Z-Renee



link to my real wiki link to review 2 Url: []
 * 1) Review 1 of Animoto

Animoto is a visual media platform that works well with picture storage websites such as flickr.com or picassa.com. By placing pictures on these storage sites it makes it convenient to drag entire folders of similiar type material or events. However, this is not a limitation. It is just as easy to drag individual shots in one at a time. I did find that I couldn't just drag pictures from the websites, or email. There was a need to save them somewhere, such as an account drive, or the actual hard drive of the computer.

Animoto is able to make short 30 second productions for free. About fifteen pictures and/or text slots accompanied with music, that is already on the site, is all that is needed. You can even import you own music if you have a preference. Pictures are easily arranged and text quite easily added. There is also a feature in which the composer can pick the most important pictures to emphasize. The selections are then sent to the company where it is put together in a visually appealing and professional looking package. It is a nice way of making those of us who are not artistic look it.

As discussed in my other paper on of the program's biggest advantages is the ability to be creative and self-directed. This need not be a linear, step by step production, yet for the logic oriented student it can be. This can be used for an array of interests. It is not single in its nature, so with some thought, each student's interests can we woven into various projects. With today's visually oriented and short attention style student this program seems just about right for class type presentations.

This could be used not only with students, but with parents, for a short snapshot of what their child might encounter in the classroom, or possibly embedded in a wiki or class website to showcase what it is that the students are learning. It is at its most time consuming only when finding the visuals. Other than that it is a fast project that actually leads to learning.

Animoto's capabilities for differentiation could be used in multiple ways. For the ADHD or CD student it can be used individually, or in a support setting and is also something that can be gone back and forth to quite handily. For the shy and not so artistic, it is a way to present without actually displaying these insecurities.For the gifted and talented students it could easily be used as an extension activity.

Some disadvantages of this program are its limitation of time. Only 30 seconds of time slot is available for free productions. On an up note this would force selection as to the value of certain slides in portraying the central concepts. Students will have to have an email in order to have the finished product forwarded to them. I would say that the transport of pictures was probably the most cumbersome part of this process.

Advantages are the ease of setting up an account, the ability to move slides about, the ease of selection what's most important and above all else the ease to change ones mind. You look artistic without necessarily being so.