The tool is called xtranormal. As it is stated on the xtranormal (2010) website, "xtranormal’s mission is to bring movie-making to the people." The concept is easy. You pick the number of actors, choose a scene and then start typing. If you are able to type a few words here and there you are able to make a movie. It is really as easy as that. If you want to get fancy you can start picking camera angles and motions for the actors. It is so easy a kid could do.Xtranormal does have some adult content on it but this can not be viewed unless you have an account. As you create your movie you label, or rate, it as G, 13+ or 18+. I can see this being used in schools to help with language arts programs. Really the use is only limited by your imagination. Se the short movie I created as a test.
I did have some initial issue in the beginning with the site. I create a movie and went to go publish it. Then the issues began for me. The site would not let me create an account. I sent a quick email to support. By the next day I was up and running and was able to create my movie in less than 5 minute.
I highly recommend this tools. It is a cloud based tools so it can be accessed from anywhere. I am excited to use it on our show. I will try and let you know how it goes.
So check it out. http://www.xtranormal.com
Reference
Xtranormal (2010). About us. Retrieved March 18, 2010 http://www.xtranormal.com/about_us/
Wow, I have never seen a tool like Xtrnormal. It is pretty cool. Anybody could show creativity with a dialogue using this. What a wonderful way to change things up in the classroom. I could see this being used as a debate tool, storytelling platform, or delivering information. You did a great job showing the tool through using it. I will have to explore it and check out the setting options and other things that can be added. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI discovered Xtranormal when researching Animoto and thought it would be brilliant and tons of fun for educational use. It was kind of a bummer because I couldn't get the program to work for me. It was taking way too long to create animations. I was probably doing something wrong or my internet was acting up...or both...but I ended up giving up.
ReplyDeleteI really see a lot of potential in tools like Animoto and Xtranormal (tools that allow for fast and simple creation of exciting media) for the purposes of school administration. If a school could get its admin (principles, counselors et) on board with this kind of Web 2.0 technology, these tools could be a fun way to connect with students and communicate important messages. Even if the message isn't that exciting, the presentation of the message should catch their attention thereby increasing the likelihood of them remembering.
I really enjoyed your post. I can imagine that any child would react in a very similar way. Even though this short movie you created as an example had not much content or color, it grabbed my attention as something different and possible creation of my won in the future. This is an awesome web 2.0 tool that does not require high costs for school for the students to create more complex yet easy projects. 2 thumbs up! Thanks for sharing. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great comments. I had fun with this app and I can't wait to use it one the show.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with it and enjoy.
Hi! Q, I was intrigued by xtranormal last night and would like to try it. I tried it today. See and watch the movie I created below about Albert Einstein and Queen Elizabeth. They are the only available characters. I have to download a state in order to choose other characters like Gandhi and others but when I downloaded it, it does not work on Mac, only on window-based computer. So I just settle down for Einstein and the current Queen Elizabeth. I am a big fan of Einstein and Michio Kaku, both physicists. Michio Kaku is the best selling author of Hyperspace and Physics of the Impossible, which I love reading over and over again. Enjoy the movie, I hope I can use this to some of my students and colleagues in future presentations. Please find the link below for the movie, I tried to do embedding but it does not allow me to do it when doing a comment on blogger.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6293661