Now that we're at the end of our course, it's time to reflect on everything that we've done for the last eight weeks. I acquired some new tools, I got several new ideas, and I learned a lot!
My favorite assignment for this course was the video book trailer. I used Vyond.com to create a trailer for The Book Hog by Greg Pizzoli. It was a very easy tool to use and it was so much fun to have that chance to be creative! We work with summarizing a lot in first grade, but practicing writing summaries over and over again can become monotonous. Giving the students a chance to create a book trailer is engaging and also allows students to show their knowledge of summarizing! Vyond.com isn't free, hower, which is why I haven't linked my book trailer below. I was working with a two-week trial, but after my free trial expired they took away all access to watch the video. I know that we have access to other tools like Book Creator in our district, so I am going to familiarize myself with those in hopes of teaching my students to create their own book trailers!
I really enjoyed doing Flipgrid discussions during this class. It was a fun, different way to engage in a conversation when we weren't meeting face-to-face. Sometimes tone can get misinterpreted in written responses so videos help to combat that struggle. I think Flipgrid is something that my first-graders could do fairly easily since they're already so used to Seesaw. I plan on trying it out in my own classroom!
Throughout this course, I have grown as a connected educator because I've learned how to use new tools and have stepped out of my comfort zone. And because I am more comfortable using these new technology tools, I can effectively teach my students how to use them as well!
Throughout this course, I have grown as a connected educator because I've learned how to use new tools and have stepped out of my comfort zone. And because I am more comfortable using these new technology tools, I can effectively teach my students how to use them as well!
I was super impressed with Vyond.com to make the trailers during this class. It was a new to me tool that I found to be pretty slick. Book Creator will help your students create some cool books, and iMovie can make some amazing trailers.
ReplyDeleteI used Animoto to create a trailer and thought it was great. They add a watermark to the videos if you do not pay, but it seems like you can always access the video.
ReplyDeleteI also used Vyond.com to make a book trailer for Fish In A Tree by Linda Mullaly Hunt, and I agree that it was a very user-friendly multi-media tool! I also tried Animoto, but was left with an annoying watermark at the beginning of the trailer, as I used it on a trial basis. Vyond also had a watermark but at least it was at the end of the trailer, which seemed more visually pleasing in my opinion.
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