Xtranormal


 * Increasing Student Engagement and Comprehension with Animated Avatars **

__Reading:__ //Integration of Knowledge and Ideas// 7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words. __Speaking and Listening__: //Comprehension and Collaboration// 2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally. 3. Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
 * Related Anchor Standards **

**Examples of Xtranormal** 1. Here is a response to the book //Three Wishes,// by Jon Muth.

media type="custom" key="10039771"

2. Here is another example of two students reporting about their summer reading:

media type="custom" key="10039801"

=Learning with Xtranormal= =I. Learning Objectives: =
 * To learn how Xtranormal can support content engagement and learning in your classroom.
 * To create an Xtranormal movie.

=II. What is Xtranormal? = Xtranormal is a Text-to-Movie tool. Within minutes students and teachers can pick up the basics of how to operate this tool, and then create animated videos. The possibilities are endless as students can recreate favorite scenes from literature, use as a journaling tool, or simply create online content for other ICT tools.The current version even allows you to remix the videos created by others...so students can edit and critique the work of others.

=III. What are the Benefits of Xtranormal? = -Easy to use -Short movies that can be made in less than five minutes -Supports content learning through multimodality -Free or paid version with extra graphics and choices

=IV. Key Features: =
 * Create cool 3D flash movies online.
 * Easy to use movie editor with simple to follow interface.
 * Embed movies clips you have created onto your blog or profile page.
 * Browse and watch clips created by others.
 * Rate and comment on clips.
 * Check out most popular and recent clips

**__Do Now__:** Create your own animations with [|Xtranormal].


 * Step 1:** Register at [|Xtranormal].


 * Step 2:** Create an animation on -

a. a short response to a favorite book b. a short reflection about your summer reading c. about a trip you took this summer (or some other highlight of your summer)


 * Step 3:** Share your animation with your classmates.