Promoting Another Blog

Promoting Another Techie Teacher Blog

  

What did I just watch? 

     The embedded video you just watched was created using Voki.  Voki is a free web tool that allows users to create speaking avatars.  The final versions of the avatars can be embedded in blogs, wikis, or easily linked in other websites.  The cool thing about Voki is that users can choose from many different avatars, backgrounds, and text-to-speech voices.  If preferred, the user can also record their own voice in place of the computerized version.

Where did you find this?

     I first learned about Voki (and other audio tools for blogs) from the blog Free Technology for Teachers.  FreeTech4Teachers is written and maintained by Richard Byrne.  Because I didn't always feel comfortable learning about and using technology in the classroom, this blog helped make the process much smoother.  This blog is easy to read, has an invaluable number of resources, and he always includes how the technology can be applied to the classroom.  Free Technology for Teachers isn't just geared towards middle school or high school teachers, but there are excellent resources for elementary teachers as well.   

A few more things...

     Another reason I enjoy following Free Technology for Teachers is because Richard Byrne often invites guest bloggers to add to his site.  For example, a really useful post that delves into Voki a bit further was written by a teacher and technology trainer named Shelley Terrell.  In her guest post "Engaging Students With Voki" she provides many different ideas on how to use Voki in educational settings.  

     Additionally, posts on Free Technology for Teachers are short and sweet; they get straight to the point!  There are almost always videos, screen shots, and tutorials on how to use the new technology tools.   Teachers don't often have a lot of free time, so this blog is the perfect solution!

So if you're looking for a cool new technology resource, or you just have some time on your hands, be sure to travel on over to Free Technology for Teachers and click around!

      

Xtranormal Animated Movies

Xtranormal: Creating Animated Videos from Text

What is Xtranormal?

     Xtranormal is a video creation tool that uses text-to-speech technology.  Users can create a video by choosing characters, a background, and then typing the dialogue to be read aloud by the computer program.  Animations and sound effects can be easily dragged and dropped into the text boxes to add to the dialogue.  

The site easily allows for videos to be shared to popular social media sites, provides embed codes and a link directly to your video, and it also is easy to publish your completed videos directly to YouTube from the site.  

There are both free and paid plans available for this video creation tool.  There are even education plans available for teachers and students.  The main difference between the paid and free plans are the number of choices for story settings and characters. 

This post, Xtranormal Intro, is a great resource for learning how to get started with Xtranormal. 

Give me an example.  
      One way I have used Xtranormal in the classroom is by creating videos to introduce my students to new topics and content in a more engaging way.  Here is an example of how I introduced narrative essays.

     
     Students could easily use Xtranormal to create narrative stories, recreate scenes from a novel being read in class, or they could use it for reflective learning to share what they have learned.  One very unexpected, but useful aspect is punctuation affects the way the characters read the lines.  Students will find it useful to use proper grammar and punctuation in order to have the characters correctly say what is intended.  Users will quickly realize if sentences are not punctuated correctly, the meaning can be easily lost.  Yay for hidden literacy lessons! 

Want more ideas?
     Students could use Xtranormal in so many ways! Videos could be created to introduce themselves to the class, present information they learned on a certain subject, explain a concept, learn the importance of dialogue, show character traits of from a characters in a novel, give a summary... the possibilities are endless!  

THIS SITE has even more great ideas on how to incorporate Xtranormal into the classroom; there are even ideas for multiple subject areas.  And because Xtranormal videos can be created with languages other than English, it would be perfect for foreign language learning! 

Resources:

Box of Tricks: Technology and Education - "Xtranormal in the Classroom"

Digital LiteracyNH - "7 Ideas for Using Xtranormal in the Classroom"

Free Technology for Teachers - "Xtra Normal: Type to Create a Movie"
ICTAcross Curriculum 2012 Wiki - "Xtranormal"