Access, Analyze, Create, Reflect, Take Action
Name of Software / Web 2.0 Tool: Animoto
Access
Where do you get it? Do you download? Where does it save? What are the privacy or terms of use issues for you or students?
Animoto can be accessed on the internet, from their website animoto.com. To use Animoto, the user must first create a login, and their videos will then save onto their personalized account thereafter.
When creating an Animoto account, the user must first agree to the privacy and terms of use agreement. When signing up for an education account, which is for teachers to make for a group of students, there are many other privacy and terms of use policies that are addressed.
These added policies include: the students’ accounts are to be created by the teacher and not by the students, the teacher will not provide Animoto any personal information about the students, the teacher will closely supervise all use of the student accounts, the teacher will ensure that students do not modify the information provided in their registration profile, the teacher and the school are responsible for ensuring that all of the students have read and agree to, and that all use of the Site and the Animoto Services by their students fully complies with, the Animoto General Terms of Service, the teacher and the school have obtained all necessary consents and agreements (including from both the student and the student’s parent), the teacher and the school are ultimately responsible for all content and activity on the account and the students’ accounts and for assuring that such content and activities and all
Animoto Videos created are in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and do not violate any third party rights, the teacher and the school are also responsible for assuring that all use of the Site and the Animoto Services by the students are in full compliance with all applicable privacy and educational law, rules and regulations, and in supervising the students, the teacher will ensure the students will not publicly display, distribute or otherwise share the videos, e.g. through social networking or other public web pages.
How do you access (web, hard drive, server)? What information do you need to follow acceptable use agreements and information guidelines?
As noted above, Animoto is accessed through the internet. To have access for a year you must pay a fee. There is also an option to make an education account where the user can create an account for their students for only $1 per student. The type of account you choose varies depending on the amount you want to pay and the amount of options you would like when making your video (i.e. background styles and music variety). The acceptable use agreements for regular users (as opposed to the above notes education accounts for teachers and students) includes a “Conduct on site” section that states the following:
You agree that you will not upload, share, or otherwise distribute any Submissions — including text, graphics, images, sounds, data, music, or other information — that: are unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, deceptive, fraudulent, invasive of another's privacy, or impersonate another person; contain explicit or graphic descriptions or accounts of sexual acts (including but not limited to sexual language of a violent or threatening nature directed at another individual or group of individuals), or in any way violate child pornography laws; victimize, harass, degrade, or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or disability; infringe on any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, right of publicity, or other proprietary right of any party; constitute unauthorized or unsolicited advertising, junk or bulk email (also known as "spamming"), chain letters, any other form of unauthorized solicitation, or any form of lottery or gambling; contain software viruses or any other computer code, files, or programs that are designed or intended to disrupt, damage, or limit the functioning of any software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment or to damage or obtain unauthorized access to any data or other information of any third party; contains measures that could be used to determine the architecture of the Site, or could be used to decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer the Site; or are to be used for a commercial purpose of any kind.
Analyze
Who could use it? What questions will you ask yourself as you learn about this software?
People of all ages (above 13 years of age) can use Animoto. As I learn about this website I have asked myself such questions as: how long does the free trial period last? Is there a maximum amount of a time a video can be? If you do not pay your yearly fees, will you still be able to access your videos from previous (paid for) years?
When would you use it? For what purpose? What value does it add to your digital presence?
Animoto would be used when needing to make a video (made up of a variety of pictures and/or videos). There are a variety of different video backgrounds/styles that pertain to a different type of video, such as “Classic”, “Senior Year”, “Globetrotter”, and “Back to School”. By offering a variety of different styles, the user(s) are able to customize their video for their particular needs/interests. Animoto also allows the user to add music to the video, either by using the sample music on the website, or adding their own music from their own music library. Animoto also allows the user to add text into the video, which personalizes the video(s) once again.
Create
What does it do? How easy or intuitive is it? What features will challenge you?
As noted above, Animoto allows the user to create personalized videos. The website is very user friendly and easy to use. The prompts guide the user through all of the steps needed to create an account and then to begin making their video(s). I did not find any features that were overly challenging to use while working on this website. If the user does not have the full version (most expensive) then the user may find it frustrating to see a video template that appeals to their needs that they are not able to use.
Where/how can you show your finished work?
Once the user has finished their video, they can share their video through a variety of social media sites such as email, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, Vimeo, Wistia, Smugmug, LinkedIn, and vzaar. However, the user does not need to share their video(s) after they have completed them, and could just continue to have their videos on their own personalized account within the website.
Reflect
Where would you use it as a teacher - subject, topic, and grade? How can you use it professionally?
As a teacher, Animoto could be used in a variety of different subject areas. Animoto can be used to show the history of a geographical area or landmark, the point of view of a particular person, etc. I would definitely use Animoto for media literacy within my own classroom. The ability to put both videos and pictures in their video allows the students to truly personalize their creations. Since the terms of agreement states the user must be of 13 years or older, it limits the grades in which Animoto could be used. Therefore, I would use this website with grade 8 and/or higher.
What steps would you take to integrate it into your digital repertoire?
Professionally, Animoto would be of great use by teachers to create a digital portfolio to showcase their lesson plans in action within the classroom. This creation could include pictures of the student’s work or the process by which they got to their end product/work, or even videos of the students describing what they did during a particular lesson and why it was helpful.
Take Action
Personal or professional uses? For what purpose? For what audience?
As touched on above, Animoto can be used both personally and professionally. Personally, it can be used to make videos for travelling, wedding, holidays, newborn, and birthdays (all of these areas of which are noted on the website). Professionally, it can be used for a variety of career fields such as education, real estate, photographers, and business.
Each video can be personalized so that it is able to be viewed by their chosen audience. The variety of video backgrounds/styles allows the user to do so, and make a great video for their given purpose.
Will you use it, sign up or open an account? Why or why not?
I have already signed up for Animoto and have used it for two class projects thus far. I have found it to be a great way to put pictures and videos together in a cohesive and pleasant-looking manner for others to view. I really enjoy the variety of backgrounds/styles that are available to use depending on the type of video you want to create (i.e. professional, educational, personal).
Name of Software / Web 2.0 Tool: Animoto
Access
Where do you get it? Do you download? Where does it save? What are the privacy or terms of use issues for you or students?
Animoto can be accessed on the internet, from their website animoto.com. To use Animoto, the user must first create a login, and their videos will then save onto their personalized account thereafter.
When creating an Animoto account, the user must first agree to the privacy and terms of use agreement. When signing up for an education account, which is for teachers to make for a group of students, there are many other privacy and terms of use policies that are addressed.
These added policies include: the students’ accounts are to be created by the teacher and not by the students, the teacher will not provide Animoto any personal information about the students, the teacher will closely supervise all use of the student accounts, the teacher will ensure that students do not modify the information provided in their registration profile, the teacher and the school are responsible for ensuring that all of the students have read and agree to, and that all use of the Site and the Animoto Services by their students fully complies with, the Animoto General Terms of Service, the teacher and the school have obtained all necessary consents and agreements (including from both the student and the student’s parent), the teacher and the school are ultimately responsible for all content and activity on the account and the students’ accounts and for assuring that such content and activities and all
Animoto Videos created are in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and do not violate any third party rights, the teacher and the school are also responsible for assuring that all use of the Site and the Animoto Services by the students are in full compliance with all applicable privacy and educational law, rules and regulations, and in supervising the students, the teacher will ensure the students will not publicly display, distribute or otherwise share the videos, e.g. through social networking or other public web pages.
How do you access (web, hard drive, server)? What information do you need to follow acceptable use agreements and information guidelines?
As noted above, Animoto is accessed through the internet. To have access for a year you must pay a fee. There is also an option to make an education account where the user can create an account for their students for only $1 per student. The type of account you choose varies depending on the amount you want to pay and the amount of options you would like when making your video (i.e. background styles and music variety). The acceptable use agreements for regular users (as opposed to the above notes education accounts for teachers and students) includes a “Conduct on site” section that states the following:
You agree that you will not upload, share, or otherwise distribute any Submissions — including text, graphics, images, sounds, data, music, or other information — that: are unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, deceptive, fraudulent, invasive of another's privacy, or impersonate another person; contain explicit or graphic descriptions or accounts of sexual acts (including but not limited to sexual language of a violent or threatening nature directed at another individual or group of individuals), or in any way violate child pornography laws; victimize, harass, degrade, or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or disability; infringe on any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, right of publicity, or other proprietary right of any party; constitute unauthorized or unsolicited advertising, junk or bulk email (also known as "spamming"), chain letters, any other form of unauthorized solicitation, or any form of lottery or gambling; contain software viruses or any other computer code, files, or programs that are designed or intended to disrupt, damage, or limit the functioning of any software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment or to damage or obtain unauthorized access to any data or other information of any third party; contains measures that could be used to determine the architecture of the Site, or could be used to decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer the Site; or are to be used for a commercial purpose of any kind.
Analyze
Who could use it? What questions will you ask yourself as you learn about this software?
People of all ages (above 13 years of age) can use Animoto. As I learn about this website I have asked myself such questions as: how long does the free trial period last? Is there a maximum amount of a time a video can be? If you do not pay your yearly fees, will you still be able to access your videos from previous (paid for) years?
When would you use it? For what purpose? What value does it add to your digital presence?
Animoto would be used when needing to make a video (made up of a variety of pictures and/or videos). There are a variety of different video backgrounds/styles that pertain to a different type of video, such as “Classic”, “Senior Year”, “Globetrotter”, and “Back to School”. By offering a variety of different styles, the user(s) are able to customize their video for their particular needs/interests. Animoto also allows the user to add music to the video, either by using the sample music on the website, or adding their own music from their own music library. Animoto also allows the user to add text into the video, which personalizes the video(s) once again.
Create
What does it do? How easy or intuitive is it? What features will challenge you?
As noted above, Animoto allows the user to create personalized videos. The website is very user friendly and easy to use. The prompts guide the user through all of the steps needed to create an account and then to begin making their video(s). I did not find any features that were overly challenging to use while working on this website. If the user does not have the full version (most expensive) then the user may find it frustrating to see a video template that appeals to their needs that they are not able to use.
Where/how can you show your finished work?
Once the user has finished their video, they can share their video through a variety of social media sites such as email, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, Vimeo, Wistia, Smugmug, LinkedIn, and vzaar. However, the user does not need to share their video(s) after they have completed them, and could just continue to have their videos on their own personalized account within the website.
Reflect
Where would you use it as a teacher - subject, topic, and grade? How can you use it professionally?
As a teacher, Animoto could be used in a variety of different subject areas. Animoto can be used to show the history of a geographical area or landmark, the point of view of a particular person, etc. I would definitely use Animoto for media literacy within my own classroom. The ability to put both videos and pictures in their video allows the students to truly personalize their creations. Since the terms of agreement states the user must be of 13 years or older, it limits the grades in which Animoto could be used. Therefore, I would use this website with grade 8 and/or higher.
What steps would you take to integrate it into your digital repertoire?
Professionally, Animoto would be of great use by teachers to create a digital portfolio to showcase their lesson plans in action within the classroom. This creation could include pictures of the student’s work or the process by which they got to their end product/work, or even videos of the students describing what they did during a particular lesson and why it was helpful.
Take Action
Personal or professional uses? For what purpose? For what audience?
As touched on above, Animoto can be used both personally and professionally. Personally, it can be used to make videos for travelling, wedding, holidays, newborn, and birthdays (all of these areas of which are noted on the website). Professionally, it can be used for a variety of career fields such as education, real estate, photographers, and business.
Each video can be personalized so that it is able to be viewed by their chosen audience. The variety of video backgrounds/styles allows the user to do so, and make a great video for their given purpose.
Will you use it, sign up or open an account? Why or why not?
I have already signed up for Animoto and have used it for two class projects thus far. I have found it to be a great way to put pictures and videos together in a cohesive and pleasant-looking manner for others to view. I really enjoy the variety of backgrounds/styles that are available to use depending on the type of video you want to create (i.e. professional, educational, personal).