Video Tools

This week we exlored different video tools.  I ended up playing around with all of the tools in the "toolbox" but wanted to expand on Animoto, Wideo, and Pixiclip.  I didn't want to spend too much time on the applications because not all schools have access to devices for applications and I wanted something more universally accessible!

Animoto (http://animoto.com/) is a tool I actually played around with in one of the first library courses I took.  I decided to give it another go, because I couldn't really remember much about it, other than I know I made a video.  I found it to be very user friendly and didn't take me as long as I remember the first one did some time ago!  I like that you are able to use both pictures and video and that the program takes a lot of the guesswork out of arrangement.  There are lots of different themes and songs available for use, plus you can upload your own, which makes the possibilities endless and unique!  I decided to make a video chronicaling my weight loss journey (in 30 seconds, which is difficult), since it's something I've been focusing on greatly in the last four months.  I have attached it below.  In a library setting, I think this will be very useful for book trailers to get kids reading the literature we bring in, and to use in library orientation to make learning procedures and processes in a more entertaining way!

Another tool I looked at was Wideo (http://wideo.co/).  This one drew my attention because of the cute, little animated characters.  I didn't like that you had to sign up to even play with the program, but nonetheless it had a lot of interesting templates to use and useful tutorials on how to get started.  I think Wideo would be a great tool for students to introduce different topics and features to other students.  It can also be used to make presentations for character studies in a book club or class.

Finally, the last tool I really liked was PixiClip (http://www.pixiclip.com/beta/).  I think interactive whiteboards are a really good way to get students to interact with each other and other students, and PixiClip was able to combine doodling along with recordings and video.  I thought this would really increase the variety of ideas that could be completed with this website.  I have a touch-screen computer, so writing was a lot easier (until I had to dot my i's haha).  I'm sure it would be a great application to use on a touch-screen device in technology-rich schools.