What in the world is Wimba?

Wimba is a tool I have learned about in my technology course that has allowed me to communicate with my instructor and classmates virtually. Through Wimba we can all be in different places around the world but once we log into the Wimba classroom we are all together. I think this is a unique tool and have enjoyed using it so far. Although we have experienced some technical difficulties along the way, I think as a whole my experience with Wimba has been a positive one. 

One of the most amazing things I discovered about Wimba was the ability to "Share" your screen. This gives you access to show others in your classroom exactly what you are viewing from your computer screen to theirs. This is helpful when presenting an idea to others, not only can you talk to them about the material but you can also place it right in front of their eyes!

 

Although I am a little nervous to present my topic to my classmates, it is not nearly as stressful as preparing for a live classroom presentation. I think this a great tool for students who have a fear of speaking in public. Students no longer have to get up in front of their peers or professor. Instead they can talk through their headset, show images and videos virtually and never actually see the person face to face. You can use this tool from the comfort of your own home!

               

Does this sound interesting to you? 

Well get going, give Wimba a try! 

Once you get started the possibilities are endless. 

Animoto

So what is Animoto and how can I use it in the classroom?

This is the video I watched that showed me how to use Animoto in just 60 seconds!
* Maybe it can inspire you as well. 

Have you ever thought about assigning a video project for your students and worried about how much class time it would take up? Well fear no more because Animoto is here! All you will need is a digital camera or photos you find online, a computer and an Animoto account for educators and in a few easy steps you and or your students can create a video that is unlike any other. With Animoto you can create a video that is 100% unique to you. 

I have found countless web pages that easily demonstrate how to create an account and then once you have the account how to make as many videos as you like using pictures, text and music. 

Once you create your video and submit it to Animoto they will email you the finished product. However if you are unhappy with the outcome you can edit it and Animoto will generate a new video as well as save the original one. You can easily share your video online and let others enjoy the masterpiece you created.  

I have read many ways in which teachers have used this product in the classroom. It can be a lot of fun for back to school nights, for parents to visualize what their children are learning. It can also be used in a variety of subject matters such as Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Math. 

Think creatively and explore all Animoto has to offer and you can become an

I have been assigned Animoto as my screen-casting project with Tiffany and we have learned a lot along the way. I think Animoto is an awesome tool to get kids excited about the content you are going to cover. This will eliminate boring them with the same old slide shows or lecture and note taking type of lesson most of us are used to. Here you will find the scoop.it account we created for our Animoto project. This is where we gathered some of our favorite sites and videos about Animoto so it is more convenient for you to view. 

This is the first video I saw about Animoto and why I became excited about it...education video 

Here are some of my favorite ways teachers say they use Animoto...

- Can create a 30 second public service announcement.

- Summarize the main idea of a story with images and words in 30 seconds or less.

- Create video flashcards for vocabulary words.

- Great for brainstorming!

- Present wonderful end of the year videos.

- Have students create a 30 second video about themselves at the beginning of the year so that everyone can get to know each other.

- Great way to introduce a new learning concept to students.

- Have students create a short photo brochure of a country you are studying.

- Students can create video flashcards to help memorize multiplication facts.

- Have students create 30 second news briefs about historical news events, natural disasters, or any event that ties into curriculum.

- Students can create short videos showing the steps they took in completing a Science Project. This would highlight the Scientific Process and they can share their work with the other students in the classroom.

QR Codes

         What are QR Codes?

 

QR stands for quick response and originated in Japan and has recently become more popular in the Middle East, Europe and America. These codes are used in a multitude of places and are popping up more and more all around us. They are used as store front schedules, links to web pages and for marketing on items such as business cards.  I recently saw that my local pharmacy was using the QR code on their business card. Even my current job Carrabba's Italian Grill is using QR codes to help people in their wine selection for a fun night out on "Tasting Tuesdays." I have even imbedded one onto my webpage where you can scan the QR code and find yourself right in my blog. Maybe that’s how you got here today!  Websites such as qrstuff.com and qrcode.kaywa.com will allow you to generate your own QR Code as well.

  

It is absolutely fascinating and can be a lot of fun for everyone, especially students. I know this because I am currently a student and my professor had us go around the classroom with our smart phones or I Pads and use our QR scanners to learn more about these unique codes. The reason I say they are unique is because they are like nothing else. Compared to the standard barcode it can hold about 7,089 numerical characters and 4,296 alphanumeric characters, where the barcode only uses 12.

                                                             

But how can QR codes be used in the classroom? They can be used to play trivia games, go on treasure hunts or use a YouTube channel. I hope you can have as much fun as I did with the QR Codes and I am sure now that you are aware of them you will be seeing them all over the place. Good luck and enjoy using them as a new teaching tool in your classroom.