Pixorial
If the tech is available, you can work Pixorial into your lessons or assign video projects as homework. In a language arts class, kids could create short films of their own stories. Or, for a fun assessment of comprehension, students could film a creative adaptation of a chapter or story. Social studies teachers may ask kids to act out and analyze a historical scene. Any teacher could find use for the site; the options are as varied as the content of your lessons. However, herein lies what makes the site more labor-intensive for teachers: You'll have to tie the learning to your content.
Creating one of Pixorial's "Krowds" for each of your classes could help with management. Kids will have one place to turn in video assignments, as well as a forum to give feedback on their peers' creations. Or, just use it yourself to create videos for class. It's pretty easy to intersperse text with video; your slideshows could become that much more engaging.
Continue readingEditor's Note: As of July, 2014 the Pixorial service has closed. Users can find more details at the Pixorial homepage.
Pixorial is a website you can use to store, edit, and share videos. No matter what the subject, Pixorial allows users to upload video from a computer, film directly from a webcam, or even have video converted from vintage formats. After uploading a video, you can add captions, create movies, and enhance videos of any length. The Pixorial Library acts as a dashboard for video creation, and a free Basic account allows for 7 GB of storage space.
The site covers the basics of video editing. Kids can learn video-production tidbits like adding subtitles, choosing credits, and learning to watch for those special, filmable moments. But the best part is Pixorial's focus on storytelling -- how video can be used to tell a tale or share an experience –- which gives it a slightly different vibe than a simple nuts-and-bolts approach to video.
Pixorial has potential to help kids learn in a few different ways. If they're using Pixorial's Movie Creator, they can use their imaginations to brainstorm ideas and plots for short films. Kids can also get practice assessing and curating content -- learning what's worth filming, what's important, and what makes a compelling story that people will want to watch. Well-organized group projects can help kids learn collaboration skills. Younger kids may need guidance, but it's generally a fun place for any kid to learn about and experiment with video editing.
While Pixorial is not specifically set up for classroom use, ambitious teachers could certainly harness the site's power to help students engage in visual storytelling. Pixorial's focus on this –- storytelling –- sends a nice message to kids about why we record all this stuff in the first place. Sharing digital media might be second nature to this generation, but behind it all is a genuine desire for connection.
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