Sunday, October 9, 2011

BP4 - Xtranormal


The video above was created using a web 2.0 tool called Xtranormal which allows you to create videos using animated characters.

First you get to pick your theme, background setting, characters, accents/voices as well as background music. These items are all marked with symbols to show you what point level they cost (you start with 300 points on your account). Some characters and background settings “cost” more than others. I had to go back and adjust my selections to come in under my 300 starting points.

Once you have completed that step you have to write the script. You simply type in what you want each character to say. You can then insert movements and facial expressions into the text to have them line up correctly with what the character is saying. In my movie you can see Norbert (sailor bear) point to himself when he talks about his outfit as well as throw his arms up in joy when they get ready to leave for the knitting store.  

When you are done you can email a link or post to social media sites such as YouTube and Facebook. If you signed into your social media accounts Xtranormal makes features such as “liking”, favoriting, and adding to a playlist available. You can even post your movie to Stumble Upon!

This would be a great tool for students to use to show they understand a topic, having one character explain the concept to the other. Or they could act out events in history or in literature. The possibilities are only as endless as your imagination!

3 comments:

  1. This sounds like so much fun to make!! I love your ideas for student use. I agree that this would be a wonderful way for students to show that they truly understand a topic. When they can create/teach using the information, they have got it! :-)

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  2. Wow! I never knew you could create animated cartoons for iMOVIES!

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  3. Alyson,
    This is a riot! The potential for using this in the classroom is endless. The first thing that came to my mind was teaching the use of dialogue in story writing. Thanks for sharing this.

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