Create Amazing Videos with Toontastic 3D

Toontastic is even more amazing than before with Toontastic 3D. The company is now owned by Google and offers engaging ways to tell your stories on iOS and Android devices.

How does it Work? 

First, you will want to design your 3D character by using your photo or drawing your own. The animations are absolutely animation.


Next, you will begin plotting your story. How will it begin? Where is the climax? How will it end? Toontastic gives you the tools to create an amazing story!


Then, the fun begins! You can bring your characters to life through animations, narration, and creating a soundtrack.

Finally, you can easily export your video without the need for an account.

Conclusion:

Toontasic 3D is a great tool for creating innovative and engaging videos on any device. Whether you have WiFi or none at all, you have the ability to work offline and easily export your videos. The App is free and available to download with no advertisements or in-app purchases!

4 Ways to Unleash the Power of Audio with Clyp

I love finding new tools to record audio! I just came across an excellent post by the Educational Technology and Mobile Learning blog called Clyp.

Clyp is an audio recording application that is available on iOS, Android, and as a web app. Users can use Clyp to upload or record up to 100 MB worth of audio content for free! Once your content is uploaded, Clyp creates a URL that you can share or embed on a website.

This is an excellent tool for younger students because there is no sign in required. It reminds me very much of Vocaroo.

How could I use this? 

• Thinking Prompts - Instead of a writing prompt, why not give students a thinking prompt? Give students the option of typing text OR using Clyp to record a 30-second response to a question.  Once students publish their response, they can share the link in the commenting section of Google Classroom, Schoology, or Edmodo. You could even have them add the link to a Padlet note. 

• Book Trailers - Movie trailers get movie goers excited to watch films, why not do the same with books? Have your students create a 1-minute clip summarizing their favorite book. Publish your audio file to Clyp to generate a URL. Use the URL to create a QR Code that you could place on the back of the book, a poster, or flyer. 

• Blogger of the Day - Students are constantly in and out of our classrooms for a variety of reasons, such as illness, appointments, and other absences. Why not assign 1 student per day to be the "blogger" of the day? Instead of actually writing a blog post, why not have the student share the three things you should know from class today? Post this audio clip to your class website, blog, or use social media. 

• Weekly Update - Parents want to be connected to our classrooms, but often do not have much time. Why not create a 1 - 2-minute weekly update of what happened in your class this week? Share news, events, and information about assignments. Want to get more parents involved? Why not have your students help you create a weekly update. Parents love to hear their kids. Publish your audio file to Clip and share it via email or social media. 

NOVEMBER IS CLICKS FOR A CAUSE MONTH! 

Addison Jacobs was born on 1/13/15, one month prematurely with unknown underlying medical issues. At nine months old, she was diagnosed with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, bone marrow dysfunction, leukemia predisposition, and skeletal abnormalities. Addison requires a lot of care with all of her complex medical issues. All of her medical necessities trips to Philly for her care and time off work creates an enormous financial strain on her family.  

During the month of November, I need your help to make a difference for Addison and her family! Here is how!

• Visit and share blog posts - I will be personally donating 1 cent to her family’s medical fund for every blog visit for the entire month of November.

• Make a donation - for the price of coffee or lunch, make a donation to Addison’s fund via credit card, debit card, check, or cash. Sign up to make a donation using this Google Form. I will send you an invoice via PayPal. At the end of the month, I will make a donation directly to the family.

• Contribute to Addison’s GoFundMe page

• Show your support with a Like - ​  “Like” Addison’s Facebook page and share words of encouragement!

Clicks for a Cause has been helping children in need since 2013! For more information, check out my Clicks for a Cause Page!

The New Goal Setting Feature on the Google Calendar App

If you are an Android or iPhone Google Calendar user, you may have noticed a new feature called Goals. This new feature will help you find time to work out, build a skill, spend time with friends and family, or spend some alone time. The best part is that the App does most of the work for you!


How Does It Work?

Instead of entering in a new event or task on your mobile device, choose the new Goal option. Then select the type of goal that you would like to set. Google Calendar currently will help you set goals to work out, build a skill, spend time with friends and family, schedule time for yourself, or help you organize your life.



Once you choose the type of goal you would like to set, you will be prompted to enter in information. For example, if you were to schedule an exercise goal, the App would want to know the type of exercise, frequency, duration, and best time for you.

Once you set the goal, it becomes apart of your Google Calendar schedule throughout the day. If you have to schedule another event during this time, the App will automatically reschedule for you.

Conclusion:

Goal setting is an important part of learning, whether you are a student or adult because humans are naturally goal-oriented. In every human, there is a part of us that wants to measure our performance, accomplishments, and how we stack up against the competition.  I

This is critical when we are in the process of learning a new skill or strategy. Goal-setting tools provide the supports we need to self-regulate our efforts. Although, goal-setting may look very different among learners, the Google Calendar App could provide a useful tool for students who engage with electronic media, are visually motivated, or need the scaffolds and supports that this tool provides.