Acquisition App #2---VideoScribe

VIDEOSCRIBE = PURE GENIUS!
Very few apps will ever earn a title like this by the “Appy Family,” butVideoscribe by Sparkol has done it! This easy to use app has some amazing features that blow many other creation apps out of the water.  It creates professional-looking content in a matter of minutes! Here is a link to their website and here is a link to purchase the app.

I have my friend, Sylvia Duckworth, to thank for tweeting me this a few days ago (click tweet to view Sylvia’s animation):

Some quick words of advice on how to get started:

1. Make sure your iOS software is up to date. At first mine wasn’t, and therefore I was unable to launch

2. Play around with the app just a little bit before you start anything serious

3. Watch the tutorials (Even if you’re like me and usually try to just figure it out without the tutorial…I did NOT watch them and wish I had as it would have saved me some time and trouble). Click here to view the tutorials. The first one should be enough to get you started.

4. Plan your video out from start to finish before starting with the app. Include your wording, layout and image ideas. Only when complete with planning, start creating with the app.

5. Plan to create the animation when you have a good chunk of quiet time. I was in a semi-public place and you can hear quite some background noise behind the music. Also, I ran out of alone time well before I wanted my time to be up…the app is ADDICTIVE!!!

6. FYI: When importing images, best to use .svg since those are will draw the best, but you can also try others like .jpg, .png, etc.

7. Have fun! This is going to be an extremely fun app to play around with!!!

Here’s my first videoscribe:

The downsides:

The audio recording feature is  one thing I’d like to see improved. What I don’t like about the built-in feature is that you cannot record small sections of audio as you go…it’s all at once (unless I’m missing something). I know that you can upload your own audio file that you create using another software, however.  I guess I am comparing it to Explain Everything a bit. I really like how with Explain Everythingyou can record small sections of audio that go along with your presentation as you’re creating it. To learn more about this other “Pure Genius” app, visit this blog post. It is possible, however, that I just haven’t learned enough of the advanced features yet…I’ll have to report back if I was mistaken on the above judgement!

Secondly, I was unsuccessful publishing to YouTube or Facebook directly from the app. It stated that it had published it, but it had not. I ended up saving it to my camera roll and then publishing it from there. Not a biggie, but weird that it didn’t work as it should.

Lastly, I’d like to see more images added to the free built-in library with future updates.

Despite these minor downsides, Videoscribe still earns the highest thumbs up ever and has made one very (h)Appy Family! I am VERY happy to report that this is our new favorite creation app!!! It is just too cool! 

I simply cannot wait to see what creations will come of it and neither can my husband…he was quite impressed!!!

Thank you, +Sylvia Duckworth and thank you Videoscribe!!!!!

Acquisition App #1---Tiny Tap

One thing I keep noticing over and over again about children's game apps is the lack of opportunities for language acquisition. Many of the apps my children prefer have little language audio, meaning there's music and sound effects, but very little narration. Often these same apps could have narration that would greatly increase children's' acquisition in first and second languages. Tiny Tap makes acquisition possible! You're in control! I can imagine all kinds of fun learning and creating with your children using Tiny Tap! You will surely help their language acquisition along the way!

This is my second post about the fun Tiny Tap app. I introduced it here just a week ago. I am choosing to write about it again because I have found it to be tremendously fun, easy and a unique app for language acquisition!

Here is how you start a new game or story:
First you create your slides which are the visuals you'll use
Next you add voice. This could be a story, introduction, etc.
Then if you are creating a game, you can add your questions, praise and encouragement for when the child answers incorrectly.
Save and share the link globally for all. You also have the option to submit your game for sale within the Tiny Tap app. This is the option I'll be using and I'm happy to report that my first game has been accepted for sale and is available here ($)! I am very thankful to +nathalie bonneau for giving me permission to use her images of her adorable Mimi the Mouse. To have some fun with Mimi in French, please check out Nathalie's amazingly engaging website here!

Here's a tutorial by Tiny Tap:

I decided to use Tiny Tap for English Language Learners first. Typically, I create resources in French and Spanish, however, this time, I wanted to start with English. I'm realizing that when I start from my native language, it is then easier to then translate into my second and third languages.

Why do I love Tiny Tap?
1. My kids LOVE it!
2. It is amazing for language acquisition
3. The basic app is free and then most games are either free or under $1
4. It allows you to create and publish globally within minutes
5. Kids could eventually learn to create their own games and publish them for their classmates, friends and families. The app is just that simple!!!
6. It allows you to feel like you are creating your own app. In fact I call it "an app within an app." For someone who is seriously interested in app creation, but has no clue where to start, this is the perfect app to feel some sense of accomplishment towards this goal! Yippeeeeeeee!

My first "app within an app" game created with Tiny Tap has been accepted by the Tiny Tap team for the market! It is available for sale ($0.99) by clicking here or by searching "Mimi the Mouse" in the Tiny Tap market. You first must download the free Tiny Tap app.

To create the videos below, I used my new "Reflector" app and this article on how to record via +Stephen Lai. Also special thanks to +Sylvia Duckworth for tweeting and telling me about the app!  It is awesome!!! The rest of the game (not seen below) includes increasingly more difficult levels.

I hope you have fun creating with Tiny Tap. I'd love to have your share your ideas and creations in the replies! It'd be great to see what unique ideas you come up with!!!

Happy Creating!!!!

P.S. I'd also love to hear about the apps you consider to be awesome for language acquisition!!!! (Preferably those that could be used in multiple languages) Thank you, merci, gracias!