10 February 2012

Day Eight: Animoto


Animoto is another great presentation tool that incorporates images, text, audio and video.  Teachers can apply for a free educational account and will be provided with a code that students can enter to create their presentations.  Animoto is very easy to use and my favorite part is it times your images, text, video clips, etc. to the piece of music you select. Your students can then download their finished presentations to your class or school Youtube channel to share with the school, parents and the community at large!
Here is a very simple written tutorial for those of you who want something quick and easy.
Here is a series of video webinars to learn how to use the new features in animoto.
Here is a history teacher who used animoto to help current events come alive for his students.
There is an iphone and ipad app for animoto users (good for students with those devices)
Watch a how-to video here:


Here are some ways animoto can be used (think of ways you can incorporate this tool in the learning experience in your classroom):



  • Make any lesson come to life with stunning audio and visual.
  • Use at the beginning of the day as a ‘teaser’ for what your students can look forward to learning each day.
  • Use to teach complex concepts in History, Maths, Science. Students will respond to new media in the classroom.
  • Allow your students to display knowledge of a concept using Animoto.
  • Students can each create an Animoto showcasing who they are through pictures and music.
  • Vocabulary activities are limitless. For example, pictures students take with a digital camera could  illustrate a word, a concept, or a learning activity.
  • Ideal for digital storytelling in the classroom setting. Animoto is completely web-based, students can create videos from school and continue working on them at home.
  • Celebrations of student achievements create a learning environment that is conducive to learning. Spotlight the learning!
  • Find pictures of different geography features by using the internet or your own pictures. Label the pictures according to their feature.
  • Book trailers are a great way to engage students’ interest before reading a book. Students can also create trailers to share with other classmates.
  • Create slideshows which demonstrate student reflection on their learning.
    via techmeetsed.com
Watch a 7th grade Middletown student sample.


Animoto is an effective tool for making information come to life in a very modern-looking platform.  The presentations can be created to look like music videos which appeals to students.  Some of my colleagues and I have had great success using Animoto in our classrooms.  Have you tried it?

26 comments:

  1. I have used it--both with and without an educator code. The code, which is easy to get will give you and 50 students the ability to make longer videos. This can be a double-edged sword. There is something to be said for keeping the student work to 30 seconds in length.

    One caveat with animoto--students need to identify their work when they send it in to you--sounds easy but when 30 videos each with the name 'atoms' arrive in your email it can be difficult to assign credit where credit is due.

    One final note--the animoto file remains online--not in your email--If you have ever had a student send you a 30 mg file that shuts you out of your email you will appreciate this!

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  2. I have used Animoto for public service announcements warning students about the dangers of drug abuse. I have also had them create Animotos that promote Thompson Middle School, empower kids how not to be victims of bullying and the affects of bullying.

    My students use the 30 sec versions. I ask them how much a second of advertisement costs during the Superbowl. I let them know how powerful it is to get a point across in a short period of time!

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  3. Animoto was one of the first web 2.0 tools we used at Bayshore. Donna Strobel (Computer teacher) would teach the students how to use it in her class, then the content area teachers could integrate it into the curriculum without having to worry about teaching the technical aspects to the students; although the learning curve is extremely low.

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    1. That is fantastic!! I love that. What a way to bring the program to life and allow all the subject areas to come together to use the program.

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  4. I used Animoto to create an "opening day" video for my students that included all the typical first day information on "how to be successful in Algebra". Several colleagues and I used the video to start off the year and then had the students tell us what they remembered from the video. I found the students were able to remember all the important points and it was much more entertaining than just handing out a letter and reviewing the key points from that piece of paper. Of course, we still handed out the letter at the end of class so they could bring it home for their parents to sign.:)

    I would like to create a project for the students to use Animoto to convey a math concept they have learned. Any other math teachers out there that have done something like this?

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    1. I had Lance Armstrong make a professional looking video for my freshman library orientation but I am thinking of experimenting with an animoto for next year. I just have to think through exactly what I want to include in it and how I want it to present. Can it be embedded in the middle of another presentation format (not power point please)? I want to have some live footage and then go to the animoto format.

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    2. I put it in Movie Maker and it worked well.

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  5. I've used Animoto quite often with the students. They make very impressive videos and everyone enjoys viewing the finished products. I didn't know about the educator's code, but will definitely check that out as sometimes the students would like to add more, but their 30 seconds is up.

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  6. One group of students used Animoto as an "attention grabber" for their project on Prohibition in the 1920's. I found it extremely effective and am now considering using it as a "Preview of coming attractions" at the beginning of each unit!

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  7. I can see that this can be a "cool tool." Can a student record their voice and use that instead of a music track? If so, has anyone done that with their students?

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    1. With a Pro account you can use any mp3 file. Technically a student could record his/her voice with audacity and then use that as the background track.

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  8. This looks like so much fun! Can anyone tell me if the video can be paused for discussion as it runs? I would love to try using this to initiate discussions, but I would like to stop and discuss as it runs.

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    1. Kristine, the video runs like a normal video so you pause, rewind and fast forward. However, it is more of a slideshow that has been turned into a video. It works best if it is intended to played straight through. You might pause it to ask questions of the student who created for him/her to explain why a particular picture was used.

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  9. I would definitely like to explore this site more, but I wish I had more laptops, or I pads available for student use in the classroom. I could make presentations, but a class of 30 with only 3 lap tops might find it difficult. We must have the technology in the classroom so students can use it also.

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  10. I would like to use this to make slide shows of class trips and other in class activities.

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  11. I have used Animoto for four years now. Depending on the assignment, 30 seconds is enough time. The educator code gives you 50 codes to share with your class but the codes do expire. My students have made very impressive videos with this tool. I know ME Connolly at Thorne also uses it with her students-we showed it to parents at a workshop we did together.

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    1. ME C. also created a fantastic Animoto of Thorne/Harmony Pink Day! I have to get her to post it!

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  12. Recently, Mrs. Ritter's 8th grade ILA classes created and presented book trailers using Animoto and FlixTime for their independent reading selections. The students really enjoyed the process. At the end of one of the presentations students were so captivated by the video they literally were fighting over the only available copy of the book in the library. I always love when students are motivated to read!! I am hoping to display the videos on some type of digital photo frame so students can watch their peer's reviews.

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  13. After making a 'blood type' video to show students an example, I learned 'text' used needs to be very concise. This will be difficult for some students, but it is a benefit because students will need to think and get directly to the point:)

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  14. I really would like to find a way to incorporate this into my classroom. I know that I will be using this in the beginning of the year and/or maybe even at back to school night with student work and students working in the classroom.

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  15. Huge of time to spend searching about the Personality Development Courses website. You posted very good content thanks to update.

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  16. Animoto is a great resource. The students can incorporate any pictures and set music to the presentation. It really bumps up the level of excitement in the class. Kids now have another means for presenting. In the beginning of the year, my students' first PBL is a name project (it also serves as a 'getting to know you' activity). They research their name and bring in pictures to create a collage all about them. This would be a great medium for presentation instead of the collage.

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  17. My students loved Animoto. They loved the fact that they were able to work hands on during the course of the project and individualize their piece.

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  18. Students generally like Animoto. I like that they can only input a certain amount of text. This really makes them think about how to get their point across.

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  19. I put together a quick video to review the last AP Environmental Science field trip. I love that this site is soo quick and easy to use. I will definitely use it again.

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  20. I may use this as part of my Back to School presentation as well...which I can tackle over the summer and then add pics of students in September. I usually do a power point, but this seems much more exciting! I can't wait to pick my music!

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