Students creating online videos can be an excellent language-learning experience. Certainly, students can film their own videos, edit them, and then post their finished product online.
There are many online applications that allow you to create your own videos using content that’s already on the Web. For English Language Learners, these can be great opportunities for developing listening, reading and writing skills. All of these sites are very easy to use, and finished products can be developed in one class session.
I’ve decided to make a “The Best…” list highlighting these video-creation sites.
In order to make it on this list, these online tools had to be free, accessible to English Language Learners, easy to use, use video content from sites other than YouTube (since that’s blocked by so many School Districts), and not have content available that would be inappropriate for classroom use (at least, not that I could see). This criteria really eliminated a lot of potential sites.
I haven’t necessarily listed them in order of preference, though I have saved my second-choice and my absolute favorite for the end (and believe me, they’re winners!).
Here are my picks for The Best Ways For Students To Create Online Videos (Using Someone Else’s Content):
Animoto and their newer site, Animoto Education Program both let you easily create videos with music.
Masher is a super-easy free web application that lets you mix-and-match clips, music, photos and more to create online videos. You can read more about it at Richard Byrne’s excellent blog.
I learned about Biteable from Ed Tech & Mobile Learning. It seemed a bit clunky, but it’s also new, and it’s free. It would be an easy tool for students to use — it’s sort of a somewhat less sophisticated Animoto. You can’t embed the video, but it provides an easy option to upload it to YouTube. Here’s a quick video I made using it:
Vimeo has created a feature that lets you use templates for simple videos.
Recast lets you easily create online videos.
Let me know if you have any feedback or other recommendations.
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Hi, Larry. Thanks for checking out Graspr! We agree that creating quality videos is too hard today. Our goal is to take the guesswork out of video editing and instructional design so that anyone can create videos to showcase what he/she knows. Along these lines, we’ll be launching our online video editor next month. Sorry to hear about your difficulties in signing in to Graspr. Please contact me at tap@graspr.com, and we’ll get you squared away.
Best Regards,
Teresa Phillips (Graspr Founder & CEO)
Larry,
Trying to download and edit video from ABC, NBC, etc. What are the best video download sites to capture this stuff? I’ve found stuff (Keepvid) for YouTube, but it doesn’t work for ABC, NBC, etc.
Also, what are the best video editing sites? I’ve used One True Media, and like it. Tried Jaycut, but had trouble uploading some video. I’ll give them a pass, as it’s in Beta form. Are there other reliable video editing sites besides One True Media?
Thanks
try these two at sarolta.tv
Simple mode: http://www.sarolta.tv/web/video-editors/video-editor-simple-mode
Advanced Mode: http://www.sarolta.tv/web/video-editors/video-template
They are far more powerful than any other on the market. Sarolta.tv was formerly mixandmash.tv
The site is frequented by a number of students and is part of the curriculum in at least three programs, two of which is in the US.