 January's post is a little different and if you've never used the VideoAnt tool, I promise it will make an ordinary video into something interactive and worthwhile for your students. Introduce the concept, provide opportunities for students to interact with the tool and then show them how to use it in their responses. Enjoy!
USING TECH: VIDEOANT ANNOTATION (Discussion, Collaboration, Feedback) Description: From Edshelf.com: “VideoAnt is a web-based video annotation tool for mobile and desktop devices. Use VideoAnt to add annotations and/or comments to web-hosted videos. VideoAnt-annotated videos are called ‘Ants.’” By signing-up for this free service, users can manage their Ants from their account dashboard, otherwise known as the “Ant Farm” (or “Ant Pile”).” With the provided code, Ants can be embedded on a learning management system or anywhere HTML is allowed. Only those who have the code can access the VideoAnt. Application: Both teachers and students can use VideoAnt. It can be used during class time, after school for homework, or as an integral part of an online class. For teachers, it is a way to present information with stopping-point questions on videos so that students can respond. For students, an individual can use VideoAnt as a way to add comments to a video, but also engage with the entire class through threaded discussions on collaboration notes. It can also be used when there is a substitute teacher scheduled. Process: Go to VideoAnt: Getting Started-YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SOE2aQky2I) to get familiar with the various capabilities of the tool. Before class meets, find a short video to use with students the first time, inserting one or two questions, directions, and/or thoughts. On class day, show “VideoAnt: Getting Started” YouTube video and allow time for students to sign-up and become an authenticated user so that they can create “Ant Farms” or “Ant Piles.” Show the preselected short video and allow time for students to interact with the tool, especially the collaborative piece, and clarify points of confusion. As a follow-up, assign a VideoAnt with relevant content for students to engage. Be specific with instructions as there are many ways to elicit responses: "Respond, in sentence/paragraph format to embedded questions within video;” “At four separate points on the video, comment on the main character’s triumphs in sentence/paragraph format;” or “Insert at least four level two or three questions within the VideoAnt and make sure they are spread throughout.” References or for more information: The University of Minnesota is solely responsible for VideoAnt and is a free service: https://ant.umn.edu . https://edshelf.com/tool/videoant/ |