Animoto
Animoto automatically combines images, text, video, and audio into a video that can easily be distributed online.
Use it to introduce yourself to the class.
You can include your background and experience with the subject and add personal touches like photos and your favorite music to connect with students.
Use a short video to introduce or summarize a unit
Create anticipation for upcoming units or recap important concepts you want students to take away or enduring understandings you’d like students to have.
Use it as a student presentation tool.
Students can create and post their own productions about an aspect of the course or about how the course material relates to them personally.
Pros
It’s free. Free education version of the software permits a 6-month plus account allowing for unlimited 10 minute web quality videos
It”s simple to use. Just pick a template and upload images and copy/paste text. It has a good selection of music available within the product but audio can also be uploaded to incorporate into the final production.
It’s mobile. There is an iPhone and iPad app.
Cons
Syncing can be a challenge. It can be a little tricky to get the video and audio to appear in tight synchronization. An Animoto user has described how they have accomplished syncing narration to their video here.
It has limited flexibility. Beyond using templates, you cannot customize the look of your production. In addition, text per ‘slide’ or ‘image’ is 22 characters. You can get around this by simply making more slides but blocks of text are limited to 22 characters
Course Introduction Examples:
- Kelly Schrum at George Mason University uses Animoto for her class assignments. View an example.
- History of Still Photography by Michelle Pacansky-Brock
- Visual Thinking by Michael Kieley
- Social Studies Methods by Ludmila Smirnova
- Step by step guide for students that includes screenshots. created by Lisa Young for her class at Scottsdale Community College. See the details of her course activity where she uses Animoto for students to get to know each other.