I am always amazed at the incredible pace at which new online applications and services get released. Each one seems to out do the other and provide a fantastic free service in exchange for your attention, and user information.

That was until I found Animoto.

Animoto takes the cake!

Click here to see what I created in less that 4 minutes!

Animoto.com is a web application that automatically generates professionally produced videos, each a customized orchestration of your images and music.

Amazing!

What a great way to show off our new library in a new and easy way.

Back to school parent night is coming up this week at ISB and no doubt many teachers will rely on Powerpoint or iPhoto to tell their class story. Who will dare go with Animoto?

I’ll find someone

Big thanks to our new 21st century literacy specialist Kim Cofino for the photos.

Hat tip to Robin Good and his “Be Smart, Be Independent, Be Good” blog for this resource. A fantastic resource on the world of online publishing. If you are looking for a web 2.0 maven, he is mine.

ANIMOTO is…………………….

 Back from the summer and wondering where all the time went?

Back full of fresh ideas, thoughts and projects.

Last year left me exhausted and ready for a break but it also left me with a great sense of accomplishment that we were headed in the right direction. Fellow trail blazer Dennis Harter and I laid some great ground work that will help shape our version of Curriculum 2.0 that so many have been writing about.

I am really excited about this school year. There is so much potential and excitement in the air. Lots of new blood, ideas and possibility around.

I want to officially welcome Kim Cofino to the ISB Team. She is going to a fantastic new addition to the school and will be a crucial part of the critical mass that will help make “shift happen”.

The flag ship of this change has to be our new ES library. Pushing all boundaries of design and ideas around “what a library should be”, this new hub for learning will help us open minds to allow for deeper questions, critical thinking and 21st century literacy. You really have to see this place it is awesome. Much of my time last year was spent bringing this learning playground to the point you see it at now. In the words of A-Team leader Hannibal Smith: “I love it when a plan comes together!”

Last year was all about doing. I tried to write often but most of my efforts were focused on bringing the ES around to the level of the rest of the school. This year will be more about sharing and collaborating. I am committed to writing more and giving back a little to the community that has given me so many of the ideas and resources that I used last year. It’s only fair

Now all we have to do is get those books on the shelves!