Tools Used To Create Multimedia

Web-based tools
 
VoiceThread (http://voicethread.unc.edu/)
Description: UNC has an account with VoiceThread, which allows users free access to post documents, PowerPoints, images, and other clips. Students are able to view or comment on postings and can add comments with voice, video, or freehand drawing. This is an excellent tool for students creating multimedia presentations and sharing with the rest of the class.
Example: http://voicethread.unc.edu/Example/practice.php
 
Ed.Ted.Com (http://ed.ted.com)
Description: TED-Ed is also a platform for teachers.  They can flip our TED-Ed original videos to use in their classrooms or use our flip from YouTube tool to build their own new lessons about any YouTube video.
Example: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-art-can-help-you-analyze-amy-e-herman
 
Glogster (http://edu.glogster.com)
Description:  Creates interactive posters for free. This would be particularly helpful for student presentations without access to a smart classroom. Students could be assigned to create their presentation using this free service, and then post it to the course discussion board, or email it directly to you.
Example: http://andramora.edu.glogster.com/bienvenidos/
 
 
Blogger (https://www.blogger.com/start)
Description:To encourage class participation, students could complete writing assignments in a blog and share it with you or the class. Students could also keep an ongoing journal of their experience in class or what they are learning – all effective ways to give students additional practice with their language acquisition.
Example: http://thehouseinmarrakesh.blogspot.com/
 
 
Hot Potatoes (http://hotpot.uvic.ca/)
Description:  Helpful in creating new activities for students to complete either during class or as a homework assignment. Students could also create assignments for the rest of the class to complete. This program allows the construction of online quizzes, crosswords, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and various other exercises.
Example: http://hotpot.uvic.ca/wintutor6/index.htm
 
 
Puzzlemaker (http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/ )
Description: Permits instructors to create various puzzles specifically designed to engage students in the course material.
Example: http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/pdf/WordSearchGreen.pdf
 
 
Google Sites (http://sites.google.com/   )
Description: An online application that permits the creation of a website that has the ability to function much like a wiki by allowing for group editing of certain pages. Videos, calendars, presentations, attachments, and text can be also added and customized to meet individual needs. Students can create pages to display information and work together in an online setting on a variety of collaborative projects. Registering for a free account is necessary to access the application
Example: http://sites.google.com/site/projectwikitemplate_en/
 
 
Web Poster Wizard (http://poster.4teachers.org/index.php)
Description: Offers students an online tool for creating posters for presentations. Students can add applicable information, images, and web links to the project. Completed projects can be viewed individually or from a teacher-created webpage. A class code will be provided for students after the instructor has organized the website to his/her liking.
Example: http://poster.4teachers.org/graphics/posterExample2.jpg?PHPSESSID=27dc50ede7f71691f312c424980c3854
 

Voki (http://www.voki.com)
Description: Creates a personalized avatar that can be used on websites, email, or a blog. Users can select one of the default voices or record their own voice. After creation, the website will provide a code enabling an established link to the avatar.
Example: http://www.shockwave.com/member/sixtyninecamaro.jsp
 
 
Edublogs (http://edublogs.org/   )
Description: Edublogs hosts hundreds of thousands of blogs for teachers, students, researchers, professors, librarians, and administrators involved in education. Edublogs are free, come with 20MB of free upload space (easily extended to 5 GB as a Supporter), and a heap of great features to encourage active learning.
Example: http://teachers.saschina.org/ahossack/
 
 
Xtimeline (http://www.xtimeline.com)
Description: This interactive tool allows educators to create a timeline that could be especially helpful in a literature or culture course. It is quite easy to plan various class projects on this website as well. 
Example: http://www.xtimeline.com/timeline/History-of-Japan
 
 
Prezi   (http://www.prezi.com)
Description: This is a great tool being used for class presentations by educators and students. The material goes a little beyond the PPT concept. The presentation is saved in a URL for ease of access.
Example: http://prezi.com/ldp_bbr206rp/
 

RSS Feeds
Description:RSS is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video—in a standardized format. Sakai allows for an RSS feed to be added as a content page, which would allow for dynamic content added to the site. For instance, you could have an RSS feed of Spanish news and the site would automatically pull that information and display it to the students. If you were talking about a specific topic in class, you could have an RSS feed that found articles that were related to that topic. 
Example: http://rss.cnn.com/rss/cnn_topstories.rss
 

Google Docs (http://docs.google.com)
Description: Easily upload documents from your computer to Google Docs in order for students to access them anytime and from anywhere. It is also possible to choose which students can access certain documents.
Example: http://homepage.mac.com/larow2/Voyages/index.html
 
  
Filamentality (http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/ )
Description: Filamentality is a fill-in-the-blank tool that guides educators through picking a topic, searching the Internet, gathering acceptable Internet links, and subsequently turns this information into online learning activities designed for students. Support is built-in along the way through Mentality Tips. In the end, it is possible to create a web-based activity educators can share with their students without advanced knowledge concerning HTML or serving web pages.
Example: http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/hotlistExample.html


Applications
PowerPoint
Description:Enables educators to quickly and easily create high-impact, dynamic presentations, while integrating workflow and ways to easily share information.
Example: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/HA101672691033.aspx
 
Audacity
Description: This open source software can be used for recording and editing sounds. Audacity can be easily used to record information content for digital presentations.
Example: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/screenshots

Windows Movie Maker
Description: This software is free for PCs and allows for simple editing of videos or adding audio narration to still images. After publishing your movie, you can upload it to Vimeo.com or YouTube.com and share it with your students.
Example:  http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/getstarted/possibilities.mspx


Equipment
Flip Camera
Estimated costs: $120
Description: Flip cameras are easy to use and have a great deal of classroom and out of classroom use and applications. You can record student interviews and presentations, and then have students watch and evaluate themselves. You can also use a Flip camera to create videos of yourself and edit it with Windows Movie Maker. The FLRC has several Flip cameras and tripods available to instructors to checkout.
Example: http://www.theflip.com/en-us/Products/mino.aspx#/meet-mino

Web Camera
Estimated costs: $40-$150
Description: A small video camera that attaches to a laptop or desktop computer. The FLRC has web cameras in all of the monitors in Dey 109. Instructors can assign a project where students need to create a first-person video or record themselves speaking. It is also very helpful when doing video chats such with software such as Skype or Elluminate.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Gn2TyEyHw
 
Camera phone
Estimated costs: students would most likely have these in their cellular phones
Description: A small camera installed in a cellular phone that allows for the recording of short- to medium-length videos. Camera phones can be used effectively in class to record presentations or lectures. 
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX8iVo5vc8o
 
MP3 Voice Recorder
Estimated costs: $30-$200
Description: Use this device to record lectures, student presentations, or oral exams so students can access them at anytime and anywhere. Allows the review of materials and encourages students to hear themselves and improve any pronunciation problems.
Example: http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-WS-510M-Digital-Recorder-Player/dp/B002650XNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1267919631&sr=8-1
 
 
USB Headset w/ Microphone
Estimated costs: $20 - $75
Description: An USB headset is useful when making audio recordings or when doing a voice chat. This inexpensive item will allow both instructors and students a wide range of opportunities to create multimedia content.
Example: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-ClearChat-Comfort-Headset-Black/dp/B000UXZQ42/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1267920127&sr=1-3