GoAnimate is a web based animation tool that can be used to create animated videos by students and teachers. Teachers can use it to share information with students and students can use it to synthesize research, reflect on learning or share information. A subscription to the site is not inexpensive, $124 for a school subscription that only allows 49 students access, however they do offer a free 15 day trial that has fair functionality. Some issues that I found while working with this include limitations on usage per day or per session - I never figured out which, and the inability to export videos when finished. The site offers tutorials and help menus to assist in the learning curve.
I developed a short animation to share with my Art II class. They have just completed a series of figure drawings and I wanted them to asses their progress prior to moving forward with the final composition. They have experimented with a variety of drawing media as well as gesture drawing. These 90 minute exercises allow them to gain skills and confidence in drawing the human form. I had assumed that students would be able to complete this activity using their own device, as I had tested it successfully on my phone. In reality only one or two of them could, so we ended up crammed into the art computer lab using 10 computers for 25 students. As teachers, we are used to rolling with these types of issues, so I grouped them and instructed them to turn their animation into an interview or conversation about their work, using a different character for each group member. This was an excellent example of a happy accident - this format was much more effective because the students had to discuss the work and cooperate to design their animation rather than work individually with no feedback. There was lively conversation about both their work and the layout of their animation. One student did discover how to upload their own images, so I asked that they try to add at least one image to the animation. The groupings also offered students who were less technically adept to have a built in support system in their partners. I gave them 1 class period to work together, then gave them a few days outside of class to to work. The group shared a user name and password to facilitate access outside of class. Some groups discussed times that they could come to the lab or meet at the Miller Library to work and work together.
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AuthorArtist, Teacher, Gardener, Runner, Wonderer. Archives
March 2018
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