XtraNormal (http://www.xtranormal.com)
XtraNormal takes the complicated process of creating an animated video and simplifies it to a user-friendly type based platform. The free version of this site allows you to make short, simple videos that students seem to really enjoy. For example, Shawn created a video of superheros discussing why it's important to read the class syllabus. The class enjoyed it and the video only took a few minutes to create. Just pick a collection, choose your characters, and type in the narrative. Once you complete your video you can preview it, but give yourself about four hours for it to render. Completed videos can be embedded on your blog, website, or Facebook account. XtraNormal provides additional credits for educators, but you'll need to fill out this form: http://xtranormal.zendesk.com/requests/new.
Prezi (www.prezi.com)
Prezi is a great alternative to PowerPoint because it allows you to visualize the connections being made in the topic you are discussing. PowerPoints are linear. Once you change the slide, the information is gone. While this is helpful to show before and after sequences, they don't encourage the viewers to make connections as the speech continues. Prezi, on the other hand, allows speakers to create smoother, or at least more animated, transitions between the main points of a speech. Videos are also a pleasure to use in Prezi because they are embedded in the presentation. Prezi offers basic templates to use if you are just getting started, but we encourage you to experiment with the design wizard to create a presentation that really works with your topic. If you are doing a group presentation, try Prezi meeting, which allows several people to work on a Prezi at the same time. Finished Prezis can be downloaded as a .swf file (flash file) or embeded in a website. One thing that we find helpful is that Prezi is cloud based, meaning your Prezis can be accessed and edited on any computer, and presentations can be given on any browser with an updated Flash player.
This is Steve Stone at Bluegrass College. I've come up with a very similar list, but there may be some things you hadn't thought of.
ReplyDeleteI throw them into Diigo at
http://www.diigo.com/user/stevestoneky/best
or if you want MORE
http://www.diigo.com/user/stevestoneky/teaching
or
http://www.diigo.com/user/stevestoneky/learning
(a lot of overlap between those two)
Hey Steve, thanks for reading us, and thanks so much for your great suggestions! I definitely see some stuff to feature in your amazing lists. :)
ReplyDeleteDo you know how to get more xtranormal points for free? I submitted the form that is linked above. Do I need to do more? What are the chances of me getting more points this way?
ReplyDeleteWhen I submitted the form it took a couple of days for them to respond. I had a colleague here at EKU get a response the same day. I haven't heard of any legitimate educators being denied extra points for free, so you should be fine.
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