Tag Archives: app

by | October 2, 2018 · 11:05 am

VideoScribe (FR)

What is it

VideoScribe est un logiciel propriétaire (*GRATUIT pour les étudiants et le personnel de UBC via  Connect) disponible pour les utilisateurs OSX, Windows et IO pour produire rapidement des vidéos de haute qualité, sans expérience ni compétence spécifique. VideoScrive est livré avec une grande bibliothèque d’images et grâce à un éditeur simple et puissant audio, les images et la vidéo permettent de personnaliser l’apparence de l’affichage et de l’animation. De plus, l’application animera automatiquement les images et le texte que vous ajoutez à votre projet. Lorsqu’un projet est terminé, il peut être publié sur YouTube ou Facebook, exporté vers PowerPoint ou sauvgardé sur l’appareille numérique.  Les utilisateurs de VideoScribe Pro peuvent également personnaliser les formats vidéo, les tailles et les fréquences d’images.

Fonctionnalités

  • Images libres de droits
  • Animation automatique d’images et de textes
  • Téléchargez sur plusieurs ordinateurs avec une seule licence
  • Fonctionne hors ligne
  • Enregistrez vos scribes au format MOV, WMV ou AVI
  • * Les licences UBC permettent un téléchargement d’un an et peuvent être renouvelées par les personnels de UBC, la faculté ou les étudiants. Téléchargez depuis Connect en utilisant votre CWL.

 

Why is it relevant

La création de contenu engageant est une partie importante de la présentation. En tant que technologie numérique pour la création multimédia, VideoScribe réduit le temps de production et a le potentiel d’augmenter considérablement la qualité vidéo, ce qui nécessite peu d’expertise de la part de ses utilisateurs.

Connexion et Utilisation: http://diy.open.ubc.ca/2015/03/16/why-make-an-animation-video-with-videoscribe/

Cette ressource est idéale dans une classe de langue seconde telle que l’immersion française, le français de base, etc. Elle permet aux élèves de s’engager de façon créative dans l’apprentissage du langage.

How to get started
  1. Connectez-vous sur Connect
  2. Accédez à l’onglet «Ressources» en haut à droite de votre barre de navigation
  3. Remplissez le formulaire «VideoScribe Registration» en haut à gauche de la page. Puis téléchargez et installez.
Video demonstration

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by | · 10:47 am

Stop Motion Studios (FR)

What is it

Stop Motion peut être créée de différentes manières. Aujourd’hui, il existe des applications simples pour créer des animations !

Il y a des applications qui sont accessibles en ligne et en version application.  Stop Motion Animator (pour les ChromeBooks) ou l’application gratuite et simple offerte par Parapara de Mozilla.

Stop Motion Studio est une application qui facilite le processus de création d’animations en stop motion avec de l’argile, des découpes, du LEGO, etc. C’est un excellent moyen d’explorer les histoires et le multimédia. Il y a deux versions qui sont offertes : une gratuite et une payante.  Voilà ce que vous pouvez faire avec Stop Motion Studio :

Version gratuite:

  • minuterie réglable
  • paramètres de l’appareil
  • mise au point automatique
  • exposition automatique
  • haute définition exportation
 Version payante:

  • thèmes
  • clips sons
  • écran vert
  • filtres
  • peinture

 

Why is it relevant

Bien que tout éditeur vidéo peut faire ce que Stop Motion Studio fait, cette application restreint les fonctionnalités à ce qui est pertinent dans la création d’animations en stop motion. En outre, il ajuste le nombre d’images pour chaque image afin qu’elle corresponde mieux au stop motion, alors que cela pourrait être un peu plus complexe à configurer dans les éditeurs vidéo. Enfin, les vidéos sont enregistrées en haute définition par défaut, ce qui simplifie le processus.

Cette ressource est idéale dans une classe de langue seconde telle que l’immersion française, le français de base, etc. Elle permet aux élèves de s’engager de façon créative dans l’apprentissage du langage.

How to get started

C’est très facile de travailler avec Stop Motion Studio, il vous suffit de télécharger l’application et d’explorer toutes les fonctions. Il y a des démarches qui peuvent faciliter la création d’une animation :

  • Utilisez quelque chose pour stabiliser (un pied, un trépied, etc) l’appareil photo et corriger l’angle.
  • Utilisez la fonction minuterie pour ne pas avoir à appuyer sur les boutons de l’appareil photo.  Cela, évitera de pousser la caméra hors de place.
  • Jouez un peu avec les différentes fonctions et les réglages.  Par exemple la mise au point automatique et l’exposition automatique pour voir des créations dramatiques différentes entre les images.
  • Obtenez un bon éclairage, les vidéos aiment la lumière et le bon contraste.
  • Storyboard, ou du moins prévoyez à l’avance à quoi chaque scène va ressembler. Cela vous permettra d’économiser du temps d’édition et de rendre l’histoire plus cohérente.
Video demonstration

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by | September 22, 2018 · 8:16 pm

Storybird

Storytellers can bring life to words as they weave together details that create beautiful imagery in your mind and now there’s a digital tool that can bring those images to life. Storybird is a cloud-based tool that allows students and teachers to select from a variety of high-quality images and artworks to tell a story. Be inspired to create new worlds and stories based on beautiful professional artistry provided through Storybird or find images that resonate with a story that’s been waiting for an illustrator.

Images as story prompts can help inspire ideas and creative expression in learners. This can be accomplished using printed or projected images in the classroom. With Storybird, sudents can select different types of images provided by professional artists that vary by style and theme. They can read thousands of student-created stories or professional stories while also contributing to this literary community. Younger students can create picture books while older students can publish their novels while also engaging in peer editing from other readers. Students could also create stories to share between buddy classes in the school where early readers can read their stories to older buddies while older buddies assist with creating the stories online. Multilingual students will feel empowered by creating bilingual stories to share or co-creating with peers while learning about a topic. Another option provided by Storybird is to publish the book in print for students to take home to their families for an additional cost.

If students are using Storybird to create digital stories, this is a great step to practice storyboarding, scriptwriting, and pairing appropriate imagery for their creations. Storybird is also a great entry-level for creating digital content because it doesn’t require student emails and its platform is without technical challenges thereby leaving more time for the imaginative creation of content.

  1. Create an Educator Account (at one time this was free access, in Sept 2023 the fee structure seems to have changed and the free account access is now quite limited) 
  2. Create a class and end date for that class.
  3. Add students without needing student emails (remember student privacy).
    • Optional: You can link google classroom accounts and parent emails
  4. Assign a project or create a fundraiser using Storybird (optional)
  5. Let students login and create their first book! (download the student invitations with login info)
    • Let them be inspired by artwork OR have them visit the how-to guides for a more scaffolded approach.

Note** Teachers and individual users can be rewarded with “crowns” based on how often they submit stories. These can be redeemed for specific guides and other digital downloads from Storybird. NB: Always carefully consider individual needs and differences, class climate etc before undertaking any kind of reward system in the classroom!

 

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by | · 3:43 pm

Animoto

Image result for animoto

Let this cloud-based video creation service seamlessly pair templates and music to your own choice of photos or videos for an elegant presentation. You can use it as an educator to create video slideshows or allow your students a different approach to presenting.

We want to give choice to students so they have ownership over how they share their knowledge, so this is one option they could choose. Relieve the anxiety of having to create from scratch by using Animoto’s themes, music, and automatic layouts. Animoto also provides music with each theme or you can select other songs that are provided without worrying about licensing. You can also access a stock image library provided by Getty Images to use for free. Use Animoto to scaffold your learners from posterboards or powerpoint, and prepare them for going even deeper with multi-media presenting. If you want to read more about how Animoto can be used in a classroom, read their Education Blog for lesson ideas like building book trailers, presenting research, or sharing historical timelines or recounts.

You could also use Animoto yourself to shake-up your classroom/school newsletters, year-end slideshows, teaching vocabulary, introducing new content or concepts, and even to introduce yourself. Read their FAQ page for additional videos and supports that will help you get started in your own classroom.


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  1. Download the Animoto App for iOS or Android, or go to their online Website.
  2. Create an Animoto Account.
    • You can apply for a FREE teacher account which includes up to 50 student accounts which are active for one year.
    • The code for this account sometimes goes into your spam folder so check there if you can’t find it.
  3. Choose to make a Memory or Marketing Video for your class.
    • Memory: Simply upload your photos, choose the layout, and add music.
    • Marketing: More controls to let you add voiceover, text, and even videos.
  4. Pick your theme. Preview and then create!
  5. Let it walk you through their easy tutorial. Search for images, music, and organize them into the pre-made themes.
  6. Present & Watch
  7. Assess – self, peer, and the teacher
    • Moira West (2015) created an AnimotoRubric to give you an idea of how to assess student videos.


If using this for students you’ll need to follow a different approach to create student accounts which Animoto details on this page.

  1. Make a Gmail Account – you’ll want one not related to your personal gmail account.
  2. Create alias emails for your students. **just a variation on your master email address**
    • In Animoto, click on sign up.
    • Use your class gmail account + a student alias [division1+fakestudent@gmail.com]
    • Use an alias for their name.
    • Assign a password OR have a class lesson about strong passwords and appropriate username choices.

 

 

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Video: Animoto (2016). Creating your first Animoto Video

 

Video: Anna Otto (2012) Animoto Student Accounts

 

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by | August 28, 2018 · 8:43 am

MeisterTask

MeisterTask Logo


Click above to view an example of a MeisterTask project with four collaborators.


MeisterTask is a project and task management tool that aims to make the process of managing a team project as intuitive as possible. This app allows you to create tasks, organize them into sections and assign them to other team members. Meistertask is not limited to simple task management, as it employs more advanced functions to add complexity to your project. Each task can have sub-tasks, checklist items, due dates, comments , tags to organize your tasks, time spent on the task, and even notes.

The process of creating a project board is made more intuitive than other task management programs by employing drag-and-drop mechanisms and simple, eye-catching icons that direct you on what/where to click. Made by the same company that made MindMeister, MeisterTask integrates it’s task management with a mind-mapping structure created with MindMeister.

Managing projects become less of a hassle with MeisterTask. You can introduce MeisterTask to your students as a way to keep track of group project work. With each task being visually assigned to a student in a group, each student of the group is held accountable to all of the tasks they are assigned. If in a group project there is a group member not doing as much work as the others, you can look at their MeisterTask project board to objectively see how much work they’ve done and help bring them back on track.

Students would also be able to visually identify the necessary steps to be taken toward finishing a project. By having students plan out project board before a project begins, students are able to see how much work they need to get done relative to the due date of a project. This can help students plan more accordingly by prioritizing more urgent tasks over less urgent ones.


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  1. Sign up for a free MeisterTask account at meistertask.com (You can also use your Google account to log in!)
  2. Create a new project and give the project a name.
  3. Invite other people to the project if needed.
  4. Select the project you wish to work on in the projects sidebar.
  5. Add tasks to a section by clicking the + sign underneath the section.
  6. Add sections by clicking the + sign to the right of the sections.
  7. Click on a task to add more details (checklist items, due dates, tags, attachments, description) to the task.
  8. Invite more people to join your project by clicking the invite button to the right of your project sections.

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Video: MeisterTask (2015). MeisterTask: Getting Started. 
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Watch this video to see an introduction of how MeisterTask works!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o1aR4OvCrI

Video: MeisterTask (2015). MeisterTask: Online Task Management and Team Collaboration. 

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by | July 15, 2018 · 3:02 pm

Photomath

Photomath Logo

Photomath scanning math equations.

Photomath can scan a wide variety of math equations.

Photomath is a powerful math teaching app that gives students solutions to math problems as well as the steps taken to achieve the solution. The app uses the camera on your phone or tablet to view written or printed math problems then immediately returns the solution with each individual step explained. The app can handle a wide range of equations; even including calculus and trigonometry. The app will also produce visual graphs for elementary functions.

While most educational technologies have been developed to provide students with an enhanced learning experience, this educational technology is controversial in that one can provide a strong argument that this could be a hindrance to a student’s learning experience. This app can be used to help students learn the mathematical mechanics behind a solution; concurrently, this can also be damaging towards a student’s learning experience by making math solutions quicker and simpler to solve for instead of doing the mental work on pencil and paper.

The greatest danger in this app is that a student can use it for academic misconduct; for example: completing homework questions using the app and not doing any mental work. With the app showing the steps taken to reach the solution, it would also be almost impossible to distinguish the work between a student that used Photomath and a student that did not.

For math teachers, it would be very important to be aware of this app’s existence and the possible implications that this app can have on your classroom. Educational technologies has made educators rethink how classrooms should be taught, Photomath is a prime example of a technology that can completely change how the classroom is taught. There are many questions that arise about the future of the math classroom; a future with Photomath.

If a student’s homework can be completed with the use of Photomath, would it still be reasonable to assign homework?
Should all assessed class work be only completed in the monitored environment of a classroom?
Is there a way to distinguish the work between a student who uses Photomath and one that doesn’t?
Should math homework use more “real-world math problems” rather than abstract symbol math?

This app has also become quite popular and come into prominence in the news, earning features on TIME magazine and The New York Daily News.

Video: b/60 (2014). PhotoMath App Can Help Students Cheat Using Cell Phone Camera. 

  1. Download the Photomath app on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
  2. Scan a math problem written or printed on paper.
  3. Edit the equation if needed by tapping the pencil icon.
  4. Tap the red box to see the steps taken to achieve the answer.
  5. View the notebook to see your previous equations scanned.

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Watch this video to see how Photomath works!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er7x11Nbi3I

Video: Photomath (2015). Photomath 2.0. 

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by | August 29, 2017 · 10:16 am

Ear Training Apps

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Ear training is a skill that enables musicians to identify different musical elements such as melodies, pitches, and chords solely through hearing. This skill is invaluable to musicians and as a result, numerous apps have been developed to improve listening skills. Some apps focus on being able to decode notes, intervals, and chords, which can help students who sing or play an instrument. There are also other ear training apps for music technology students who produce music or sound engineers who wish to adjust the frequency of music.

  • Ear Trainer Lite has 32 exercises to help train music students in identifying notes, intervals, chords, chords progressions, and scales (major, minor and pentatonic). Statistics are generated from the exercises to guide music students in keeping track of their progress. Available on Apple platforms.
  • MyEarTraining is similar to Ear Trainer Lite in that is provides music students with exercises in identifying short melodies, intervals, chords, chords progressions, and scales. In addition, there are singing exercises to ensure vocals are in tune. Statistics are also provided by the exercises to allow music students to track their progress. Available on Android, Apple or a web browser.
  • Complete Ear Trainer is a low-cost comprehensive ear training app that provides a variety of ear training exercises at various levels. In addition, students can customize drills according to their needs. Available on Apple or Android platforms.
  • TrainYourEars is an app made specifically for sound engineers. This app will provide music technology students with the opportunity to detect equalizers in the music and how to correct them. It can take years for sound engineers to develop this skill, but with TrainYourEars, students are able to quiz themselves on songs they are familiar with and are then asked to distinguish the difference between different equalizers and frequencies. Continuous training will allow them to enhance their skills and develop a quicker pace.

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