Using Animation Tools in the ClassroomAnimation tools can be a valuable resource in your classroom. Not only will students demonstrate their understanding of concepts while they are creating the animations but the finished product can then be uploaded to an online learning space. This provides an authentic audience for student work and also provides opportunities for students to critique / review work by other students.
1. Use animation to teach key concepts Have the students create animations that will show key concepts you are trying to teach. For instance, if you are teaching the water cycle, instead of having the students write a report that they will forget next week, have them create an actual model of the water cycle using free animation software. 2. Use animation to teach mathematical equations If you use a free animation program such as Scratch, students will have to create linear equations and understand geometric concepts in order to create their own cartoons. 3. Using animation for students who are reluctant to present to the class Many students are afraid to stand up in front of a class and tell everything they know about a concept. Those same students are usually the first ones to create a cartoon or animation that will describe that same concept. Using avatars or animation software can make learning come to life. |
Resource Links5 Animation Tools for the Classroom - Review
Free Animation Tools Animation In the Classroom - Livebinder The Use of Animation as a Teaching and Learning Tool to Engage Students’ Interest in the Classroom |
|
|
Animation Tools
Animation projects are a great way to integrate technology, encourage project-based learning and have a lot of fun.
Fluxtime
The site includes a library of background templates and objects. Add them to the canvas, move and record the movements. Completed projects can be emailed and/or published to a gallery. Great for Middle School.
DigitalFilms.com
Choose a background scene, characters, animated actions, dialog,
introduction, and ending credits. Put your name as the producer
and email the movie to your friends!
Doink
Doink is a powerful, frame-by-frame, animation tool. It features easy to use vector drawing tools one-click frame cloning. After an animation is created (called a drawing), it can be inserted into another, larger project called a composition. This is great practice before introducing you to Adobe Flash.
Xtranormal
For more involved, 3-D looking animations, try Xtranormal. The finished product is a full motion video which can be shared and even loaded to YouTube.
Powerpoint Animations
This website will teach you how to use the animation features in Powerpoint.
Scratch
Create and share your own interactive stories, games, music and art.
How to Create a Stop-Motion Animation Movie on Your Mac Using Your Digital Camera and iLife
This tutorial is to show you how to create your own amateur stop-motion animation short movie using a digital camera and a Mac running the iLife software suite (iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, iDVD).
Pencil
2-D animation software.
GoAnimate
Choose your backgrounds and characters and create scenes where the characters speak The quality of the graphics is amazing and the user interface is very intuitive. Check out the Go-animate below about setting up your home study.
For younger students, Kerpoof is an all-time favorite. This site has a suite of creative tools for children that are perfect for the elementary classroom. Another great feature is the ability to create free teacher accounts to manage your students. To create animations, choose the Make a Movie tool. Numerous themes, backgrounds, characters, etc. are available for your students to get to work quickly.
ABCYa.com is a very simple animation site for young students. It provides 40 frames and a blank canvas…similar to hand drawing frames in a notebook and then flipping the pages. It's easy and kids love bringing their drawings to life.
Fluxtime
The site includes a library of background templates and objects. Add them to the canvas, move and record the movements. Completed projects can be emailed and/or published to a gallery. Great for Middle School.
DigitalFilms.com
Choose a background scene, characters, animated actions, dialog,
introduction, and ending credits. Put your name as the producer
and email the movie to your friends!
Doink
Doink is a powerful, frame-by-frame, animation tool. It features easy to use vector drawing tools one-click frame cloning. After an animation is created (called a drawing), it can be inserted into another, larger project called a composition. This is great practice before introducing you to Adobe Flash.
Xtranormal
For more involved, 3-D looking animations, try Xtranormal. The finished product is a full motion video which can be shared and even loaded to YouTube.
Powerpoint Animations
This website will teach you how to use the animation features in Powerpoint.
Scratch
Create and share your own interactive stories, games, music and art.
How to Create a Stop-Motion Animation Movie on Your Mac Using Your Digital Camera and iLife
This tutorial is to show you how to create your own amateur stop-motion animation short movie using a digital camera and a Mac running the iLife software suite (iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, iDVD).
Pencil
2-D animation software.
GoAnimate
Choose your backgrounds and characters and create scenes where the characters speak The quality of the graphics is amazing and the user interface is very intuitive. Check out the Go-animate below about setting up your home study.
For younger students, Kerpoof is an all-time favorite. This site has a suite of creative tools for children that are perfect for the elementary classroom. Another great feature is the ability to create free teacher accounts to manage your students. To create animations, choose the Make a Movie tool. Numerous themes, backgrounds, characters, etc. are available for your students to get to work quickly.
ABCYa.com is a very simple animation site for young students. It provides 40 frames and a blank canvas…similar to hand drawing frames in a notebook and then flipping the pages. It's easy and kids love bringing their drawings to life.