Give Animoto a try

Wow!  I signed in with FB, then it created a video for me from photos.  I was so impressed I almost left it as is.  However I had to try to edit and create my own.  Grabbed pics from my FB gallery and added some captions, music, style and ... poof it was done.  This could be for anything, from intros to topics, assignments from students, or a Biz Plan video if you want to start a business.  So I think I will do that for my project.  Give Animoto a try.

Animoto is useful

I can see a lot of things to do with Animoto. It's so easy to put videos together that I might have my students create them as part of assignments, perhaps as an alternative to PowerPoint. I use unusual pictures as prompts for writing and am considering putting together a video of the ones I've used at the end of the school year. Perhaps I'll have them create summaries with animoto as well. I'm definitely going to use this!
I don't see any real downside. It seems that this tool is only limited by one's imagination!

Using Animoto

Okay, I just had fun with this one. I wanted to do a video about our two favorite vacation spots, but 30 seconds is not enough. So I did two videos, one about the mountains and one about Mexico. Only problem I had was that I do not do Facebook, so I had to copy and save the links to be able to share them. Applications I have thought of so far are for family and friends. I can think of some ways to use this in a class, but I think it would require upgrading.

Animoto - a favorite

This project has been my favorite so far. I had lots of fun working with it. I uploaded all the pictures and that make it quicker too. I had a little issue when choosing the music but once I figured it out it worked well. This project also brought back memories. I will be brainstorming on how I can use Animoto with my students. By far the best enjoyable project!

Animoto is a favorite

So far, this is my favorite site.  This is a super creative way to share memories.  I might have to upgrade so I have the option to do more.  I found very user friendly with great possibilities.

Animoto in class

I loved working with this tool and can absolutely see using it in class.  Not only would I use it to introduce topics, review vocabulary or grammar, and generate discussion, I would have my advanced students prepare their own videos and share with the class.  It could be very fun for them to create something like this and then discuss it with a partner or present to the class.
I had no issues working with this Site.  Once I realized I can upload more than one picture at a time-it made my life a lot easier.  I like the option to upload your own music.  This can be something very personalized and having something that really reflects you and your ideas can be very special for the students.  I'm wondering can you slow down the video, or maybe I would just pause it at key parts to stop and talk about it. 
One game I would use is to watch the pictures as they flow, and then write down all the words or phrases that come to your mind.  If you don't know it in English, write it down in your own language and we will look it up and learn it!  Next, listen to the music-how does it relate to the words you wrote? How does it relate to the pictures?  I can see this generating some interesting discussion! I kind of want to go use this right now!

Animoto fun

Directions are easy to follow all the way through production. I found it useful to create a separate folder on the desktop first, then copied and pasted photos into it so that all were ready to go in advance. The tricky part for me was getting the link into the dropbox, lol. I work with ESL students, and could easily incorporate this slideshow format into theme-based units using photos taken of familiar people, place, and things on campus and around town. Great for many things from warm-up activities to reviews of concepts, vocabulary, and key points--even a group project.

Loved Animoto

I used Animoto to make a Mother's Day promotional video. It was very easy and a lot of fun to use. It was very cool to see such a professional product emerge. There are some limitations, but for the most part you can make some really nice videos. I did the paid version because I wanted to make more of them.

Animoto - ideas?

I really had fun with this tool. Now, I am trying to figure out how to use it for one of my classes. I teach research, policy & gov't. & Leadership. But just not sure what pictures I would use since I don't have any personal pics that could be used to teach a concept or intro a topic. Any ideas??

Animoto - fun and easy

I just used Animoto.  It was fun and easy to use.  I could see using it to introduce a new topic in order to create interest.  The free version is very short, (30 seconds).  It might not be long enough to get their attention.

Animoto

I had a lot of fun producing a personal video of my granddaughter! If I wanted to continue using Animoto I would use the better version. I would like to be more creative.
As far as using the site in the classroom, I think I could do something cool with the characters in Othello.

Animoto comments

I felt like it was fairly user friendly for me.  Easy to upload pictures and add captions.
I would definitely be interested in the features for the upgraded "plus" membership, because I didn't really think much of the music selection, or the fact that I couldn't turn the pictures!  I even tried messing with the files on my computer and re-uploading, which still didn't get the pictures in the orientation that I wanted them.
I'm not really sure how I would use this in a math classroom very often, but I did like the previous posts about introducing a new topic or student recruitment for a class.  I would definitely need more than a 30 second video, though, for either of these applications!

Creating an Animoto video

I found it easy to use. I used it to make an early graduation reminder. Nice announcement format. Would need to explore more application opportunities.

Animoto issues

After sitting with Kim and disabling the popup blockers on this computer, I was finally able to create an Animoto video.  I'm not sure how I would use this in a criminal justice course, but perhaps it could be used to introduce serial killers in Deviant Behavior to a generation that does not know who Charles Manson and the Boston Strangler are. Putting faces with names from the textbooks.

Animoto as a recruiting tool

The video I developed was more for recruiting students into a program than introducing new subjects, but I could see how that would make it more engaging.  I also really liked the idea of having them use it for poetry, not being a lyrical genius myself, it would be very cool to see what students come up with putting images to their poetry or even using poems (especially something short like a Haiku) that already exist and asking them to 'interpret' those poems by adding images.  I also agree with Laura that the song selection leaves something to be desired, but I guess that is something that if you really needed more choices you would then have to purchase the Pro version.
Keeping the thought of using it for recruitment, it might be interesting to have students at the end of the course create one highlighting what they learned in the course and then those videos can be shown to new students at the beginning of the next semester.  Although it's not recruiting, it could be a great way to retain students or get them more engaged.
I think this is a really great tool because it is simple and easy to use, can be applied to online and in-class teaching several ways, and could be used as a teaching tool or as a fun assignment for students. 

Animoto - song list could be better

I could see this as an introduction to some units...If nothing else, it could introduce new subjects in new or different format and I think students would enjoy that. My concern would be the song options...It might work better if we had a wider selection list.

Animoto thoughts

With the short time I tried to free version of Animoto, I saw it as another form of social networking, not really something I would use in an English class.  However, I do think that my students might be able to use the videos as background for a poetry reading in ENC 1102, especially if they chose appropriate music.  It also might be used to "springboard" a writing assignment in ENC 1101, especially in the realm of descriptive writing.  I would have to experiment more with it to see what kinds of pictures I would want to add to the video from my own collection that I have on my home computer.

Jing is like Paint - only easier

For years I have used the screen capture button at the top of my keyboard, then pasted it to Paint (found in your accessories section of Programs.)  I would then crop and save as a jpeg (picture) file and then copy that to a Word doc where I add text boxes and other info.  Jing is just a little easier, saves a few steps, and keeps your history for you.
I look forward to trying the video capture and voiceover feature which you can't do with just Paint.  The "Sun" feature on all screens does come in handy at any time you need it too.  Like this one also.

Great Tool - Jing

Love Jing! This is my new best friend. I am going to use this initially as a way to do an introduction to my online classes. I am very excited about the possibilities. I also have a few assignments that always seem to very confusing to my online students. So, I am going to use Jing to give a detailed overview of these assignments.

Jing is easy

I love Jing!! I always wondered how they did that! I watched the tutorials and was able to easily make my first project. I captured a video from Youtube and will use it in my courses. I think we do a good job of teaching students the skills needed for them to be good nurses. But nursing is not just a science. It is also a caring career and as teachers we must help connect the students to their softer, caring, intuitive side.

Love Jing

This is a fabulous tool - the perfect way to give students a "walking tour" of key points they need to know in Angel or to capture anything online or on your screen and share as a video or a still image. I used it to create an introduction to Angel to help orient students to what to expect in the class and where to look to find it in Angel. One key is to use the cross hairs tool to carefully delineate exactly what you want to share. I watched the tutorials and that was sufficient to get going. This is exactly the tool that I have been looking for, it can also facilitate an online webinar or just make it easier to share with anybody and to avoid saying the same thing over and over.
Here's the link I did, it's a short version of what I plan to do in more detail: http://www.screencast.com/t/81e9U4gTj

Video capture...the wow! factor

For an Advanced level ESL class writing challenge, I captured a youtube video on "How to Use Chopsticks." I added narration at the beginning of the video to present the writing challenge: watch the video, listen carefully to the directions' use of verbs in the imperative, then write the instructions using verbs in the imperative...in 6 steps or less. Yes, I brought chopsticks with me to make this a "hands-on" lesson literally, then let them keep them as their reward for jobs well done :) This was LOTS of fun, and well worth the effort, even though the upload to screencast took forever and a day. It helps to have your script ready in advance if you want to add your own remarks, and you may want to consider cropping the area to be captured--otherwise, Jing will include your desktop in the surrounds of the video frame. Love Jing--it's a keeper.

Jing takes time

I have used Jing, it took me while to get through everything, but I was able to do the capture.

Overboard with SnagIt

I hope I'm not going overboard but I downloaded SnagIt because the 5 minute time limit of Jing just wasn't enough for me.
I think this is so useful that I'm actually going to buy SnagIt (educational discount is great).
I already did a trial run and the file is at http://www.screencast.com/t/sx4lljUvT if anyone wants to view it.
The link doesn't work through email, you have to copy and paste it into the address bar of your browser.
My project is a review of using Logical and Lookup Functions in Excel.
Great software!

I love Jing!

Jing is a great utility for me. I created a 5 minute clip of an Excel lab that several students missed. The material isn't in the textbook and so because they were absent, they would never know how to complete I reviewed this in every class.
I think this is great. For online classes or just to allow students to review something they missed in class.
I sent a link to my sister who teaches math at ASU. I'm sure she could use this as well.