I learned about animoto at the Learning and the Brain Institute at University of California at Santa Barbara last week. (See short videos of the week here, beginning with the last two clips on the first page, and many resources from the Institute here.) Animoto is a clever service to help you make short videos for teaching people, delivering messages, or just having fun.
All of the attendees at the Institute were teachers or school administrators. Some of them made terrific short animotos for teaching purposes; I was inspired and encouraged by how quickly they learned how to use the Web site.
As a not-so-stellar example, click to watch my first one (30 seconds long). It took me seven to 10 minutes to create. I plan to get better at making animotos, because, as we saw in Santa Barbara, they have so many uses, and can communicate so much in a short time.
Even with my amateurish, first animoto, I have gotten some positive feedback, including:
"what you call not-so-stellar example is spectacularly inviting ... my compliments and best wishes"
"Love the music and the images…and the concept…raw food…and higher/deeper consciousness!"
"This is really a great first project, Stephanie! The message comes across loud and clear, it is upbeat, interesting flow of images. It would make a great TV commercial, imagine a TV spot promoting something that is really good for us!!!"
The animoro site has various cost levels, including free. They provide music, images, etc., or you can use your own. And you can upload what you have created to various places (such as YouTube as I have done) or you can use a link directly to your creation at animoto. Very versatile.
Click to see a couple of animotos by Dr. Judy Willis, the Institute's teacher. And here is an animoto about last week's Learning and the Brain Institute at Santa Barbara.
If you make or have made an animoto, I would enjoy seeing it. Please send it along, and let me know if I can link to it here. Why don't you click on over to become an animoto artist now?
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