Penzu

Info about Penzu

Penzu is a website oriented to any person who likes writing and wants to keep an online journal. 
Penzu is ideal for students to have electronic portfolios. An e-portfolio is a digital collection of a person's pieces of writing. The advantage is that it can be easily edited and shared with the world or just with the teacher or classmates.
With Penzu, you can even attach pictures right next to your writings, which will appear on very realistic sheets of paper inside a thick leather notebook. 

Do it yourself!

Let’s get started! To start your own journal go to… Penzu

If it is the first access Penzu you will find a blank page.

1) You have to sign up to become a member. (It's free) press the green "sign up" button and fill in your data.

2) Once you have become a member, you are ready to start writing.

3) The upper toolbar can be used for many things, such as:

1) To add a new entry

2) To save your entry

3) To print

4) To add a photo

5) To share your journal

6) To lock your entry

7) To choose text format

8) To tag

9) To customize your Penzu background (this option is not for free)

10) To choose different versions for your journal (this option is not for free)

11) To add comments

4) If you want to add a photo, click on the camera button. After that, click on the Computer option and then upload photos from your computer by clicking on Browse Computer

5) If you click on Insert, your photo will appear within your text

6) If you click Attach, the photo will appear on the margin

7) If you want to see the list of your entries, click on the “notebook” button

8) Once you enter Penzu again, your journal will look like this:

It's your turn!

To do an activity click on this link: Activity

References:

Parry Z.(2012) Quietly disrupting higher education with entrepreneurial learning from: http://zenparryeducator.wordpress.com/engaged-online-learning/resources-engaged-online-learning/general-resources-educational-technologies-and-tools/

Dvolver

Info about Dvolver

Dvolver is an online software that allows you to make customized animated videos. According to Dvolver, "People have a lot to say, and they like to say it with animated characters." Dvolver is easy to use, free of charge, and you don't even need to sign up. Dvolver's website has a very simple layout. Right away you'll see a link to "Make a Movie," which is the first step toward your animated movie. As noted above, you don't even need to make an account before you start making your movie.
Dvolver Moviemaker could be used in a number of ways for education. Instead of assigning all students to do a more traditional write-up, students can chose a form of delivery that is best suited for them. This website could be a great alternative for the assignment that a student who is more visual could benefit from. Teachers could also use Dvolver to make movies to present material. (Dabbagh 2013)

Do it yourself!

 Let’s get started! Click on this link to create your own Movie… Dvolver

1) Begin by selecting the background and sky for your first scene. Each style has a fun description of the climate and culture of your chosen setting. Choose backround and sky.

2) Next, select a plot for your scene. "Rendez-vous," "pick-up," and "chase" are made for two characters, and "soliloquy" is made for one.

Then, choose the characters for your scene. There are more than 30 different characters to choose from, so this is a really great opportunity to customize your video for your desired recipients.

3) Once you have selected your characters and plot, you'll have the option of adding dialogue. Add up to three lines for each character. The dialogue will appear in a thought-bubble above the character's head in the finished movie.

4) Finally, select the music for your scene. By clicking on the options, you can preview the sound and its recommendations for use. 

5)After making your selection, you'll have the options to add a new scene, or to finish the movie. The last step to making your movie is to select a style for your titles. During this step you can also add your name and the title of your choice. These will appear in the title sequence of your video.

6) Now, you can review your video and send it to a friend

It's your turn!

To do an activity click on this link:Activity

References

Peachey N. (2009) Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers. Retrieved in October 2014 from: https://es.scribd.com/doc/19576895/Web-2-0-Tools-for-Teachers

Go Animate

Info about Go Animate

GoAnimate is a cloud-based platform for creating and distributing animated videos. It allows users to develop both narrative videos, in which characters speak with lip-sync and move around, and video presentations in which a voice-over narrator speaks over images and props, which may also move around. The service is provided on a freemium basis to consumers and has multiple subscription levels available for businesses. GoAnimate provides users with drag-and-drop tools that the company's website indicates can be used to access thousands of character models, backdrops, and other assets to create scenario-based videos - like political videos depicted during the 2012 presidential campaign. The platform offers text-to-speech character voices with customizable environments.

GoAnimate can be used as a fun way to introduce or reinforce concepts. Makes the platform for delivering content different instead of having just power points.  It gives the students another mode of expressing what they know. It also helps to have students really reflect on what they want to say and what point they have to get across (this due to the limit of words and time). Makes learning fun. Teachers can create animations for any grade level. Student creation level would be 4th grade and up. Does require some learning to use the tools. Of course, you know your students if you feel they can handle and work with it then go for it. Never stop the creativeness.

Do it yourself!

Let’s get started! Click on this link to create your own animation… http://goanimate.com/

      1) To create your video click on  Make a video – start from scratch

     2) To start your video select the background by clicking on the pictures on the left

   3) Once you selected the backround, choose the character. Click on the character and move it where you want

    4) By clicking on each character you can add voice. On the left, there are four options

   5) Add the props you want to include. By clicking on them you can change the size.

   

       















6) Choose the font of text and the bubbles you want to include in the video

        



















     7) You can choose background music for your video. Select one form the list

  8) Once you finish your first scene, click on “Add scene.” You can add a new blank scene or use the current with the modifications you want 

 9) Once you add all the scene you want, you are ready to preview the movie.

It's your turn!

To do an activity click on this link: Activity

References:

Vincent P (2013) A-Z Tools & Technologies: GoAnimate from: http://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/moodle/2013/10/23/a-z-tools-technologies-goanimate/