Sound Effects

Free sound effects.

File Converter

I usually use zamzar, but just found this site. Have not tried it yet, but it appears to do most formats.

Converter

Personal Narrative Podcasting/External Peer Review

This is a great way to do podcasting. The site is free for basic accounts, but with a project like this, I had to buy the basic membership. It is about $30 a year, but I can see using this for a cross-campus peer review, students recording speeches, booktalks, or many various projects. Well worth the small investment for a class that comes equipped with twenty ipods with microphones.

For this project, my students recorded a rough draft of their personal narrative project and we uploaded it, along with the text version, to the podbean site.

Students in Jen Mitchell's college composition course then listened to the podcasts, and filled out an anonymous peer review feedback form using google docs. Her students' responses showed a high level of engagement and the stewardship I have found in similar projects.

My students then made final versions based on the comments received. These final versions were then uploaded to the podbean site.

I love the last line in the final version of this student's narrative. It displays the level of engagement this type of technology project can create.

It is a little bit of work to record and upload the podcasts, but the results are worth it.

Rebranding Girsl

Great collection of adds about gender rebranding.

Gender Ads

National Geographic Films

Here are 75 full length National Geographic films totally for free. These might be better for a science class, but there are lots of great documentaries here.

films

Cool Photos

National Geographic posts many beautiful photos. could be used in classrooms for prompts and such.

National Geographic Visions of Earth

Reflections

My students get tired of doing reflections, but to me it is a more realistic way of grading what they really learned. Good questions and repetition lead to better reflections.

Here is a good article.

Issue Online Graphic Novels

Wow, this looks super cool. I will be doing Maus with my freshmen next semester. Maybe I could work in something like this.

Graphic Novel Technique

It requires an artist, but it is a free, creative version on Comic Life.

Storybird Character Analysis

We did a project with Storybird.com where students did a character analysis from the book Reservation Blues. To show their understanding of character motivations, students created an original scene involving the character. They needed to use literary devices similar to those in the book and reveal something new about the character.

A few students recorded their storybirds. Here are a few examples of students who met all of the requirements:







This was a really fun project, and students at all levels enjoyed it. Plus, the teacher accounts at Storybird make it really easy.

Another Animation Technique

This is a great looking animated movie technique.