a short introduction to the use of powtoon, based on the presentation of I.Spitalnik and my experience and practice with my students

1. Useful web 2.0 toolsUseful web 2.0 tools
ThingLink
VideoThingLink

2. Web 2.0 tools - TopicsWeb 2.0 tools - Topics
DefinitionDefinition
Benefit for teachers/usersBenefit for teachers/users
Categories of toolsCategories of tools
How to use Pow toon (How to use Pow toon (animated video
explainers and presentations)
Assignment
Tutorials

3.  DefinitionDefinition
a presentation tool that incorporates an
intuitive user interface and cool comic
graphics
it allows keeping people and students engaged,
generating interest and motivation both in
classrooms and in other contextes- no matter
the age of the addresses
– free application can be found on the internet at
the following link: . http://www.powtoon.com/

4.  Benefit for teachers/usersBenefit for teachers/users
Thanks to the “suspension of disbelief” we
can create eye-catching cartoons that will
hook the audience increasing one’s
involvement , making possible
to absorb the messages in a more direct,
persistent and therefore effective way
(Spitalnik)

5. The suspenction of disbeliefThe suspenction of disbelief
“Basically, we’ve been conditioned to accept
cartoons as a nonthreatening
form of communication and we absorb their
messages in a very different way compared to
the jaded “keepyour guard up” attitude we
typically adopt.”(Hilya Spitalnik Pow toon)

6. “Creating an involving atmosphere”
communicate through animated videos
makes our topics and reports fresh and
ejoyable because
Observer eliminate criticizing attitude
becoming more receptive
And we can focus their concentration on
the central message we want convey
Get people involved while
watching and also by creating
cartoons!
Using and encouraging our
students to
create cartoons
allows the application of “ a
non threatening tool which
doesn’t give people the
impression of being pushed
to listen and pay
attention.”(Hilya Spitalnik Pow
toon)

7. Pow toon
 Steps:
 Sign up for

9. After having signed you up
You can start working

10. important stepsimportant steps
We must ask ourselves “what does or doesen’t“what does or doesen’t
work”work” Spitalnik
Our goal is to motivate our public to positive re-actions
making use of that internal conversation everybody starts in his
mind once he had received any sensory stimulus such as
watching any imagine or animated clip.
Coordinating images and speech with music
choose “short phrases or words to emphasize emotional
triggers” Spitalnik

11. Remember: Too much
text can be distracting or
boring bringing to a
considerable downfall of
concentration and
therefore of engagement
Spitalnik

12. Crystallizing the essenceCrystallizing the essence of what we
or our students intend to say.
Therefore..
 Short sentences
 prepare short slides “including lots of
interesting visuals”(SP.)
 Spitalnik suggests :Ideal length 63-92
seconds not longer and not more than 230
words , editing out nonessential, in order to
obtain a compelling video which can get
audience hooked.

13. You don’t need to be a professional
animator to get started with PowToon (Sp.)

14. Log in toLog in to

15. Planning
 Storyboarding:
draft a sort of compelling short story about the
theme you want to talk about or the events you
want to narrate(Spit.) ( e.g. the procedure which
has been used during a project…a report about
an exchange…) as your animation script
be very clear about the message you want to
convey and the result you want to obtain

16. We can involve our students
-Asking them to plan with us
-connecting us to their “internal dialog”
-using a captivating language
-Making them protagonists of their
- acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience

17. once we have the story ready we can start our
work as cartoonists

19. we can choose templates and style
– from the dashboard

21. or even download images from
our desktop or internet
 Click on the import image button

23. You can choose characters and
shapes….

25. To fit script or chacters’ appearence to
the slidetime
use the timeline you find under the slide
moving the white arrows and then saving

27.  Recording and adding audotracks using import sound
button
Coordinate sound and images

33. Attention!Attention!
using the free version youusing the free version you
must record the whole textmust record the whole text
at one timeat one time
So be patient and try firstSo be patient and try first
letting the images runletting the images run

34. And recording the text only when you
are sure your speed fits the length of
your script
Don’t despair!
Try and try again ‘till it fits : you can test
by clicking apply
then click on save

35. Let’s have a closer look
Just two examples….

37. Steps:
 Sign up to pow toon( freeVersion )with your
email address
 Start (Click on icon create)
 ChooseTemplate and click edit
 Create the presentation
 Prepare the text you will record
 Try to fit text and length of the presentation
 Record the voiceover at one time
 Save it
 Choose publish and after that share with
Summing upSumming upSumming upSumming up

38. TutorialsTutorials
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=bRqO5MasiFk
http://www.powtoon.com/blog/categor
y/videos/tutorials/
://www.powtoon.com/tutorials/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=AFv8L0z-72c

39. Thanks for your attention
Emma Giurlani
(eTwinning ambassador in Italy)
ciao!