There is a lesson in there somewhere or #TILTS was a tag I used quite a lot last year when trying to create and conceive small units of work around interactive media or ICT tools. Animoto, the fantastic webware tool that automatically turns your photos and videos into "beautifully orchestrated, completely unique video pieces," yet again provides the inspiration.
Just for the record, Animoto have always supported education whole heartedly. For three years now, nothing I have requested has been too much trouble as long as it was a) reasonable and b) proactively sharing Animoto with my students, staff or for school. Each year I re-apply for an All-Access Education Pass and each year Animoto delivers. No longer do our students, parents or in some cases both, endure poorly constructed photo slideshows but rather "funked up" (student comment) highly polished, highly professional, low effort videos which can then be shared via embed codes or Youtube.
So, the inspiration for TILTS. Animoto is working with Bon Jovi, unlocking a hit song off of their upcoming “Greatest Hits Album” every other week for "you" / "us" to use as the soundtrack to your Animoto video. Animoto basically wants you to interpret the song and create the video. What a fantastic English or Citizenship lesson in its on right. Listen to the song, reading the lyrics, interpreting the song and then creating the media either photos or video, to showcase that understanding. With the help of Animoto, there is a host of literacy opportunities, adding titles, sub text and quotation style commentary using Animoto’s text tiles feature. Most importantly, at the end of the lesson(s) students will have crafted a slick multi-media product that can be shared with class during their next lesson, judged or not, or via Youtube or even entered into the Animoto competition. Can you tell I am enthused?
What happens if you take this idea, concept and repurpose it, TILTS. Select a track with lyrics to match say… Lord Capulet’s raging rant at Juliet in ACT III Scene V. Then get students to again create the media (my preference would be photos, quick and easy), add quotes from the scene to match the imagery, wave the Animoto wand, and I am sure your students will produce some outstanding resources. In this mini scheme o work I would have the students assessing the degree to which the products accurately communicates or dramatizes Shakespeare’s craft. Step aside Baz Luhrmann.