Smore

Smore is a cool new site I just found out about from Free Technology 4 Teachers. This site reminds me a lot of Glogster in that a person can create an interactive poster/flyer. What makes Smore so cool is how user friendly it is w/ everything being drag-n-drop. Once a flyer is done a user can share w/ others or embed into their site/blog.

I highly recommend checking out Smore by clicking here!!!

Webdoc

Webdoc is a a cool new (beta) site for creating multimedia type blog posts w/ comments. A neat little twist w/ webdoc's is that the comments that others leave are in a webdoc format. This means that a person can create their own little multimedia blog to respond to a post. Another nice feature is the ability to embed a webdoc into your site/blog.

Below is their demo video...

webdoc in action from webdoc on Vimeo.

I highly recommend checking out Webdoc by clicking here!!

Thanks to the wonderful, Free Technology 4 Teachers for the tip.

Qwiki

Qwiki is a new (alpha) site that is the ultimate "information experience". The best way to describe it is a search engine where the results are different areas of interactive media, such as: audio, video, etc. I like to think of it as a cross between United Streaming and Voice Thread. The reason for this is when a term is searched, the result is an interactive piece of media where the user has control over it (think the way a Voice Thread is controlled).

What I'd like to see in future releases is the ability to embed one of these "information experiences".



I highly recommend giving Qwiki a try by clicking here!!!

A special thank you to iLearn Technology for her review.

Kerpoof

Kerpoof is a site that has been around for a long time, but after reading Kelly Tenkely's excellent blog post on using Kerpoof to create a storybook I decided to give it another look.

Kerpoof is a great site for educators which has a wealth of multimedia content for students. Teachers have the ability to download lesson plans, create storybooks/games, and even make a drawing or movie.



I highly recommend givine Kerpoof a try by clicking here.

Magic Studio

Magic Studio is a terrific multi-media site for educators. It is a place where users can create, view, upload their data which could include: videos, audio, time lines, quizzes, etc.

Another nice feature of MS is that everything is done in a drag/drop user interface which makes it very easy for a person to use. It feels a little bit like Voice Thread in that regard. Add to that a very nice tutorial and you have the recipe for a really nice tool to use in the classroom.

The only feature I see missing is an educational instance which would allow teachers to create student accounts and have everything being moderated before it gets posted online.

Give Magic Studio a try by clicking here.



Thanks to The Educational Technology Blog for their excellent review.

Magnoto

Magnoto is a new (beta) site that is similar to Glogster. It is designed to create an interactive wall/web page. The user interface is fairly simple as you can drag/drop all of your multi-media content wherever you like.

For this to be a real eye-opener for educational, it would need a specific instance such as Glogster. This way teachers could monitor and create user accounts for students. However, that being said due to the simplistic design I recommend giving Magnoto a look.



Give Magnoto a try by clicking here.

GeoCube

GeoCube is an excellent flash based site for History/Geography teachers. Think of it as YouCube w/ a lot more interaction. Just click on the cube to rotate it, select a thumbnail and watch the resources (text/audio/video) come to life.



Give GeoCube a try by clicking here.

A special thank you goes out to Alexandra Fransisco, who reviews this in her excellent blog.

PhotoSnack

PhotoSnack is a new (beta) site for creating beautiful looking slide shows. It reminds me a little bit of Photovisi w/ slide show transitions. What makes PS such a great site to use is how easy it is. Just upload your photos, customize your settings and then share w/ others. It can't get much easier then that (you don't even have to register to use it 8-).

Below is a slide show example I created...



Give PhotoSnack a try by clicking here.

Myna

Myna has to be one of the coolest online applications I've seen in a long time. This is a music/sound editor very very similar to Garageband. In fact, I would use this over Audacity any time. PC users can rejoice that they now can create music similar to Garageband.

All you have to do is get started is to create an account, click on the app you want to use (audio editor) and start experimenting w/ all types of music. One of the advantages that Garageband has over Mya is the ability to not only add pre-set tracks but to add individual instruments as well. You literally can create an original piece of music from scratch. Myna has actual preset audio tracks that you can mix/mash.

I highly highly recommend giving Mya a try by clicking here you won't be disappointed.



Below is my sample audio mix w/ my voice recorded over it 8-)

test.egg on Aviary.

One True Media

One True Media is a site I just learned about from Buffy Hamilton, who is one of the true pioneers in educational technology. (She has a wonderful blog which you can visit by clicking here.) This is one of the better video mash-up sites in the sense that it is very easy to use and offers some very nice tools/effects for the user.

I would have to compare OTM as a cross between iMovie and Pulp Motion. It is similar in iMovie on how you have to edit a video clip, add your music and then select your transitions and effects. Although, the finished product looks like something Pulp Motion would create which gives it that very smooth/polished look.

Some other nice features are the ability to upload a variety of media such as: mpg, avi, quicktime, wmv, and jpg. Also, a user can purchase a premium account which unlocks a lot of effects/transitions, etc. The free account lets users store up 100 MB worth of data each month.

However, I'm not sure how viable a resource this would be for students. The reason for this is that there is no filtering going on. This becomes an issue when dealing w/ CIPA/COPPA compliance. Although, a user is responsible for what they post and One True Media will banish/remove any inappropriate content. Grey Areas like this need to be handled delicately and w/ the student's best interest/safety at heart.

I recommend giving One True Media a look by clicking here.

Below is my mash-up example...

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Vuvox

Vuvox is a new (beta) site I just heard about from Free Technology 4 Teachers. There are lots of sites that let you create a slide show/presentation, but Vuvox may be one of the nicest.

First off, Vuvox has a really nice/sleek look to it. You can build some really nice presentations that includes video, photos, and audio. Also, you have the ability to create a collage or an "express" video which is fast and easy. Finally, Vuvox has some really nice video tutorials on their site which help the user learn how to use their program.

I did look at their acceptable use policy, and it is pretty standard. Any obscene/inappropriate material the user will be removed and can face subsequent punishment. However, I don't believe they have any filtering/moderating policies so it might not be ideal for student use.

Give Vuvox a look by clicking here.

Slideroll

Slideroll is a wonderful new site for making exciting looking slide shows. I like to think of it as a cross between Animoto and iPhoto. Also, like most "Web 2.0" apps you have the ability to create an account and tweak settings to either allow comments or not. This is a very nice feature when having to abide by those strict CIPA/COPPA compliance rules.




What makes SR so great is not only the ability to upload photos and have it create a "generic" slideshow, you can also enter the slideshow creator to even further customize settings such as: music, transitions, zooming, text, etc. This is something which you can not do currently in Animoto.

Another nice feature of SR which I did not get a chance to check out is the video creator. I believe it is similar to VLC and lets you turn your slide shows into downloaded videos which is nice. However, keep in mind that you have to download a free application to do that.

Give Slide Roll a try by clicking here, I highly recommend it!!!



For another detailed review check out Richard Byrne's great blog.


Below is an example of a slide show I created, notice the fun use of Photo Booth ;-)

Make a Free Flash Slideshow

Creaza

Creaza is a site I learned about from Larry Ferlazzo's wonderful blog, and it is a bit complicated to say the least. However, once you spend the time looking it over you'll notice that there is a lot of useful tools to be found.

Basically, Creaza is a multi-media suite (vaguely similar to Adobe's) which lets users create: cartoons, Movies, and Mind Maps. Their site states, "Creaza offers you an integrated, web-based toolbox for creative work, both at school and in your free time. You use the toolbox along with various fully developed thematic universes: historicalperiods, fairy-tales, fantasy worlds, and current challenges, such as climate/environment."

Another great aspect to Creaza is the "web 2.0" features which lets users: share, publish, comment, in a secure environment. The only downside is, there is no built in filtering going on. This leads to a tricky issue when dealing w/ CIPA compliance. While a user can potentially swear/bully, they have people monitoring all content so it will get removed and the user will be punished.

Below is a short breakdown of each area of Creaza:


Cartoonist - complicated cartoon creator which had me scratching my head just to add a speech bubble. However, there is a lot here and has a great deal of potential.



Movie Editor - has a similar look to iMovie 09 or Boinx TV. It has the ability to create nice visual mash-ups w/ pre-set: graphics, video, effects, etc.



Mindomo - is a lot like any other graphic organizer/mind mapping tool. Not as simple as drag/drop (my sub-topics kept getting stuck) but there are some good things to be found here.



I highly suggest giving Creaza a try, you'll be glad that you did. Click here for more info...

Glogster

Glogster is a site I have known about for quite some time but never really looked at until I found out about their educational section to it (Thanks JJ).

Glogster is a site where you can make online/interactive posters. Now that they have gone the route of "web 2.0" it has quickly become one of my favorite online apps around.

To get started is simple, in fact you don't even need to register if you want to just create one from scratch. However, for education you can sign up for a free "teachers" account and then register up to 200 students. Glogster generates all usernames/passwords so no student email accounts is necessary.

Once, the accounts are created you are good to go. Creating your own poster is very simple and just click on the text/video/sound etc. button, to do what you want. Everything you put on
your poster is at your control and you can upload media straight from your computer as well.



After your Glog/poster is created you can then share it w/ others or set it to private. Also, you can rate/comment on each others Glogs if you so choose (if that option is enabled). You can even embed your poster into your blog/website too.

For more info on Glogster in education click here.

Capzles

Capzles (Thanks Larry Ferlazzo for the reminder) is a site that has been around for a while which I finally had a chance to test out. After using it, I'd have to say it is probably my favorite online resource for creating Time Lines.

First, of all of these similar type sites, Capzles is easily the nicest looking one. It has a very nice cover flow type feel to it when you are browing your lines.

Second, it is totally "Web 2.0", meaning you can collaborate w/ others on time lines, share, email, embed, etc.

Finally, you can add all sorts of multi-media rich content such as video, audio, photos, etc into your time line which makes it very easy to get the exact look/feel that you are looking for.

Adding background music to your time line is such a great feature!!!

My only concern is about privacy in regards to CIPA/COPPA compliance. They have the typical standard of being 13 to sign up, etc. but I really want to know if there is any filtering/moderation going on.

Below is an example of my favorite time line I've come across so far on Capzles!!!



For more info click here.

My Hero

I first heard of My Hero from Larry Ferlazzo's blog and I'm glad I did. This is such a great site for creating multi-media rich web pages which are interactive w/in the "My World" community.

Everything must pass an approval process before getting posted online so it abides by CIPA/COPPA compliance.

This is such a great place for students to express their thoughts on influential people in their lives. Plus, w/ the abundance of images/video/audio they have a vast source of information to choose from.

The really great area which every educator should check out is the Teacher's Room. In here you can find lesson plans, links, tutorials, etc.



I highly recommend you check it out by clicking here!!

Below is the actual promotional video on their site.