Why am I referring to these blog entries, you ask? Well, the reason is simple: I have another video creation tool to share with you. It is always good to see what the different tools are so you can determine which one is the best pedagogically appropriate tool to use in your classroom.
Today’s tech snack can be found at the following url: http://www.movenote.com/
Movenote is an online tool that allows you to import your pictures, pdfs, word documents, and other files into an online video. To start using movenote, you have to create a free account. You can create a unique username or password or if you have a gmail account, you can use your gmail account information to log into the site. Once you have logged into the site, you will see a screen that looks likes similar to the image below:
When you log into movenote, you are asked to add slides and you are asked to let movenote access your device’s camera and microphone. Slides can be any type of file including pictures, word documents, pdfs and more. As you click through the "slides", you are able to record your voice and image so you are creating an instructional step by step video.
Classroom implications
Movenote is a great tool to provide and create your own instructional videos. It is also a good way that students could also create their own videos for project based assessments. **Full Disclosure: While Movenote is easy to use, it is not a tool I would recommend for younger students. This would be appropriate tool to use with Middle school students and up. ( Grades 5 and up). Also, since the software accesses your device's internal camera and microphone, you need to make sure that you are clear on your school's policy on student privacy. Since these videos can be accessed via the Internet( as well as downloaded), you would need to assure that student's rights are not violated while they use the tool.( If your device has a built in camera, you could place a small piece of paper over the lens, so that students' faces are not shown in the video if this is a concern). Also, movenote will work on any browser, but I did run into a few bugs while using it on Internet Explorer. **
Okay, now that I have done all the disclosures, lets get into how this tool can be used in the classroom. As a teacher, I am firm believer of not re-inventing the wheel, so the below text is from teachersfirst.com. They did an excellent review, critque of this tool so below is their feedback:
"Encourage your students to use this tool for projects and reports. Use this tool for analysis of a lab report, the culminating project for literature circles, book reviews, explaining a math problem, or a digital portfolio for artwork or music. Have students record their authentic language (reading a Spanish or French paragraph or ESL/ELLs reading English) to listen to their pronunciation. Students can take pictures on a field trip and share them via Movenote to show their parents what they learned. Students could illustrate a short story they wrote, using the audio to record the story as the illustrations slide past. Use this program when you have to be away from the classroom instead of writing out all the directions for a sub. Use it for absent students to stay on top of what has been discussed, assigned, or completed in class. Use it to explain how to solve a math problem and post it on the class website for students to refer to at home. Use it as a screencast for giving feedback for student writing. This tool would be useful for blended or flipped learning, giving students time to absorb information about content, leaving class time for individualized learning."
Until we meet again at the Tech Snack Café! Happy Snacking!