Tools

= ** Tools, Tips & Samples ** = ** Some favorite tools to review today: (more for your own review on other pages) **

//if you have trouble viewing this page please go to the URL box above and delete the S in https and the content will load or// //in Chrome, click on the shield in the upper right corner and load unsafe scripts.//** . = [|StoryBird] - Free online tool to create digital books -illustrations provided in a set - select what you like and create the story from there. Many choices of illustrators and art work ! =

Tips: **
 * **Teacher accounts with individual log on cards**
 * **Use assignment function – spell check on or off**
 * **PDF $ minor cost if desired – print off like picture book**
 * **If you publish privately cannot embed –must publish publicly to embed**
 * **Great to use as intervention tool - students create story and do all writing and then you edit with line below of correct spelling and language - becomes very clear what sight words need to be studied**
 * ** Students must select illustrator and images choices and THEN create a story with some of those **
 * ** Great and engaging for 2nd grade and up **
 * ** Have a new chapter book option which allows multiple chapters for older students **
 * ** I can't get my students off of it ! **
 * ** Best to have a rubric given in advance and a story map for kids to outline otherwise tends to get out of hand **
 * ** Tech support very good about answering emails and helping **

** How to : ** Here is a screenshot "how to" I created, but of course, shorebird has updated - These will get your through however util I update the photos . media type="custom" key="28284823"

** [|Blabberize] – Free online tool to download and image and “make it talk” **

** Tips: ** ** How to: ** by Karen Bolch ** . ** ** Student Sample **** 2nd grader animal report **
 * ** Create ONE account so all student work is saved to one account for easy embedding **
 * ** Need microphones and script ready to read **

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**[|Vocaroo]-** **Free online tool to record voices, which is very simple to use. It can easily be embedded as a widget. They are considering a fee for this service. I have asked about educator accounts.**

** Tips: **
 * **Create an account so all student recordings will be saved into one place and can be emailed to you directly**
 * **Remind each student to begin their recording with their first name (no last names) and the title of your project.**
 * **The final product is easy to embed**

** How to: **

by Karen Bolch

** Student Sample: ** 2nd Grader- ELL student - LION report - scripted on paper FIRST then read aloud into microphone.

media type="custom" key="9939787"

** Audacity ** ** Free download used for recording of voice.Additional tracks can be recorded or added. The finished project can be exported in the mp3 format, which can be embedded into other projects. **

** Tips: ** [|This link will take you to a Read Write Think handout on creating podcasts] . ** How To ** By Megan Mc Quinn ** Student Sample **
 * **Download software onto computers in advance of use**
 * **Projects can be edited so remember to save each project as students are working**
 * **Time shift the tracks so they play in the desired order**
 * **Add effects like 'fade in' or 'fade out'**

Here is a link From awesome Teacher-Librarian Megan McQuinn's student booktalks. The bar is the mp3 file and the image can be anything including a power point or other embeddable tool. Student Book Talk

Please note: this "bar" can go under a power point, book image, used as a sound track for ANYTHING - great tool ! it is a podcast.

** [|Wordle] - A free online word cloud generator. ** ** repeated words are larger and incidental words omitted. ** ** . **  ** Tips: ** ** . ** How to: By Karen Bolch
 * ** Have students type in word and then cut and paste text if older **
 * ** younger students can type directly in - however, check spelling before generate cloud **
 * ** cannot go back and retype errors - must retype everything **
 * ** paste text from speeches (ie presidential addresses) to compare focus **
 * ** paste text from own writing to see what repeat most often **
 * ** use as analysis tool of writing **
 * ** generate posters about self, books, authors, poetry etc. **
 * Take it to the next level integrating shapes into the cloud with TAGXEDO TAGXEDO

** Sample: **



=[|PicLits] text and images - teacher accounts coming as well as print options=



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 * Simple little tool designed by a teacher using words and images
 * Great for poetry - see the help section for a how to guide
 * Lesson plans are wonderful and filled with ideas
 * By Fall 2011 there will be teacher accounts, Spanish versions, print options and embed capabilities

. ** PhotoStory- quick slideshow with audio and music - PC only - Lots of other voice over image tools available ! ** ** Download from here PhotoStory 3  ** Tips:
 * Final project is a WMV movie and can be uploaded
 * Need microphone to record student voice
 * Has music inside tool which can be added to movie
 * Save pictures as jpgs from online images or personal digital images
 * Software downloaded onto each computer to be used
 * Movie can be basic or elaborate depending upon student ability

How to: By Megan Mc Quinn Student Sample:

PhotoStory sample

** [|Make Beliefs Comics] ** Generate Comic Strips -3-4 screens that are printable, although not embeddable website very self explanatory

How to: By Karen Bolch

** [|Big Huge Labs] **** Free online tool with a big variety of projects. ** ** . **  ** Tips: ** ** How to ** By Megan Mc Quinn ** Student Sample **
 * **Get an education account – you can import student names from spreadsheet**
 * **Big Huge Labs will create log on cards for each student.**
 * **Trading Cards – One page with image and students can dictate or type own short story**
 * **Magazine cover – one page – great for nonfiction – 5 sentences**

** Animoto **** Free online web tool for creating videos using imported images and voice in mp3 format ** ** . ** ** TIPS: **
 * **free education account using gmail account that will be available to all students**
 * **project is saved in established account and can be edited at any time**
 * **must have 25-40 images or text slide for 1 minute of voice recording**
 * **text slides can be added with 1 or 2 lines of text**
 * **images and text slides can be moved around**
 * **once finished copy coding and embed in a web site**

** How to document ** By Megan Mc Quinn ** Student Sample: ** media type="custom" key="28292985" 4th Grade Book Trailer

media type="custom" key="28293167" Part of a 5th Grade Report media type="custom" key="28292995" to record a school event - Bronco Day Sample

media type="custom" key="28292997" as a way to give students some ideas outside the box regarding a project

** [|Mixbook] ** ** Free online tools to create scrapbook style books - very cool ~ ** ** Here is a "how to" handout from another educator: ** ** Screen shots ** for MIXBOOKS are on pages 55-68 - too large to load [|Digital Storytelling]

** Tips: **


 * No audio but lots of writing and layout
 * Great for class book of topic
 * Use .edu page and stay away from the purchasing pages - not necessary !
 * Search for other samples in gallery

** Sample of 5th Grade Class Work ** :

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** Voicethread ** ** Free online tool that allows you to upload a series of images, include short captions and then record on each page. **** You may also comment on each page. Can be used as a tool for one report/story or one page per student. **

** Tips: ** ** Here is a great handout from another educator: ** ** . ** Screen shots for VOICETHREAD are on pages 69-88 - very detailed and helpful ! [|Digital Storytelling] [|This link will take to you a great Pro Educator Guide easy to follow]
 * Not intuitive - need to play a bit and download guides to asssit in initial set up
 * Create account - educators are free for ONE account - subscription educator for $60 - 100 accounts - GREAT way to go
 * Upload photos - add an extra for the cover - I upload any image into Publisher - make it pretty, add text - save the whole thing as one jpeg THEN use it for the cover as the first photo - my comments are the introductions
 * Then upload students - use icons or individual pics - NO LAST NAMES or SCHOOL reference for safety
 * Set parameters - monitored etc.
 * Invite students to participate
 * NEED- headphones and mics
 * Class logs in and follows handout below
 * invite people to view or comment

** My Student Handouts: ** By Karen Bolch feel free to copy and edit accordingly

** Commenting guidelines for students (older) ** : By Karen Bolch edited from online versions and suggestions Tips:
 * Can use educator account and upload each student's photo- $60 per year for 100 accounts
 * OR can use one account - different identities
 * Not intuitive - be patient ! worth the time
 * Upload jpeg photos - one for each page -include one for a cover
 * Add captions - add title for cover page and record (comment) to explain project
 * Do not reference school name or student last names for safety concerns
 * Can use for one student project - HS projects or one page per student project
 * Allows for others to comment - can screen if desire
 * Can share via email invite
 * See "how to" screen shot sheet for assistance
 * Not intuitive for teachers - allow time to play with it a bit or have someone show you the first time
 * Can rerecord as many times as necessary
 * Search Gallery for other samples of how teachers use tool - search 3rd grade poetry etc.....great ideas !

Student Sample of 3rd Grade Book Review - 6 read alouds in class - upload covers Each student selects one they would like to review and recorded their essays . Student Sample of 2nd Grade Poetry with Illustrations by kids - took digital pics of each illustrated WORD document on a tabletop and uploaded

media type="custom" key="9939995" . media type="custom" key="9940005" . . Middle school student's Human Right's report [|Voicethread Sample]

Google Forms used as an Exit Slip:
. By Karen Bolch .

** Other Options to explore: ** SuperCollage - photographic collage -combine with recording Microsoftresearch Auto collage 2008 at least 7 images Iphoto - MAC version of photostory Kerpoof (not embeddable but great drawing program for little ones) Frames– Pay software specific for digital storytelling tech4learning

** Other Resources : ** ** . ** **  DigitalStorytelling wiki by Joyce Valenza - great audio and picture resources **

**Digital Storytelling for Educators- a How to Guide** - (pdf to large to upload)- download from this link: Screen shots for all tools !! Worth the paper to print out and review. []

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 * Fabulous free online book of web 2.0 Tools: **