Thing_12

= Thing 12 (Week 5): Create a Slideshow! =

Introduction
In Thing 11 you explored Flickr and selected several digital photos from the Creative Commons collection. There are many Web 2.0 services that allow users to easily create and share slideshows by **embedding** them in a blog, wiki or website. In this thing, you are invited to use your selected Flickr photos to create and embed a slideshow.


 * Embedding** is the act of publishing media such as a slideshow or video clip WITHIN a blog, wiki or webpage. The **embedded media can be viewed, played or "interacted with" directly** inside the blog post or the wiki page -- instead of being a link that requires you to download the media or takes you to a different webpage to view it. Every video you have watched as part of your discovery exercises during this course has been EMBEDDED.

**You want me to do what?** Some **basic instructions** about **embedding** are included at the bottom of the page, **hints for each particular site** are included in the descriptions and **here are some powerfully helpful screenshots** for finding the embed code on each site.

Discovery Exercise
Check out each of these example slideshows (a tiny sampling of the possibilities available for creating digital stories, photo albums and multimedia slideshows online). Each is **embedded** in the page. You may be able to guess that my chosen theme was to retell the story of //The Very Hungry Caterpillar// by Eric Carle. I created them using several photos from Flickr Creative Commons. Please note the ATTRIBUTIONS I have provided at the bottom of the page, below the slideshows. Each includes the photographer's username and a link to the photo page in Flickr. Be sure to create a similar attribution list for your slideshow.

**¤ AMAZING RESOURCE ALERT:** If possibilities for digital stories get you //geeked up// (and they should), here is an AMAZING resource from Alan Levine (a.k.a CogDog) called **50+ Web 2.0 Ways to tell a Story**, in which he shares MORE than 50 possibilities for creating online slideshows/stories like these. For you adventurous types, please feel free to try exploring and making a slideshow using any of these you like!

Rock You! - []
This site adds rock music as a standard, and there are dozens of song options, but you can choose "no music" if you prefer, which I did because it would play automatically when the page loaded. It has lots of options for the look of the slideshow -- I chose "old movie," obviously, just for fun. //You do not have to register to use RockYou.//


 * ‡ HELP Tip: ** Just use the **MYSPACE code** (copy the code in the yellow box) for RockYou! More help here.

media type="custom" key="6492389"



Slide.com - []
Roll over each image to see the caption. This is not the best choice for my particular presentation, but just going for effect. This site also offers dozens of themes, features and options for your slideshow. //You do not have to sign up to create a slide show.//


 * ‡ HELP Tip: ** Just use the **MYSPACE code** for Slide.com. Copy the code in the white box and ignore the rest of the steps. More help here.

media type="custom" key="6492413"



Animoto - []
Click the Play arrow to view. Animoto analyzes your images and creates a 30-second "music video" style presentation. There is free music on the site, or you can upload your own (mindful of copyright, of course). //You must have at least 10 images and register to use Animoto.//


 * ‡ HELP Tip: ** You can find the **embed code** under the "thumb tack" icon, select **embed** and choose "**other sites**." More help here.

[|Hungry Catepillar]

Photopeach - []
Click play (in the center) to view. Dead simple slideshow creation with captions and free music. //You must register to use this site//.

media type="custom" key="6492427"
 * ‡ HELP Tip: ** Move your mouse over the slideshow to reveal the embedding tools. Select "Embed in blog." and copy the code. More help here.


 * Photo Credits (it took me ten photos to tell the story):**
 * 1) Caterpillar DXO by SantaRosa OLD SKOOL - []
 * 2) Apple Picking 3 by ndrwfgg - []
 * 3) Pears by S Baker - []
 * 4) Mandarin Oranges by sonictk - []
 * 5) My Dads Plums!! by Matt Batchelor - []
 * 6) Strawberries by Groover FW - []
 * 7) 060511food by Dan4th - []
 * 8) Spring '07 by SoniaMia - []
 * 9) Chrysalis by canais - []
 * 10) Malay Lacewing by B_Cool - []

**Task**
 * Create and Embed your own Slideshow!** There are many possibilities for using slideshows to enhance classroom learning, and most slide show tools are fun and relatively easy to work with. Also, embedding is an essential Web 2.0 skill. A crucial part of becoming technology literate in the 21st century is being able to "figure stuff out." Thus, I am not providing training-wheel help resources for each slide show site, though I am providing help with the embedding part. Play around and see what you can do!

One task, three steps....

 * 1) Select one of the slideshow tools above (or, if you are feeling adventurous, try one from CogDog's **50+ Web 2.0 Ways to tell a Story**) and **create a slideshow** using your 3-5 (or more) Flickr CC photos from Thing 11.
 * 2) When you have finished your slideshow, **EMBED it into your sandbox wiki page or in a blog post** (or both, because it's good practice -- help on that here.). Be sure to include **proper attribution** for all photos -- that means a link to the photo on Flickr and name of photo/photographer.
 * 3) Write a **__brief__ blog post** describing your slideshow **including a link to your wiki page** if you chose to embed it there instead of in your blog . Be sure to include "Thing 12" in your post title.


 * ‡ HELP Page: ** Embedding Slideshows into Wikispaces and Edublogs
 * ‡ HELP Video: **[|Adding links (web page URLs) to your blog posts] Unlike email or Word, simply pasting a URL into your post **won't make it a link**. You need to use the **Insert Link** button..