skip to main content

Leading adult education through support for and the effective application of technology.

Animoto: Vocabulary

Details

Tech Product/Equipment:
Computer and projector, Mobile devices for students

Activity Description

Animoto Vocabulary Template
Source: Animoto Vocabulary Template (License: Protected by Copyright (c) [i.e. screenshot])
 
  1.  Using Animoto, assign one term or item on a vocabulary list to individual students or small groups to make slideshows that can be posted on a Web page.
  2. Use the built-in music choices or upload music (must be an mp3 audio file). Among Animoto's built-in music choices are Top 40, Indie Rock, Electronica, HipHop, Latin, Jazz, Classical, Country, and others submitted by musicians.
  3. Add images and choose special effects.
Animoto is free for making 30-second videos if you request an Educational account when you register. Other Animoto accounts are paid, but you can get a free one-year account for 50 students. Go to the Web Site URL listed below. Scroll down to "Are you a teacher?" You can reapply each year.

Preparation

  1. Print instructions for how to use it. See Example Document.
  2. Use the Web Site Example link (above) to see ideas for how to use Animoto in education. (Scroll down to the bottom of the page.)
  3. Familiarize yourself with the Animoto tool and its features.
  4. Gather pictures from the Web, from class, or personal photos to use in creating a demonstration video to show students.

How-To

  1. Explain what the assignment will be and that they will be using Animoto to complete it.
  2. Use the Web Site Example link (above), for examples to show class for demonstration purposes.
  3. Demonstrate how to make a video using pictures from the Web or from ones you supply.
  4. For vocabulary or idioms, instructors can make short, visual slideshows to help students remember definitions.
  5. Assign one term or item on a vocabulary list to individual students or small groups to make slideshows that can be posted on a Web page or presented to the rest of the class.

Teacher Tips

  • Be sure to register in the Educational section and request an educator account or you will only get a "trial" account that will last for 14 days.
  • To make longer videos, see the Pricing section of the site.

More Ways

  • Students can prepare video slide presentations introducing themselves, showing where they are from, or for yearly celebration of Adult Education: "What adult education means to me."

Program Areas

  • ABE: Adult Basic Education
  • ESL: English as a Second Language
  • ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation
  • ASE: High School Diploma
  • AwD: Adults with Disabilities

Levels

  • Low
  • Intermediate
  • High
  • All Levels
  • Beginning High
  • Intermediate Low
  • Intermediate High
  • Advanced

Lesson Plan

Warm-up
Engagement

Discussion starter: How do you remember vocabulary words? Turn to neighbor and discuss then share with the group. List the ideas.

Introduction

Show online methods of learning vocabulary words (can show Quizlet with the various games, Memrize etc) Then show Animoto. Turn to neighbor and compare the different applications. What do you like about each?

Presentation
Engagement Enhancement

Demonstrate how to create an Animoto Vocabulary Slide show. What ideas about a vocabulary word could be posted on a slide? Share answers with a neighbor and then with the class.

This week's assigned vocabulary words will be reviewed and presented to the class using Animoto. Demonstrate using Animoto with one of the words.

Practice
Engagement Enhancement

Students pair off or in groups of three. Assign one of the vocabulary words to each group.

Each group creates an Animoto for their assigned word. Groups then share their Animotos with the class. (See the Animoto assignment sheet)

Practice
Enhancement

Students create an Animoto individually for a second vocabulary word. All Animotos are shared with the class.

Evaluation
Engagement Enhancement
  1. Share all Animotos with the class. Students share with each other what they liked. Then share ideas with the group.
  2. Discuss the things each student enjoyed. Does it help you remember the word? Are there any additional slides we could add to the slideshows in the future?
  3. Each student writes a comment for each presentation to share with the student creator. This could be done on a Google Form or a written form.
  4. Students take the regular vocabulary quiz and see if this extra practice improved their scores.
Application
Enhancement Extension

How could we use Animoto in our classroom? at home? at work?

Write two paragraphs.

  • Paragraph one: summarize what you learned about Animoto, did it help you in learning your vocabulary?
  • In paragraph two, write two ways you could use Animoto in the future.

Documents

Subjects

  • Electives
    • Intro to Computers
  • Language Arts - Reading
    • Comprehension
  • Learning and Thinking Skills
    • Demonstrate the ability to use information and communication technology
  • Reading
    • Vocabulary
  • Writing
    • Basic Sentences

Standards

  • Reading
    • CCR Anchor 4 - Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
    • CCR Anchor 7 - Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
  • Language
    • CCR Anchor 4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.
    • CCR Anchor 5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
    • CCR Anchor 6 - Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Tags

Reading, video, visuals, vocabulary, anchor text to video, animoto, autobiography, collaboration, introduction, pictures, technology

Conditions

If you are using an account for educational or instructional purposes with students, Animoto Videos created with such accounts may only be used for personal and non commercial purposes.
Scroll To Top

OTAN activities are funded by contract CN220124 from the Adult Education Office, in the Career & College Transition Division, California Department of Education, with funds provided through Federal P.L., 105-220, Section 223. However, OTAN content does not necessarily reflect the position of that department or the U.S. Department of Education.