Digital+Storytelling+-+Creating+My+Digital+Story

Assignment #4: Creating My Digital Story
Expected time to complete: 30-60 minutes

When you have ALL of the photo images you are going to need, then go to the Animoto website. ([|http://www.animoto.com] )

Once you are at the Animoto website, take time to:
 * Sign-up for the Animoto Service




 * Explore the website to learn more about Animoto
 * Free accounts are limited to a 30 second video
 * When you are ready, click on the "Create" button.



To create an Animoto video, you will:

1. Pick a video Style. 

2. Begin Animoto Step 1 where you will add your photos, add text, and note the other options you have (e.g., "spotlight" a photo). 

3. When you are ready, click on the "Change Music" button. Choose your song from the Animoto music library. You can explore to see what music piece will fit your video.



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. When you are in the music library, you are able to listen to the songs before you add them to your video. When you have a song that you like, highlight that song and then click on the "Add Song" button. Note once you've made the choice, the chosen "soundtrack" will appear in your video credits.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. You will return to "My Animoto Video Screen". Click on Add Pics & Vids. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6. At this page, upload the images and videos you would like to use in your video.Animoto does provide a few images for you to use in the "Our Collection" section. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7. Normally you will click on "Upload Pictures and Video" and upload the pictures and videos into you Animoto library. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">9. When your pictures are loaded, you will see them in your image library. Notice the music you are using is listed here above your images. If you want to add "Text" click on the "Add Text Button". Note: When you create text, you are able to grab that window and move it to the location that you want - say at the beginning or in the middle. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

9. When you are ready, click on the "Preview Video" button. You will see a "Generating low-resolution preview..." window. Here you can add your TITLE and short description of your video.



10. Once the preview is ready, review it. If you want to make any changes click on "Or, continue editing." When you like what you have produced, then click on the "Produce" button.



11. You can view the sample "The World of Harry Potter" video here . <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">12. Notice the various options that you have on your video webpage.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now go ahead and do the following:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the "Share" section notice the icons for Facebook, Twitter, and email. When you click these buttons, you will share your video in these areas. Following is a Facebook posting.

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 * <span class="wiki_link_ext">Click on "Email the Link" and email your video to __your mentor__ instructor: Ruth( rmanlandro@gmail.com<span class="wiki_link_ext">) __or__ Sr.Caroline (c.cerveny@verizon.net ) __or__ Amy (lbarber61@hotmail.com) __or__ Kristi (kn_jenkins@hotmail.com). In your email message, include a comment of what this exercise was like for you. If you want, you may wish to email this link to others.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To share your video in our Facebook DDBC Group, copy the link (URL) - e.g., http://animoto.com/play/UnH5Um0XR0xrSHcJEfyfYw - and paste it into the "Write post" window. Notice that below where you copy the URL there is generated a graphic and your Video title. You can then "delete" the URL in the upper part of the window and add a comment - for example: "I'm revamping the Animoto Wiki section tonight!" When you have completed your post, click on the blue "Post" button.

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 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the "Leave A Comment" section of Animoto, add a comment about your video here.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Later, when other class members post their videos on the class Facebook page, view these videos. After you have watched the video, leave an appropriate comment for this video creator in the "Leave A Comment" section.

13. When you c<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">lick on the"More" button. You will see...

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now that you have created your first Animoto video (or maybe your second, or third), begin to think about how you may...
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enhance current lesson plans with the use of a digital story within a unit
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Generate interest, attention and motivation for the "digital generation" kids in our classrooms
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Capitalize on the creative talents of your own students as they begin to research and tell stories of their own
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Publish student work on the Internet for viewing and critiquing by others

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Add your comments about how you can enhance your lesson plans, general interest, capitalize on creative talents of your participants,or publish this digital work in the section below:


 * **NAME** ||  || **OTHER IDEAS OR COMMENTS HERE** ||
 * EXAMPLE: Claudia McIvor ||  || EXAMPLE: I think student creativity will be encouraged when they see how easy it is to create an Animoto video. ||