What Have I Been Up To?

   Our latest task was a fun one indeed! In addition to continuing to work on my website (more on that later...) this week I have been using various video tools on the web. FUN, FUN, FUN!! I have used these tools in the classroom before.
   
   First up is a student favorite, powtoon.  http://www.powtoon.com/ I have used this one in my classroom many times. I must admit that while it is a student fav, it is definitely one of mine as well. A little background on me and my classroom. I am a teacher that embraces technology, who uses her Smart board daily, along with a document camera and my i Pad. My class is lucky to have a class set of i Pads (one for each student!) I know this is rare ~ but I use them everyday as much as I can! We work hard in our grade to make engaging, rigorous lessons and using Powtoons adds a (forgive me) certain PUNCH to a lesson. Let me set the background for you, imagine introducing a unit by standing there at the front of the classroom and just blabbering on about whatever topic we needed to teach........BOOOOR-ING....Can you hear the snoring? I can. Now, fast forward to the age of technology, imagine the same academic goal only for your "Hook" you intro the unit using an amazing Powtoon that takes you minutes to create----can you hear the roar, the excitement coming from the audience... I mean students? I can!! They are excited, chomping at the bit, ready for more, hanging on the edge of their seats. Get the picture? I am honest when I say, it is much more fun to teach the second way with greater rewards using technology to "hook" them. Anyways, back to my post.

   The second tool is equally exciting, animoto. You can find it at http://animoto.com/ I have also worked with my third graders using this tool. Our school spends a great deal of planning time focused on the assessment part of a lesson plan. We use various ways to check for comprehension, so it is important to keep it fresh and mix it up a bit. Anyone can plan a summative assessment using a Unit test , but why not be more engaging, live on the edge and allow students to produce an animoto as an end of unit assessment? Think about teaching Ancient Greece and Rome, who wouldn't rather create an animoto to review the SOL's taught like architecture, geographical locations, occupations, land/climate/crops. Can you imagine how fun a creative tool like this could be? We all know students learn more when they are engaged and interested. So, why not try it!

Here are some equally fabulous ways that I have used Animoto in my classroom ~

• Create a presentation during an autobiography unit on Famous Americans
• Do a book report using animoto. A really catchy book talk presentation is a Fantastic way to present to the class!
• Science topics work well ~ how about using one to teach the simple machines

   Now, last but certainly not least, is pixiclip. Pixiclip is an online digital whiteboard that allows users to add sound to their sketch. As I mentioned, we utilize our i Pads a lot throughout the day. The students can use pixiclip to capture the math problem they are working on (Great for checking their work during math problems.)  Also, back in "Assessment Land", why not use it as an exit pass or Formative Assessment to check for understanding at the end of a lesson? If you are teaching explorers, students can use this tool to trace a particular explorers route and add sound to their sketch. Check out pixiclip at http://www.pixiclip.com/beta/

   Using any of these video tools, will definitely enhance the learning / lesson. I know it makes for more exciting teaching, which is a Win ~ Win in my book!! Which tool will you incorporate into your classroom and how? Please share your thoughts and ideas!! I would love to hear from you!