Thing #12 - 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 in 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. Most of the videos you have watched as part of your discovery exercises during this course have been EMBEDDED.

You want me to do what? Some basic instructions about embedding are included at the bottom of the page, and hints for each particular site are included in the descriptions.

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Discovery Exercise

Check out each these sample slideshows. Each is embedded in the page. You may be able to guess that my chosen theme was to retell the story of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. I created them using several photos from Flickr Creative Commons. Please note the ATTRIBUTIONS I have provided 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.

Rock You! - http://rockyou.com/

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.
You do not have to register to use RockYou.

NOTE: Just use the MYSPACE code (copy the code in the yellow box) for RockYou!

Slide.com - http://www.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.

NOTE: Just use the MYSPACE code for Slide.com. Copy the code in the white box and ignore the rest of the steps.

Animoto - http://animoto.com/

(Click the Play arrow to view - no captions in this one. 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.

NOTE: You can find the embed code under the "thumb tack" icon, select embed and choose "other sites."

Bubbleshare - http://www.bubbleshare.com/

Click the orange Play arrow to view. This is the most basic of Bubbleshare options. They have lots of themes and sliding shows. The text is actually speech balloons. Bubbleshare is extremely easy to use. You have to register to use Bubbleshare.

NOTE: Click Blog Album to access the various slideshow formats and get the embed code. ALSO -- It's a good idea to leave lots of white space in your speech/text boxes (if you use them). Sometimes words get mysteriously cut off.

BubbleShare: Share photos - Create and Share Crafts

Pikistrips - http://www.pikistrips.com/

(Okay, not a slideshow, but how cool is this? Pikistrips searches Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-licensed photos for your use in creating a comic strip and automatically puts the attribution on the corner of the photo. Or you can upload your own photos. Pretty awesome. The only downside of this site is the public gallery -- unfortunately, people create some tasteless stuff).

NOTE: The EMBED CODE for Pikistrips is MESSED UP -- so, just download your comic as a JPG and insert as a picture (instead of embedding) on your wiki page or blog post.

Photo Credits (it took me eleven photos to tell the story)
1. Brown Bear by memekode
2. Red Cardinal (Cardinales cardinales) by NatureFreak07
3. Yellow Duckling by gamenerd
4. crazy horses by nicephore
5. Green Tree Frog by Stephen Barnett
6. Fluffpuff madness! by Eggybird
7. happy dog by mbtrama
8. Black Sheep by BrianForbes
9. Plump gold fish by tanakawho
10. Happy Mother's Day Mom! by kevindooley
11. The beautiful children by karynsig

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Learning Activity

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. Play around and see what you can do!

One task, three steps....

1. Select one of the slideshow tools above 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 in a blog post. Be sure to include proper attribution for all photos -- link to the photo and name of both photo and photographer.
3. Write a brief blog post describing your slideshow. Be sure to include "Thing 12" in your post title.