This was such a fun project that we did in our 422b class. In fact I think it was my favorite. I never thought I ever had the skills to put together a small video. It was so easy to learn and understand. I was able to learn the program and make the video in about one hour. iMac is a awesome program that I had never heard about before this class. I did use a program somewhat similar to this in my Computer Science class but it was not as easy or fun. I learned to take a number of different photos and change them around and add special effects and even add music to the video. It was nice to have professor Heil there to help us in case we had a few questions and of course I did like always. But other then that I think this program will be very beneficiary in my classroom.

1.How could I use this software in my classroom?
I can use this program in a number of ways. We can take pictures as a class and make a video for the class. Students can do group projects and use this program, and it will be so much more fun to them than doing just regular boring projects. We can make them as a tutorial video and pretty much this program can be used for any subject.

2.What grade level or levels could benefit from this software?
This program will definetly benefit the older students. It make be quite a hassel to teach young students how to use this program. But middle school and high school students are a ideal age for this program to be use in the classroom. But also in the younger grades, as a teacher I can create videos that they can watch which will still be a fun and exciting way for them to learn.

Animoto

Web 2.0: Photos

Once I figured out how to look at Classroom 2.0 I realized how helpful it is, especially to students like me who can’t figure anything out for the life of them. So I decided to learn about Photos seeing that I take photos almost everyday of my life and upload them onto my computer.

I learned about a new website called Animoto (http://animoto.com/), and at this site you can upload your pictures and mix them to make slideshows. To go along with the slideshow you can add music of your choice and make it go as fast or as slow as you would like. They look very similar to the slideshows that I have seen on people’s myspace accounts or also similar to movie trailers.

I watched a short tutorial on what needs to be done. First you just have to upload your photos or images. You can pick music from their library or upload some of your own music. Then it makes it into a video that you can email to your friends or family or you can post on a webpage. It is as simple as that!

I thought this was so interesting because it is kind of similar to the movie that we made in class. I could use this in my future to share slideshows with my students. It is something fun to do also with all the pictures I take, and I can send my friends these pictures in a fun, new, and interesting way. I made a short one for a example that is above this post.

Kidspiration

I absolutely loved the program. I think it has a lot of potential for both teachers and students. I had so much fun looking at all their different graphics and picking and choosing how to put together my own little piece of art. It is very simplistic and easily approachable. I think the only thing that complicated me was downloading the program and also trying how to save it as a jpeg. But other than those two setbacks this program was enjoyable. I think that students of all ages would love it. I am planning on teaching 5 and 6 years olds and I think they may have a few questions with the program, but nothing that a teacher couldn't assist them with!

I could incorporate this in the classroom in almost all aspects. The students could use this program for every subject. It is a fun visual learning assignment. Science projects and art projects and even group projects.. It would be a lot better if parents were informed about this wonderful program then they could work at home on the computer. If that was possible it would make their homework assignments interesting.

As for the via atomic learning I would have to say it was a little to much for me. I am not good at sitting down and watching tutorials on the computer. I once had to watch them for my VSAR302 class and I just couldn't follow along. If you miss a part it so difficult to go back and figure out when you went wrong. I personally need someone next to me helping me and keeping me focused on what needs to be done. Overall I enjoyed this assignment and feel that I have learned a lot through both the tutorial and also kidspiration.....can't wait to use them in my class!

Educ 422B