access to my photos.
Eileen Hurley said
at 7:54 am on Jan 31, 2013
Q3: As I start looking at more and more of the options for creating animations, I wonder how much time needs to be spent on learning how to use the tools efficiently. I know many teachers who will just look at things like Goanimate and say, "My kids will waste too much time playing around with that!" How can we ensure the technology doesn't become the centre of the lesson?
Eileen Hurley said
at 9:36 am on Jan 31, 2013
Found post that may help to answer my own question: for the love of learning: The best way to use technology http://bit.ly/W1rkeB
ozge said
at 11:34 am on Jan 31, 2013
Technology gives teachers a choice, that's the best part of it. I think that would be best to use technology as project homework if you think that your children will waste too much time to learn it. I guess this is how technology is working best rather than doing it hands-on.
Elizabeth Slifer said
at 5:06 pm on Feb 2, 2013
Eileen, I love your question because I think my administrator probably feels that way about me and my classroom right now. I am spending some time up front teaching how to use the websites. I give the students a taste first by showing the video that I have created. Then we go step by step and observe me creating one on the SmartBoard. Then I let them loose. I give some direction but I feel that the time spent is well worth it. WE have our state testing in less than a month. The pressure is on but i bet my little ones do well because they reflect, think and create with a purpose and it is meaningful to them.
Faten Romdhani said
at 1:14 pm on Jan 31, 2013
Great discussions! Great of you all! I need some time to go through all of this! Thank you all for your assistance and share!
Juan Uribe said
at 6:24 am on Feb 1, 2013
Hi Faten! The discussion is very rich indeed!
Marisa Constantinides said
at 2:19 pm on Jan 31, 2013
One way of uploading videos to You Tube and then allow your pupils to view them, is to publish them on You Tube as Private. In that case, I believe that whatever music or images you use are allowed.
It's then quite easy to embed them in a posterous private blog which only your pupils and their parents can view, or in a private wiki such as this one.
Marisa Constantinides said
at 2:23 pm on Jan 31, 2013
One way that my students use goanimate is to create sketches out of dialogues in their coursebook or stories with or without dialogue which they have written and acted out in the classroom.
Sometimes an interview with one of the characters in a story they have read can come to life with one of these tools. And of course, you can use them to create new language presentation materials which you can use for listening and viewing in just the same way you would use other ready made video clips.
Elizabeth Slifer said
at 5:10 pm on Feb 2, 2013
I will use your idea of interview one of the characters from the novel. Using the technology has gotten my boys and girls interested in writing as well as doing their reading. Thank you for the ideas, Marisa.
Aysel Abbasova said
at 7:00 pm on Jan 31, 2013
1. Do you use videos in the classroom? How do you integrate videos into your lessons? Do your students produce any videos? If so, which tools are you using?? How can we integrate videos into our lessons, what are your ideas?
I didn't use a lot of videos during my classes just to save time. It is mainly a part of homework assignments such as creating various stories, expressing opinion a given topic. It could be done as a group or an individual work where the students are supposed to apply either new vocabulary or grammar patterns, and come up with interesting ideas. They can later post it and the teacher and their peers should leave a comment on the video. In this case, students have more chance to be exposed to the newly taught grammar or vocabulary.
One more activity that was quite popular among my students was filming interviews. it can be done while practicing question forms in grammar, at lower levels, or working on a group project which may involve surveys and interviews.
Juan Uribe said
at 6:29 am on Feb 1, 2013
I like the idea of students leaving comments on the videos of their peers. I am curious to know if you have any discussion with them on how comments can be appreciative and motivating to other students.
Aysel Abbasova said
at 7:12 pm on Jan 31, 2013
1.How can we integrate videos into our lessons, what are your ideas?
2. How we can use Animoto & Photopeach in our classes with our students?
I am teaching Listening and speaking to undergraduate students. one of the tasks that they like is extensive listening. They are supposed to listen to/watch the assigned task, record their answer to the critical questions given by their teacher, and post it on Edmodo. I think Animoto, Photopeach could be another useful and engaging way to fulfill this task. They may present their opinion in a lot more appealing way, supporting it with relevant images,background music+ voice over.
Juan Uribe said
at 6:27 am on Feb 1, 2013
Hi Aysel! What a great way of using videos. Preparing a video involves writing the speech, rehearsing, and editing as well as adding their uniqueness through all the choices they make with music and images. Very affective learning and sharing that brings pride!
Thushara said
at 4:49 am on Feb 1, 2013
Very true David and it is so great to learn about the wide range of tools that are out there :-)
Juan Uribe said
at 6:15 am on Feb 1, 2013
Hi Teresa, isn't it great to see how other educators are also discovering, struggling, and having success including digital technologies in their classes. EVO is such a powerful transformational space!
Juan Uribe said
at 6:17 am on Feb 1, 2013
Hi Bonnie! Thank you for sharing. Isn't it amazing how young learners figure out so quickly to use the Ipad? I love the idea of allowing them to discover language and technology at the same time.
Juan Uribe said
at 6:19 am on Feb 1, 2013
Your enthusiasm in trying new tools will surely be felt by your students! Learning new things is a habit that we can model.
Juan Uribe said
at 6:21 am on Feb 1, 2013
Hi LaQuita! I like very much the idea of giving instruction through a video. Students pay attention and they can watch it again at home before completing the assignment.
LaQuita Denson said
at 5:00 pm on Feb 1, 2013
Question 3: I think these animated resources can be used the same as animoto and Photopeach. That is they can be used to show how to…cause/effect..etc. The key to using the animation resources is to make sure that when the students create the storyboard, they include all the details about the animation. The teacher should also specify or indicate the choices that they have. This would avoid the students spending too much time creating the presentations because of the animation feature.
Elizabeth Slifer said
at 5:14 pm on Feb 2, 2013
LaQuita,
The story board is an excellent tool for the teacher to help with revision and to make sure everyone is on target for the assignment. I think that limiting choices is a good idea, too.
Janet Bianchini said
at 5:57 pm on Feb 1, 2013
I agree the discussions here are very rich indeed. I have really learned a lot by reading all the comments. I don't have a class to teach full time at the moment, so sadly I can't try out all these lovely ideas straightaway with students, but I am writing everything down in a special EVO DigitalStorytelling notebook, so that I will be able to refer to ideas and resources when I am next in the classroom soon. Thnanks everyone :-)
LaQuita Denson said
at 6:22 pm on Feb 1, 2013
Question 4: There are many pros and cons. Allowing students to create videos does allow them to apply their critical thinking skills while being creative is a positive thing. I feel this is a way for students to demonstrate their knowledge of the materials. These types of activities are engaging and allow the classroom instruction to be exciting and challenging for the students. The cons of creating videos would be that you must make sure your instructions are clear and very detailed for the students and that you are organized. You must also be sure to have a “back-up” plan in case the technology doesn’t work. Also, you will need to be able to monitor the students so that they remain on task. As a teacher of these assignments you must be able to refrain from the “traditional” classroom. The classroom may appear “chaotic” at times. So patience is an important requirement.
I find that many parents and schools are in favor of the students creating digital stories. They actually encourage these assignments.
ozge said
at 4:27 am on Feb 2, 2013
Thank you for sharing your insights with us LaQuita, I agree with all your comments above.And, I can't agree more when you say we should all have a "back-up" plan, because if you are using technology hands-on in the classroom, this is something that we can often face in class.
mgdebianchetti said
at 11:57 pm on Feb 1, 2013
I agree with LaQquita in questions 3 and 4. I also understand what E.Hurley says about what some teachers think about these tools, but she found an excellent post to her point (I read it). I also liked Ozge's answer to this point. Apart from that, I realized using these tools for the first time that it was not only about learning how to use them, I also had to make a process and think what to include in the video or comic, how to write it to make it more appealing and so on. Therefore, I (thinking as a student) was making a personal and important thinking that was paid-off at the end. The outcome is going to be different for everybody and I'm going to be more than satisfied as a T because I gave Ss more than tools.
I repeat LaQuita's words: '... refrain from the “traditional” classroom. The classroom may appear “chaotic” at times. So patience is an important requirement. '
Elizabeth Slifer said
at 5:17 pm on Feb 2, 2013
I agree with all who have stated the "back-up" plan. I have never wanted to be the traditional teacher so EVO is helping me reach out and try new ideas.
anisoara pop said
at 8:16 am on Feb 2, 2013
Hi everyone, thanks for sharing!
Because I teach more adult students, I will share how I used video with them so far. Dvolver: I asked students to make short dialogues at home, advertising a product and employ specific advertising language: superlatives, comparatives, direct/indirect invitations. The one bothering thing about Dvolver was that, once embedded in a class blog or wiki, these movies start playing whenever you go to that page and there's no way of "silencing" them.
Janet Bianchini said
at 2:16 pm on Feb 2, 2013
Hi Anisoara - I agree with the annoying music which starts playing on a blog or wiki, and then doesn't stop!! What I do now is always select "No music", so the dialogues are silent. It might not be so much fun without the music, but I prefer it this way. I only add music to productions when I am actually demonstrating how to use Dvolver with classes.
anisoara pop said
at 12:02 am on Feb 3, 2013
I will do that as well. Thank you, Janet, for this simple but so useful piece of advice.
Elizabeth Slifer said
at 4:52 pm on Feb 2, 2013
One of my students used Domoanimate to compare her classroom reading novel assignment with her reading intervention novel. (Charlotte's Web vs Take me to the River) I hadn't even ask the class to do it but she came up with it on her own. Of course, I will share it on Monday and probably see 20 more examples from my 20 students. But Compare and Contrast are important skills to know so why not do it through comic animation?
Elizabeth Slifer said
at 5:25 pm on Feb 2, 2013
We have a school policy and forms have to be signed before posting pictures in newsletters or on the web. Of course, I wouldn't use names but my kids in past years have used their initials. I used to pass out a DVR and ask students to comment on what they knew about the science topic or ask a question about a topic. I would then post it on a blog site so parents could listen. After the unit, I would pass it around again and record their learnings from that unit. We would listen to the pre question/comment post again and see if our questions had been answered. Now I think I feel comfortable doing this with animation and video. Children can create a comic with their questions pre and make a Post comic with the answers. I am very interested in making a Photopeach quiz for the electricity unit we just finished using their pictures taken during the inquiry lesson.
I love most that I can teach a few the computer/site skills and they can in turn help others. It builds their conversation skills as well as their self esteem when helping others.
Juan Uribe said
at 5:56 am on Feb 3, 2013
Let's schedule it Maria! I was there 5 years ago and I made videos with Buddy, my giant puppet frog, to show Egypt to my students.
Juan Uribe said
at 6:03 am on Feb 3, 2013
Lovely!!! I can see their smiles in being connected and validated by their penpals!
LaQuita Denson said
at 11:58 am on Feb 4, 2013
I like this idea. Thanks for sharing.
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