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. For me, though, that’s just seemed too time-consuming and technically-complicated (however, I have convinced my school to purchase three Flip video recorders next year, so I might change my mind). Of course, even though I’ve been updating this list, I wrote this before Flip was closed down.

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):

 

And now, for, unquestionably the very Best Way For Students To Create Online Videos (Using Someone Else’s Content)… it’s Bombay TV. You can write subtitles, or actually dub with your own voice, over-the-top Bollywood movies. It’s a ton of fun, and a great language development exercise for English Language Learners. Russell Stannard, who has a site that is the gold standard for how-to Web 2.0 videos called Teacher Training Videos, has a couple that give clear instructions on how to maximize using Bombay TV.

They’ve also created sister sites where you can do the same with clips from old TV programs and from soccer games. They’re called Bombay TV 2, Futebol TV and Classik TV.

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 know I’m very “late to the party” on this one, but I didn’t really pay attention to Google Search Stories last year when it came out. Now, however, with YouTube being partially unblocked by our district, I figured it was worth another look. Boy, is it easy to make with with its Search Stories Video Creator! Here’s one I made in a few minutes. It’s titled “Reading.” (unfortunately, Google no longer lets you make these videos).

I certainly wouldn’t place any bets on YouTube getting through most school district content filters anytime soon, if ever. But they’ve just announced a great new ability to make videos and animations on the YouTube site itself using GoAnimate or Stupeflix and then posting it there. The YouTube feature is called YouTube/create. I can see myself using it sometimes to illustrate a concept for a lesson, or pointing out the idiocy of the latest school reform fad. I suspect that it’s a super-cool tool that, outside of the two ideas I mentioned and potential use in adult ESL classes, won’t have much K-12 impact. But, because it’s so cool, I’m still adding it here.

Slide.ly is a brand new site that is still closed to the public (but you can find an invite if, as I did, you just search for “Slide.ly + invites” on the Web and you’ll find a number of tech blogs that have free invites), but it looks very good — and very similar to Animoto. You can search for photos online or use your own, and easily combine them with music to create musical video-like slideshows. Thanks to TechCrunch for the tip, where you can also read more about Slide.ly.

Binumi is a site where teachers, students and the general public can search for videos to show and, more importantly, easily make modifications to develop their own creations. You can use a number of the resources and create some videos without having to purchase a subscription though, at first glance, it’s unclear to me how limited the free registration really is…

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:

ShowBox Looks Like An Easy Way To Create Videos

FLEXCLIP LOOKS LIKE A GREAT VIDEO-EDITING TOOL FOR ELLS, ENGLISH-PROFICIENT STUDENTS & EVERYBODY ELSE

Vimeo has created a feature that lets you use templates for simple videos.

Recast lets you easily create online videos.

HOW TO MAKE A SLIDESHOW VIDEO WITH PHOTOS AND MUSIC is a great post from The Edublogger.

Glitterly lets you make short videos very easily using content on the site. It’s like Adobe Spark, but a bit more complicated.

Squigl looks like a cool and easy way to create videos. Read all about it at Create Content with SquiglCreate Content with Squigl by EVA BUYUKSIMKESYAN.

Here’s a very, very low energy video I made with it in minutes late at night:

Let me know if you have any feedback or other recommendations.

If you’ve found this post useful, you might want to consider subscribing to this blog for free.