Then, of course, there’s the whole business of learning how to use Animoto itself. Once all the videos are posted, they will then no doubt get to view and comment on one another’s work, thereby learning a spot of netiquette.

Beyond that… well use your imagination. A lot of tools can be used for learning that weren’t intended for the purpose - just have a look at Jane Hart’s list for evidence of that!

As Doug suggests, it is great as an ISM (Initial Stimulus Material) for a topic. As a learning tool in another sense, I’m not so sure, but that does not detract from it being useful for education.

I can’t. Animoto is unchallenging. (A strength outside the educational market.) The output slideshows are all unique but precious little of that customization would come from the student. What would they be learning?

What if you turned that around and set the kids the task of creating an animoto around a topic? They have to select appropriate images and music and must include at least one headline or quotable quote (complete with reference). I can see a lot of learning happening, there!

Thanks for the write-up.

I too, read Dan Meyer’s post and agree that it’s not a narrative-story telling device in a traditional sense. There are no voice overs, and it’s not a documentary of any sort. HOWEVER… I’ve heard of great pedagogical usages nonetheless.

Creative writing instructors using it to spark visual inspiration before a writing session, teachers trying to wow their students with images of that day’s lesson, students making presentations using imagery from certain epochs in history….

I could go on and on. There are many ways to learn, and at the expense of sounding cliche, sometimes a picture is worth a 1000 words. Students learning about the 1920s by seeing images flappers and protesters of prohibition might trigger more of a long-term retention of the topic than simply by reading about it. Conflated with the fact that the Animoto presentation is in a style that many students are familiar with (MTV-style videos), I think it adds a great juxtaposition of using an aesthetic with which kids are already familiar, along with learning material than they are being exposed to for the first time.

Well, enough overwrought rants for me and back to work.

Thanks for the write up though, Doug!

For jazzing up a set of classroom photos for parents’ night, I approve. For any project calling for structure, creativity, or critical thought I don’t.

To the extent that my approval matters, of course.