I am working on starting a virtual classroom…actually when it is all said and done, it will look more like a virtual club. I have opened up my virtual classroom to students in 3rd-8th grade. My first offering is going to be digital storytelling. In honor of that, I thought I would share the sites I am going to use with the students, as well as some other favorites for digital storytelling.
1. Google Search Stories Video Creator– This is a YouTube site that lets you create a digital story out of a series of Google Searches, you really have to check it out to get the full effect!
2. PicLits– This is an all time favorite of mine, PicLits lets students choose a picture and then draw from a word bank to create a sentence or story to accompany the picture.
3. Domo Animate- This is my favorite story animation tool. It gives students so much flexibility and freedom in telling their story, the results are amazing!
4. StoryBird- This site lets students create stories based on beautiful illustrations by real artists; better yet, it lets students create stories collaboratively!
5. Animoto– The free version of Animoto lets students create 30 second videos that combine images, songs, and text. It combines them all for an impressive presentation without a lot of fuss.
6. ZooBurst- ZooBurst is one that I haven’t used with students yet but I am excited to. ZooBurst is a new site that lets students create virtual 3D popup books. Even better, it lets students print out a special marker and view their popup book augmented reality style as it comes to life using a webcam!
I couldn’t fit in all of my favorite digital storytelling tools into a 5 week class, here are some more favorites:
8. Shidonni– One of my students very favorite websites of all time, this one gets requested a lot!
9. Smile Box
10. Kerpoof– another student favorite!
11. Glogster
12. Creaza
13. Voice Thread
14. Graphic Novel Creator- Comic Master
15. Stage’d
16. ePub Bud– publish ebooks for ebook readers like the iPad
17. Virsona– a different kind of digital storytelling but neat none the less!
18. Zimmer Twins– one of my students very favorite ways to tell a story!
19. Fotobabble
21. Nota– collaborative workspace
22. My Story Maker
23. Xtranormal
24. Do Ink
26. Bubblr!
Sites to get students writing:
27. Lightening Bug
28. What-if questions for stories
29. The Story Starter Jr. -Created by my friend Joel Heffner!
30. The Story Starter- Also created by Joel!
31. PinBall-bounce ideas around
Dear Kelly,
they are all awesome, love that you have put them all here in the one post.
I use most of these regularly with the kids.
Steph
This is a great post. Thank you for putting all these resources together. I will be livebinder-ing it for the future to use in my classroom. (And for fun for me!)
What an awesome list! Thanks for putting it together.
ktenkely,
This post is brimming with great sites. I can vouch for VoiceThread as a great way to have asynchronous discussions outside of class in high school. Thank you for sharing!~wackjacq
I am so pleased to see you have as liberal an interpretation for digital storytelling as i do, Kelly! Any place that has kids involved in some kind of story creation has my applause for sure.
I am working on my own list currently but it keeps growing. One day i will just have to draw a line and publish it. One of my very favourites that you didn’t mention is ToonDoo. Kids can even make little books there, as well as comics. http://www.toondoo.com And StoryJumper is another neat book creation place that I am sure you will love. http://www.storyjumper.com/
I am also a huge fan of Notaland (the same people who did PhotoPeach I think) and it surprises me not to see it used/mentioned on more blogs.
What a great list of websites! I’m looking forward to checking out some of the ones I’m not familiar with. I’ve used Zimmertwins with students and it’s a hit. Glogster also works well.
Thanks for another great list of ideas.
Kelly,
I love when you do roundup posts like these. I can’t always keep up with your daily posts but these I find extremely valuable, especially for adding sites to my Digital Backpack. It would be awesome if you did this as a blog series.
I love this collection. I’m always looking for new resources for my students. Thanks for the work.
I am constantly amazed by how much you are connected to the web2.0. Any time I have a problem or need I can dial up iLearn Tech and find a link to a website which provides a solution. My students have benefitted because they get immediate access to applications which help them be creative, innovative, and successful. Thanks for your continued efforts!
What a great list! Thanks! I wasn’t aware of about half of these!
A fantastic and generous idea and a brilliant list of resources for educators. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Thanks Carl, I know the feeling…I can never keep up with your Link Stews or backpack additions try as I might, some times we need the cliffnote versions 🙂
I just shared your post with my club. Thank you for your wonderful hard work
I’m glad that internet technology has benefited not only entrepreneurs like me but students and educators alike. Its comforting to know that teachers like you are constantly exploring and utilizing the best this technology can offer in educating our kids. My kudos to you and all teachers out there.
I love this list! Thanks so much for sharing…now I have some fun new things to try out over the break. 🙂
That is a great one Heather! I wrote this post before Little Bird Tales existed!
I am a kindergarten teacher looking for ways to use digital storytelling in my classroom. After much research, I came across your site/blog. I feel as if I hit the jackpot. I have been able to check out the different sites to see what will work with my students. Your list saved me hours of time. Thank you! Thank you!
Bonnie
Any good suggestions from anyone for the kindergarten level would be much appreciated. Thanks!
I used a digital storytelling tool that used an open face book where the pages turned just like a book. Students could add their own pictures and text and it could be embedded into a website. My problem is I cannot remember the name of the tool. Anyone know of a site like this?
Little Bird Tales (www.littlebirdtales.com) is a great digital storytelling site for kinder all the way up to adult (though it was made for younger children, we have adults that use it, too). Add your own photos, artwork, digital images or draw online using the integrated art pad. Then add text and your voice to each page and email to friends and family. Super easy, fast and fun! Kids go nuts (happy) when we use it in computer lab! It’s engaging and allows the students to truly be creative and personal in their use of it. FREE! App available, too!