Animoto and Skype with ePals

Animoto is an online application that enables the users to put images or video clips together to make a short movie. In classrooms this can be used for introduction or summary of projects. For example, when students have a project, they can briefly present what they found and learned using their own creativity. They actually post their products to share other people on their blogs or through other means. With ePals where students exchange ideas and knowledge with students around the world, Animoto is a great tool to show diverse perspectives and ideas about the topic. There are some projects that really interest me and will likely to interest my future students as well such as “global worming” and “the way we are”. Students may make a movie to show what efforts their country is making to keep this planet green for global worming project. Moreover, to show their daily lives and culture, and to learn those of others’, students can also make short movie with photos and videos of themselves.

I am sure that while students are learning cooperatively, they probably have a desire to see and talk to each other more substantially. Skype would help in such case when the time zones of each classroom allow them to do so. This will promote students’ learning of other culture as well as the contents of the subject.