Tagged: web 2.0 tools

My Favourite Web Tools of 2010

SocialMediaImage[1] Here are my favourite web tools from 2010:

ImaginationCubed is a multi user drawing tool. You can use a pen, stamp,shapes, line or you can type. You can also change the color of the background. I loved this one, it’s cool!

WeToku is an interview tool that automatically records it to play it back. You can embed it and share it with others. 

WikiDot is wiki builder to share content, documents and collaborate with your students, colleagues, friends. You can create pages, forums,separate wikis for groups or students, discuss topics, upload files, documents,notes, images and share them with others.

You can send video mails with EyeJot. You don’t need to download any software. You only get into your account, record and upload your video and send it. It’s that easy!

You can paste a text to JustPasteit and you can get a link to share it with others. You can also upload pictures, save your document as a PDF file.

LinkBlip lets you monitor when the links you’ve sent to others has been clicked. You get a special URL and send it to other. When someone clicks the URL, you’re notified with an email with the time the link was clicked as well as the city which they were in.

GoodWidgets is a way to create photo widgets for your blog or websites. It has different displays of photos. You can check the gallery here. This is sure to be my favourite photo presentation widget!

I can only say WOW for EarthTunnel! This is the most creative picture sharing site I’ve ever seen on web. You’re in a dark tunnel with pictures around you and you use your keyboard to move in the tunnel. What a great idea!!!

BusinessCard2 is an online service to create professional network and exchange business cards on web. You can add videos, slide shows, files,external links, your websites, social sites and you can let other people to leave messages and it’s embeddable of course.

MadeupMemories lets you customize videos by putting your personal pictures. You can choose to be a princess, a toy, a superhero! Just choose your video, upload your picture and publish it. You can also download it to your computer and keep it on your desktop forever!

Stiqr is one of the best tools I’ve ever seen. The things you can do with it just is limitless. This tool lets you to create and design your website with sticking pictures. You don’t have to upload or download anything. The only thing you need to do is to embed the code to your website. Let’s give this tool a try!

 AcapelaTV is a text-to-speech site where you can use this feature to make the characters talk. You can make different language selections.

Packrati is a bookmarking service that bookmarks your tweets that contains URL for your delicious account. You can choose the options to bookmark your favourites or @ replies.

Prezi is a unique way to create presentations without any slides but zooming sketches on a blank canvas. You can create your own group, collaborate on ideas and create your prezi presentation together. You realize that powerpoint is dead after using this tool, rest is your imagination.If you like it, you should also check Ahead which is a similar tool.

 StoryBird allows you to create their own stories from scratch using their own text and pictures. It’s also collaborating so you can start a story at home and you can finish it when you come back to school.

PhotoPeach is a quick way to create slideshows using pictures and music. It also lets you create quizzes on your slideshow.

With QuizCentre, you can create, administer and grade quizzes online. It also provides instant feedback.

QuizMaker lets you create multiple choice quizzes. You can add pictures or links to your quizzes. When you finish, you simply cut and paste it to your web page.

Vozme lets you turn your text into speech. You can choose a male or a female voice and you create mp3 files and listen to them anywhere you are.

Kakomessenger is a fun text to-speech application. It’s a singing telegram machine that will sing your text. You choose between two singers, Gina and Humphrey, write your text and let the singers sing them for you.

CiteBite is a tool where you can get a link directly to specific quotes in web pages.You simply paste a chunk of text and the URL of the page and get a link that opens directly to your selection by highlighting it.

Bot Morpheus is a bot that can write and speak at the same time. The answers are logical, it also asks questions and analyze your answers.

Clue is a fun and an interesting way to test people (or you) about what they remember on your site. You just enter the link of the site that you want to test, share the test with people via Twitter, Facebook or other social networking services. People who take the test , look at the web page for a few seconds and write what they remember.

Stay tuned for the new coming year.

Cross posted on Tech&Learning.

 



 

Animation 2.0 at School

Picture1Animations have already been so popular even before internet; and with the developing Web 2.0 applications, it has become an  effective and an engaging tool in the classrooms. Creating an animation has never ever been so easy and inexpensive. Today you can create yours with different graphics, characters and fun elements with very little talent.

ZimmerTwins is a simple site to make great and fun animated stories. You can start making your animation from scratch or you can create your own using one of the story starters. You choose the characters, settings, transitions, actions and emotions by using drag-and-drop feature. After, you only write the text in bubbles. You don’t need any drawing skills to make animations with Zimmertwins. 

You can create a mini animation with DVolver by pointing and clicking. You can choose the setting, characters, music at the background and how the chosen characters interact in your animation. You write what you want your characters to say and it shows up in bubbles in your animation. When you finish, you can mail it others, get a link for it or simply embed it to your blog.

Xtranormal is a site where you can create animations using text-to-speech application. You choose your animation styles and settings, characters and the voice for them. When you finish choosing all,you can write what you want your characters to say. When you have finished writing your text, there are some directions that represent cameras, looks, points, pauses etc. You can insert them into your text. When you finish your movie, you can publish it, get a link, embed or directly upload it to Youtube.

Fuzzwich is a site that lets you create 20 second animated movies. You can choose the setting, choose among ready characters or customize them by uploading your photos, text, music and movement as well. When you finish, you can get a link or embed it to your blog. 

With GoAnimate, you choose your theme and characters or you can even create your own animated characters by changing the size and colour of their body parts and clothes. You set up your theme on the timeline. You can change the background, add characters and prompts. Characters can do different actions such as walking, dancing, talking. You can use text to speech application to make your characters talk or simply record your own voice using your microphone. You can also use zooms in/out or colour effects on your video. You can upload your own music or sound effects as well. You can post them on  social networking sites or upload them on Youtube.

Domo is another site that GoAnimate features. You can create animations and slideshows. All the animations are reviewed and appropriate to use. You can add music and text to your animations.

Doink is site that lets you create flash-style animations. You can create your animations from scratch or reuse the work of others. You only have to draw the pictures step by step to animate them.

Animasher  is another site to make animations by using pictures from the gallery or you can use your pictures too. You can add music, some sound effects, text or record your own voice for your animation.

You can also use Memoov to make animations. You choose the background from the gallery, add different characters to the animation. You can change the colour of the characters or give them different emotions or movement. You can add objects too. You can write a text or make the characters speak with your own voice. You can add music and several effects. When it is done, your video will be directly sent to Youtube for easy sharing.   

Using animations is  a great way to improve different skills of kids such as reading, writing, storytelling, decision making, problem solving as well cognitive, social and innovative skills. It’s sure to facilitate learning of the kids and boost the way you are teaching.

Cross posted on TechLearning.