Pixton

Name: Pixton

Price: Free/Paid Options

Format: Website
-www.pixton.com

Difficulty: Moderate
I began using Pixton as an extension tool for students that finished early, and have started allowing small groups on the program. It is not something that I would give to the entire class to use all at once, unless all students were familiar with Pixton. 

Email Required: Yes for free version. No for school version (paid).

Description:Pixton is a comic creator. There are different types of comics the user can create, ranging from a simple three-line comic to a 14 row poster comic. To begin, the user selects the type of comic they wish to create and a template or layout for their choice. The user is then taken to their comic strip, and can begin editing.

The comic creation process can be a bit difficult at first. There are tons of options... enough to confuse most students. My general strategy when introducing new technology into the classroom is to give it to the students and tell them to figure it out. With Pixton, I find that most students need some guidance. I show them how to add a single character, a speech bubble, and a new comic panel. This has always been enough information to get them started. They have no problems figuring out how to alter the appearance of their characters (look, color, positioning, etc.), changing the backgrounds, or adding props.

Upon completion, the user can easily share the comic via a link. This makes it easy for me to view the comics my students have created, and it gives the students a way to show off their work to teachers or parents. Because Pixton requires an account of some type (even the paid education version sets up individual student accounts), students are able to log on and edit their comics from any computer with internet access. 

Student Examples:


Teacher examples:

Summary:
Pixton is a great tool. However, it can be complicated to many students. Start by giving assignments to small groups, and slowly work your way up to class-wide assignments. With the huge amount of customization available, Pixton really provides a great outlet for students to express their creativity. 

Pic Collage

Name: Pic Collage

Price: Free

Format: Apple/Android App
-Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cardinalblue.piccollage.google
-Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id448639966

Difficulty: Easy
For teachers looking to get into BYOT, Pic Collage is THE app to go to. It is simple enough to use, yet it has enough features to keep the more technically minded students entertained.

Email Required: No

Description:
Pic Collage is an app that can be used to create collages on a student’s device. The best thing about this app is its simplistic interface. There are no complicated controls, or random text floating around to confuse students. Instead, users are given a blank screen with a plus sign on the bottom. To add objects to the screen, the user clicks the plus sign, or double taps on the screen. Pic Collage gives the user the option to add photos from the device’s photo album, photos from the web, text, stickers, and to alter the background. The app also provides users with an option to insert photos with a “use camera” option. This option lets the user take a picture directly from the app, and automatically insert it onto the screen. All objects added to the collage can be rotated, magnified, and cropped.

The “use camera” option opens up a wide variety of interesting options for the students. For instance, some of my students take pictures of their work on dry erase boards, and then insert the picture onto Pic Collage. The ability to insert pictures from an album means that pictures saved from using apps such as Mematic or Comic Puppets can be inserted onto the Pic Collage.

Finally, Pic Collages are be easily shared to a teacher. Students that do not have an email set up on their device can save the Pic Collage to their device’s camera roll, and then upload it onto a digital poster such as Wallwisher or Linoit. Students can also easily upload images onto Edmodo. 

Student Examples:

Summary:
I highly recommend this app for teachers looking to enhance their instruction through the use of technology. The apps basic features are easy to use; yet, once students and teachers master the basics, there are numerous ways to really get creative. 

Word of Warning:
Because students are given the option to insert images from the web, watch out for the typical inappropriate searches that come with internet researches. Be prepared for many backgrounds that consist of One Direction and/or Beat headphones.

Animoto

Name: Animoto
Price: Free/Premium option ($5 per month)The free version of Animoto limits the user to 30 second videos. However, usually within a month of signing up for Animoto, you will receive a free promotion to create one video with no time limit.

Format: Web/App-www.animoto.com
-https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/animoto-videos/id459248037?mt=8

Difficulty: Easy For teachers looking to delve into the world of BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology), Animoto is a great starting point. It is a simple tool that students may use in web or app format, and the videos created can be easily shared via direct links.

Email Required: Yes

Description:Animoto is a simple tool for creating short, fun videos with pictures and text. Students first must choose from 32 different themes. The theme determines the look and feel of the video. After choosing a theme, students may add text, videos, or pictures. The pictures can come from the internet or as a direct upload from the computer. If a student is using their device, their picture(s) can be uploaded from their photo library. Students then add text to their video. Each text block is limited to a total of 90 characters, 40 for a title and 50 for a subtitle, but students may have numerous text blocks. This limit on the amount of text, coupled with the 30 second time limit on the free versions, teaches students how to be precise and to the point, a skill surprisingly lacking in most students.
The last step to creating an Animoto video is to add music. This is where Animoto really shines, and the number one reason my students enjoy the tool so much. Animoto has a large, free, collection of music ready to be inserted into videos. The music types range from jazz to rock to classical, and the students love getting to find the perfect song for their video. The ability to add music to the video provides the teacher with a built-in incentive program: if a student shows me a complete and correct video, they can begin adding music. I do not allow my students to add their own music to the video, but there is an option to upload your own songs. 

Teacher Examples:

The following were the videos I showed my students when introducing an activity that had them using Animoto to create a video on either PEMDAS or one-step equations. 

• http://animoto.com/play/xQpN6wlYdEw5cqx6oV5mhg
• http://animoto.com/play/GaemxlwbJ9PErxZ8Jcc6Dw

Student examples: 

• http://animoto.com/play/MKZwngB553MNmoeFafdIiw
• http://animoto.com/play/RT1w2bTWAcIChzg6pKQoRQ
• http://animoto.com/play/PcZ0poNm6mIO1Oa3FQe1pQ
• http://animoto.com/play/UKYZtNVqWs0snN11RW1WVQ

Summary:Animoto is a wonderful tool for simple assignments. However, with the limited time frame and text options, teachers should not use Animoto for large projects. Enrichment activities, or short (one day/half day) activities are best when using Animoto.