Using Animoto in the Classroom

I chose to use Animoto to create a video to practice the question "have you been?"  I think it is an interesting internet tool that can serve a purpose in a modern ESL classroom.  I was surprised at how quick and easy it was to make something interesting and aesthetically pleasing.  There are a couple ways that short videos can be used for ESL purposes.  One way is to create a video that reinforces themes or concepts learned during the lesson.  It can be used to reinforce vocabulary, grammar, and contextual awareness. Teachers can either create videos or have the students create their own videos.  The process of learning how to use Animoto and following the English directions, can also serve to reinforce practical language use by L2 learners. 

It would be interesting as a teacher to see what the full version of the program can do.  The thrity second trial video is just a good example of the potential of the program in the ESL classroom.  With the full version teachers and students can make much longer videos.  For example a teacher could make a video discussing a certain grammar structure or set of vocabulary words and have the student respond with their own videos explaining the grammar or unseeing the vocabulary.  Animoto is another great resource for teachers and students and has great pedagogical implications for the L2 classroom.

The Art of Digital Storytelling

Storytelling is an ancient human tradition, it has been around for as long as humans have had speech and language.  As the generations passed storytelling, like all things became modernized. Starting with the introduction of written language then paper and ink and the printing press and now we meet the 21st century's incarnation of the art of storytelling: Digital storytelling.  Digital storytelling is exactly what it sounds like, telling a story through use of digital media.  It gives the author the chance to pass down a story about their  family history, friendships, adventures, whatever they would like and share it with the world. 

There are many ways that digital storytelling can used for education, according to the article 7 Things You Should know About Digital Storytelling "Digital stories let students express themselves not only with their own words but also in their own voices, fostering a sense of individuality and of “owning” their creations" In an ESL classroom few things are more important than a student's voice and confidence in expressing his or her self in English.  Digital Storytelling gives students the chance to express themselves in English in a low stress environment in a way that is interesting and fun as well.   Digital Storytelling has some good implications for teachers as well.  On the website Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling it says "Teacher-created digital stories may also be used to enhance current lessons within a larger unit, as a way to facilitate discussion about the topics presented a story and as a way of making abstract or conceptual content more understandable."  Digital Storytelling is very versatile for use by both students and teachers .

As a teacher I can see the uses of Digital Storytelling in the classrooms.  In my future classroom I think I would use Digital Storytelling as an out of class assignment where students could create a short story fact or fictional and telling using this medium and share it with the class.  This is just one potential way I could see myself using this internet tool in a future ESL classroom.  There are of course several more ways that we as modern educators can use this technology in our classrooms.  The possibilities are only limited only by our own creativity and work.