video


 * Video tools **

toc = Why use video in your classes? = A video message is another very motivating element for students, because they hear and see the person speaking to them. Though the use of video generates significant interest and enthusiasm in the students, the first time(s) can be somewhat intimidating and cause some nervousness and shyness in the students involved (preferably, volunteers), because in addition to your voice, your face becomes visible to everyone you share the video with.

I find that associating a voice to a face and a name creates a more personal and closer relationship and helps generate a bond. However, in the case of young learners, there is a need for extra care. You hould have permission from the parents to upload videos of their children, and you should try to upload them to a safe site with private access either by invitation or password, for example.

Nowadays, this type of multifaceted communication is very common between relatives and friends, but not as common in the classroom. And there's so much we can do if we bring these media together: text, audio and video.

Video can be used to record different activities: an answer or comment to a question or topic, an interesting activity carried out in or outside the classroom, a specific lesson or part of it, an activity taking part outside the classroom (in the school grounds or on a field trip, for example), a videoconference with a guest speaker...

Showing a video (from YouTube or TeacherTube, for example) is also good to generate a discussion that can then be commented on outside of class through another program such as Winkball (using a video wall) or in Voxopop (using just a talkgroup, as we saw yesterday), for example.

Imagination is the limit!

= Equipment needed = Whether you create a video online (with a Web-based program) or offline (with your webcam), you need a **webcam** and a **headset with a mic** (or a built-in webcam, mic and speakers if you have a laptop or netbook).

= Workshop Activities = Today we'll be looking at three different online video tools (starting with a simple one and ending with a more complex one): **Eyejot**, **Winkball** and **Voicethread** (this one can also be used with audio only). There are tutorials for these tools.

Recording online

 * [|Eyejot]
 * sign in
 * record a video message
 * click the "Compose New Message" button
 * record the message
 * write the email addresses of those you want to send the message to (**ViP:** always inslude your Eyejot email so that the message goes to the Inbox) > click the "Add" button > click the "Send Eyejot" button
 * embed it in our wiki
 * in the Inbox, select the message you want to embed
 * below the "Message Viewer", click the middle button on the right
 * copy the code and paste it in the wiki (**ViP:** you can also create a link to it with the Web address below the code)


 * [|Winkball]
 * visit the site and check the [|features]
 * log in to my account
 * record and embed a video message


 * [|Voicethread]
 * explore the At the Supermarket VT
 * watch a simple Voicethread Tutorial
 * create a VT: sign in to my Voicethread account

Voicethread (VT) is a very complete and collaborative application. It's defined as a multimedia slideshow, because we can insert documents, images and videos that can be commented by the creator/host of the VT and the guests. Those comments can be left in text, voice and video. VT can also be embedded in a wiki. Explore the [|features] of Voicethread.
 * Background **

Take a look at the VT titled At the Supermarket. It was created by Webhead in Action Carla Arena (from Brazil) for her students and had the collaboration of several other Webheads. It's the type of activity that you can create to get your students talking.

To learn how to create a Voicethread, let's watch this Voicethread Tutorial created by Ana Maria Menezes (also from Brazil) and also a Webhead.

Recording offline

 * use the Toshiba mini webcam and/or the netbook built-in webcam
 * record messages
 * save the messages
 * upload them to the wiki
 * create links to the messages


 * ViP: ** This section was not carried out, because my mini Toshiba webcam didn't record voice, just the image (I tried several times at the hotel the evening before), and the built-in netbook webcam was only working for snapshots (I also made several attempts that failed). Nicolai had a small Philips table webcam that we used for the recordings with the software.

Instead of this, I showed the REO site and a couple of examples of videos (Are you married? and What did you do yesterday?) and the respective exercises. Participants enjoyed it and found it useful

= Computer lab activities (suggestions) = If you have access to a webcam
 * "sign up" to Eyejot and Winkball
 * record a video messagein each of them
 * create a link to your message or embed it in your wiki

If you have time,
 * register to Voicethread
 * create a simple VT

Discuss your different experiences with one another and report next day on your preferences in terms of ease of use / user-friendliness of the tools and how you did to create links and embed the .html code.

= Additional resources =
 * [|REO] (authentic videos several with exercises)
 * TeacherTube (need to register; search for educational videos; click the "Upload" button and follow the steps to upload your videos)
 * YouTube (need to registerto upload videos; click the "Upload" button and follow the steps)