How+XtraNormal+can+help+students+with+reading+disabilities

//Xtranormal.com // //By Twila McMullan // //April 5, 2011 //

**//Lights, Camera, Action… //** //Students are drawn to movie making, but this method of instruction is rarely used in the classroom because of the time and equipment that is needed. Once students learn how to use this Xtranormal, projects are easy to design and produce. Students with learning disabilities are especially drawn to movie making. //

//__Introduction:__ We all watch movies, and now e__verybody__ can make movies //// without actors and camera equipment ////. // //Xtranormal is a do-it-yourself computer-generated animation program that allows people to develop a film by picking the set, animated actors, sound ////s ////, and camera angles, as well as character emotions with facial expressions and gestures. Xtranormal has been around since 2006, and its mission is to bring movie making to everybody. Their slogan is “if you can type, you can make movies.” //

//__Sample__ (weather report): // [|www.xtranormal.com/watch/7069893]

//__Cost:__ partially free (depending on what avatars and backgrounds are selected) //

//__Impact for students with **learning disabilities**:__ Due to the engaging and creative nature of Xtranormal, students (even reluctant writers) are quickly motivated into **organizing** their thoughts and writing a script for their characters. Watching Xtranormal projects help students with **reading disabilities** because this is a text to speech program. This program is especially useful for students with **speech difficulties** (or ////even the shy student ////), so they feel less stress when making presentations to the class. //

//<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">__Learning styles:__ // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Linguistic/auditory—spoken and written language // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Musical/auditory—depending if the student selects background sounds and music // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Spatial/visual—placement of the 3D characters in the settings // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Interpersonal—if students work as a collaborative group //

__//<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Possible uses in the classroom: //__ // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">animate and publish student short stories and essays // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal;">present ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">research // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal;">present ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">book reports/reviews // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal;">discuss ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> news events or have interviews ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal;"> (with characters) // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal;">c ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">reate debates // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal;">explain ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> classroom/school rules the first week of school // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal;">reenact ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">historical event ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal;">s //

__//<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Warnings/suggestions to teachers: //__ // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Make students aware that there are inappropriate noises (ex: farts), and gestures, as well as costumes that do not meet school dress code ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal;">. // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Be sure to preview ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal;">any ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">premade Xtranormal video before showing it the class because some are inappropriate. // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Have kids start rendering at least 10 minutes for class ends. // // · ////<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Students should write the script ahead of time on //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">MS Word //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">, then they can copy/paste to Xtranormal. This saves times and reduces grammar errors. //

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Sources: __ · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[]

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· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[|http://blog.xtranormal.com] · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">http://toptechtools.wikispaces.com/XtraNormal · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">http://toptechtools.wikispaces.com/Animation+%26+Avatars#possibleuses · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[]