Novice
Animoto is a web application that, with the click of a button, produces videos using images and music that a user selects. Language teachers and students can choose culturally-appropriate images and audio to produce short movies that can be used in language presentations. These can be looked at on the web or embedded in blogs to be shared with classmates. Some NOVASTARTALK products have included videos on Chinese food and Arabic scripts.
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Bamboo Paper - Note taking with iPad
Bamboo Paper is a free app for iPad, which turns your iPad into a notebook. You can use it to sketch your thoughts and ideas in an authentic paper-like digital notebook and your notes can be shared visually and easily. You can also use it to practice your penmanship of writing in non-western language characters such as Chinese, Arabic, etc.
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How to Create Your Own Blog Using Blogger
Blogger allows you to create your own personalized blog where you can post content (text, audio, video, images, etc.) that can be viewed and commented upon by your user community.
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Beginner
Blogger allows you to create your own personalized blog where you can post content (text, audio, video, images, etc.) that can be viewed and commented upon by your user community.
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Creating Interactive Presentations Using myBrainshark
Brainshark is a free online tool that allows you to upload PowerPoint slides, images, PDF files, documents and other media, and then embed your narrations over the content. Additionally, you can add music and multimedia to the presentation to make it more engaging. The final output file can be streamed online or embedded onto your website or blog. This software could be used for online presentations, slideshows, flash cards or even podcasts.
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Using dotSUB to Share Your Videos with Your Own Subtitles
DotSub is a free program that allows you to upload, transcribe, translate and share your own videos in multiple languages. You can easily bring in video content for use in dotSub by linking to any video in YouTube. This is a great tool for new learners as they can easily switch between the English subtitles and the subtitles in the target language.
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Intermediate
Brainshark is a free online tool that allows you to upload PowerPoint slides, images, PDF files, documents and other media, and then embed your narrations over the content. Additionally, you can add music and multimedia to the presentation to make it more engaging. The final output file can be streamed online or embedded onto your website or blog. This software could be used for online presentations, slideshows, flash cards or even podcasts.
Creating Screencasts with CamStudio
CamStudio is a free software download that allows you to take video screen captures of content displayed on your desktop. This program allows you to create video segments of anything that you can show on your screen, from websites to software applications to simulations and demonstrations. You can not only narrate as you record the screen, but you can also add special cursors, annotations and even an embedded video box from a web camera. The videos are saved out as either AVI or SWF files.
Using dotSUB to Share Your Videos with Your Own Subtitles
DotSub is a free program that allows you to upload, transcribe, translate and share your own videos in multiple languages. You can easily bring in video content for use in dotSub by linking to any video in YouTube. This is a great tool for new learners as they can easily switch between the English subtitles and the subtitles in the target language.
Advanced
Flip video cameras are a useful tool in language classes as they are extremely easy to use and fairly inexpensive. With a class set of flip cameras, students can interview each other, perform skits in the target language, create their own "commercials" or music videos and much more. In order to produce a "professional" video, students will work on their project from storyboarding to rehearsal and finally to filming.
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Using Google Docs for Collaboration in the Classroom
Google Docs is an easy-to-use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor. You can use it to create, store and share your documents instantly, securely, and collaborately online in real time.
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Haiku Deck - Simple and beautiful slideshow creation
Haiku Deck is a free slideshow creating app. It is a completely new kind of presentation app designed to make your slides stunning. It allows you to create unique presentations with artistic flavor. It allows you to pull a large database of striking background and images from the web. It is best to show a chart, image or screenshot with fewer words to describe it.
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