Internet Resource Evaluation

http://animoto.com/

How could I use this: I think I would use this site to create short videos for teaching a specific concept. In order to do this I would probably need one of the more expensive plans to do this. I would also use this site if I wanted to share important moments that happened in my classroom. This site would be a good way to share these moments with the parents as well as other teachers in my school.

Ease of Use: This site seems pretty easy to use. Their philosophy is to create simple and beautiful videos. You start out by choosing the pictures you want to add to your project and then finish with adding the music. Of course you get more choices if you go with a more expensive package but it looks like you can make a beautiful project at any level. There is also an iPhone and Android App for easier sharing with your family and friends.

Cost: Animoto has five different options for individuals ranging from beginners to professional.

1.     Free: includes 30 second web quality videos with limited styles. Individuals also have access to 600+ tracks. However, you can’t save to your computer.

2.     Plus: Cost is $30/year or $5/month. 10 minute web quality videos with access to 40 different styles and 600+ tracks. With this option individuals can download to their computer.

3.     Plus HD: $99/year or $15/month 10 minute HD videos with access to 40 different styles and 600+ tracks. With this option you can download to your computer.

4.     Pro: $249/year or $15/month. 20 minute HD quality videos with access to 56 styles and 2,000+ tracks. With this option individuals can download to their computer.

5.     Premium: $499/year. All the features that are found in the pro package plus the option of selling to other business. Also included are Vimeo Pro membership and access to more commercially licensed music.

Flexibility of Design: There are not many designs available to the free users however if you are looking to make something very basic then I think you can do just fine with the package. I also think that the basic package might work for lower elementary teachers. However, I think an upper elementary and high school teacher would want to choose one of the more expensive packages so they have more choices but only if they feel that they would use it more than once or twice in their classrooms.

Security: All of the videos you make are private unless you choose to share them with the public.

Add media? The site can grab photos from Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa, SmugMug, or Instagram. If you want to access photos that are on your computer instead of one of the above mentioned sites you can use the Lightroom or Aperture plugins for easy uploading.

 

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http://yodio.com/

How could I use this: I think I would use this as a way for my students to evaluate a project that I have assigned them. I think this would be a more fun way for my students to record what they learned while creating their project as well as possibly asking fellow students about what they learned from their project. This will encourage students to be detailed with their reflections without having to write down everything. This might work for students who struggle with writing their thoughts down or can be used with students who are blind and have assistance from a parent or other adult who can do the dialing on the phone for them.

Ease of Use: This site seems pretty easy to use. You start by calling the phone number on the website and record your commentary. Then you head to their website to retrieve your recording. You can start with a basic recording that is a minute long with one picture. Finally, you pair the recording with your photo and you’re ready to share it with your family and friends.

Cost: This site is free to record, publish and share on blogs or websites. You can also upgrade your author account to a monthly fee of either $6.99 for 50% royalties or $34.99 for 70% royalties.

Flexibility of Design: There is not much flexibility to design but it does seem very flexible to record whatever you need to record. Also, since you are calling a phone number to make your recording you can design from anywhere in the world!

Security: You make the decision of who gets to see your project. You can choose whether you want to share it with the public or just share it with your family and friends.

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http://www.edmodo.com/

How could I use this: I think I would use this site if I had an upper elementary or high school classroom. (However, right now I am only subbing so I don’t have my own classroom yet but hopefully next year!) I think this site would encourage older students to take their learning outside of the school building and be more interactive in their learning. I also think that this site will help older students to take responsibility for their own learning because they might have to respond to a given post every so often or have to email their teacher an answer by a specific date. I think with the availability of technology in today’s world this would be an amazing option for older students to “take their learning into their own hands”.

Ease of Use: This site encourages students to become more excited about learning! The classroom discussions can be continued in a safe online environment. The site seems very easy for both teachers and students to use. Teachers can create an online classroom in which they can track students’ progress, continue classroom discussions, set reminders, as well as having an easy way to  communicate with both parents and students about important events that are coming up. There are also apps available in iTunes so that students can take their classroom with them where ever they go. There are also other apps that are available that help assist the student’s learning and help the teacher amplify their lessons using digital content.

Cost: This site is free to sign up.

Flexibility of Design: This site seems very straight forward and easy for any teacher to use in order to create an online classroom environment that works for them as well as their students. The many different options also help teachers in creating their online classroom.  

Security: Unlike the other sites, Edmodo requires the teacher to monitor what goes on in their classroom.  The teacher needs to inform the students about all of the procedures of working in the online classroom and make sure the students are following through with these procedures. The teacher can also create an Edmodo school domain to protect both the students and the teacher themselves. Once the school domain is up and running, the school personal who is in charge of the domain will have access to all student and teacher activity provided with full discloser.