ZooBurst is a cute site that enables students to write stories and insert characters and objects into a 3D storybook setting that "pops up" when the page is turned. When inserting objects into the story, you can resize them, change the rotation angle as well as the angle that it "pops up" when the page is turned. You can enter text for the story, as well as text for the word balloons that you can read when you click on them in the story.
In upgraded accounts, you can record voiceovers for the characters' speech bubbles or upload your own sound effects. When your story is completed, you can share it via a unique URL address, send it to others via e-mail, or embed it. It's a fun way for younger students to practice writing stories while experiencing their story in a 3D pop-up book style.
For this edition of Tech Tidbits, I'm spotlighting 3 different tech tools that can be implemented into your instruction: Geopedia; Instagrok; and tlk.io. Geopedia is a site that combines concept-mapping with Wikipedia. You can search for a particular location (such as London, UK or Moscow) and pull up the map. Landmarks and important sites have numbered markers, which, when clicked on, list a 1-paragraph summary from Wikipedia on the right side of the screen. You can also view the entries in multiple languages in addition to English. Geopedia enables users to view a physical location of an important site as well as relevant information at the same time.
Geopedia
Instagrokcombines concept mapping with a search engine. Search for a particular topic and see the results represented as a concept map with multimedia links to relevant websites, images, videos, and more. Each concept has its own movable dialogue box with tabs for Key Facts, Websites, Videos, Images, Concepts, as well as a place to take notes. There is a Journal tab where users can take notes on the topic based on the search results, and there is also a bibliography that is provided for each of the search results.
Instagrok
tlk.iocreates a temporary chatroom for users to chat with each other without the need for a log-in or to register for an account. Simply enter a unique name for the temporary chatroom (For example: tlk.io/techtidbits) and share the unique URL with others for them to join the chat. Teachers can use this tool in class to have students participate in a backchannel discussion or to communicate with each other if they can't communicate face-to-face.
For this edition of Tech Tidbits, I wanted to spotlight on WeVideo, an online video editing site that enables you to edit and publish videos from any computer once you have uploaded the video clips and/or pictures you want to use. It's convenient to use because you don't have to use the same computer or device each time you want to access and edit a project, unlike programs such as Windows Movie Maker or iMovie. Its platform is easy to manuever and utilize, and you can apply many editing features that aren't available in other video editors.
WeVideo features a main video editing track, as well as an additional video track where you can add text boxes or subtitles. There are 2 audio tracks that allow you to add more than one music or sound effects track to your video project. There are multiple transitions that you can add between pictures and video clips in your project. There are 400 music tracks/sound effects that are available for use in the WeVideo editor. When you have finished your project and are ready to publish the video, the video can be downloaded and can also be shared on Facebook; Twitter; via a unique URL link; or it can be embedded into a website or blog.
A basic WeVideo account is free and allows you to publish up to 5 minutes of footage per month and up to 1GB of online storage space for media files. The free account also adds a WeVideo watermark to your video. To remove the watermark and increase your available publishing time and storage space, you can upgrade to a Flex account or higher. Upgrading from a basic account also unlocks more editing options. The terms of use for WeVideo allow users 13 years and older to create an account without supervision from an adult. It is recommended that students who sign up for a WeVideo account for school purposes do so using their WCPSS-issued e-mail account.
