Working with Educational Tools

I have tried out several tools and the ones I found the most user-friendly and which I feel I can use in my classes F2F and online are PhotoPeach, Windows Moviemaker and I also tried to do something different with PowerPoint as I have a lot of presentations which I would like to update. I was surprised to find that it was easier to embed a video in PowerPoint, but that it only seemed to work on my personal computer which is fine for my F2F classes, but not for working online.
My next option was PhotoPeach and although I had some trouble organizing the timing and the order of the photos I think it would be an excellent tool for English Language beginners and personally I found it very motivating and my children wanted to make their own after seeing mine.
The last one I used was Windows Moviemaker and it was pretty frustrating, but I felt it was the tool that came closest to allowing me to tell a story. I am now saving for a video camera so that I can continue, but using video rather than photos. I think it is interesting that my story in Windows Moviemaker felt more real to me because of the voice and I noticed that even my granddaughter would stop playing to listen. I taped my voice many times as I wanted it to sound like the stories I heard on the radio many years ago.
Another tool I tried was Prezi, but I think I am not technically competent enough and I got very frustrated, although after seeing my classmates work I will try again. I tried ToonDo, but I also lost my work and I found it hard to get the effects I wanted.
I think that I will continue using these tools and little by little some of the more complicated ones to make my classes more interesting and authentic. I think that most of my students are more technically proficient and they enjoy using different tools in the classroom. In my experience many shy students like to have time to prepare their presentations and feel less threatened presenting a video clip, a cartoon or photo story rather than speaking in Public. I think that it is important to show them what is available and to encourage them to find the tools they like best and to be aware that these tools can help us create more authentic learning situations in a second language.

This is the link to my story which is designed to stimulate beginners in English to present their family and practise the names of family members:
Meeting My Family on PhotoPeach

I created a short movie called Overcoming Her Fear to stimulate conversation and creative writing for basic level English students.

I also made a PowerPoint presentation of Facing Fear
This is available in the library option of the Media tab.

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