BP15_2009113_Web2.0-Repper

http://repper.studioludens.com/
Yea, backgrounds! Yea, “I-don’t-have-to-create-an-account!” Yea, it’s free! Yea, I don’t-have-to-download-anything! So, yeah, Repper is a great site.

We began using a video program that uses greenscreen technology last year so my classes superimpose the backgrounds that came with the “box,” but those are getting a bit stale. One of my students learned Motion which is a highly complicated program and that has helped. However, I would like for my students to be able to create their own backgrounds to use on our broadcasts or for whatever effect they are trying to achieve.

That’s where Repper comes in. You can use any image, upload any image, use one from their gallery, change one from their gallery and it’s all free. In fact, all images are covered under creative commons--just don’t try to sell any of them. The beauty is that you can simply create any type of pattern, large or small from literally anything.

The example I have here is the same image of my dog in the photo; I played around with Repper and got the attached pattern. You can see the tiny square on the original photo in the corner of where the pattern came from.

I can see this being used in an art class, although I am not an artist, there are patterns and other artistic values in this program.

It could also be used in photography to illustrate another composition technique called “repetition of pattern.”

Other ideas the site mentions is to use these as background for profiles or to make cards. They even link you to a site that you can create a custom card for someone and send it for a fee.

These patterns then can be downloaded as a .jpg file right onto your computer. And did I mention they are free and there is no registration? The only drawback, and maybe I just missed it, was I couldn’t download the entire repeated image, only the part that created the image. But hey, it sure is fun!

BP11_2009112_Web2.0commercial

A fun way to present why we should use Screentoaster in the classroom.

BP9_2009112_peerresponse to Web2.0 CarrieKleber

Xtranormal

There are so many Web 2.0 tools and applications available, it can be overwhelming finding tools that will work in the classroom. However, after sifting through the numerous Web 2.0 choices, I discovered an application I am excited to use in my classroom.

Xtranormal is a text to video program that can help students think critically about writing. Basically, the program allows the user to type a script for one or two people, and then the site animates the text. When the program starts it allows the user to choose the number of characters in the movie (one or two), the way the characters will look, and the setting of the movie. After the basics have been chosen, the user can then go on to type the script, choose camera angles, change character voices, and determine different types of animation for the film.

The educational benefits of this program are far reaching. Xtranormal forces the user to think about the script they are writing. What is the purpose of the movie? Who will be viewing the final product? How will the users know they have accomplished their goal for the film? These are questions I would hope my students would think about when they are writing.

Other educational benefits of Xtranormal could extend beyond Language Arts. Social Studies teachers might use the program to have students explain a famous historical figure. Math teachers could have students create a film that explains how to solve a specific math problem. Science teachers could use the program to have students explain different types of rocks. The possibilities are endless.

--Carrie Kleber's blog

Carrie I saw this site when we were thinking about our Ning site in Dr. Deason's class. I think using it in the way that you described would be helpful for writers.



I was thinking of using it in my video class to introduce animation and basic script writing as well as shot selection. You can change how viewers see the characters and add gestures.



I am glad you found it useful as well. Adding in dimensions like purpose and audience makes it useful across the curriculum.

BP4_2009112_Web 2.0 App

After hours spent searching for a Web 2.0 application to use in the classroom, one application finally looked completely useful and appropriate for a lesson plan. In my video class, I had planned to teach the art of “foley” or sound effects. There are some great website to help my students understand how sound is added to films and television. But it is difficult to find a selection of sound effects other than what comes on our Mac computers.

An assignment I had thought about doing was to allow students to silence parts of a video (delete the audio track) and to create their own sound effects to accompany the video track. However, it is really difficult to re-create those sounds in a classroom setting. That’s where http://www.soundsnap.com/ comes in.

It is essentially a sound library with over 100,000 sounds available to use. This is a great resource for my students to understand the variety of sounds needed to create a piece of audio track for a movie or television show. For example, there are 2,131 types of footsteps found on this site. The top footstep sound on the list was footsteps in snow. Very cool! My kids will eat this up.

The site used to be free to use. There is now a membership fee. However, I don’t know if we will actually use the sounds for any type of film making. I think it is another good example of understanding copyright and intellectual property. The possibilities of use are endless, as are the ways to get across the idea of sound in video.