Dvolver:Flash video in the classroom

What it is..

The activity in this website makes language learning in or outside the classroom become more entertaining.   The layout is so simple and easy to assess(I guarantee you will find it hard to browse the website if your age is more than 50-year old)  , the characters are limited which is not a good point (you are allowed to use up to two characters per movie) and also there are only six boxes which the learners could put the dialogue for the characters.The most IMPORTANT point though, this website will cost you nothing.....Its FREE!!!(I know you will be extremely glad to hear that.Yes,I know. Don't hide your feeling..Say 'YEAH!!!!!')

I made this video specially for you to show how it works..

Who can use it..
Assessing the website from its layout and content, I would say this website is suitable for elementary school students who have a pretty decent language level and it could be useful for lower secondary school students who have basic command of language.

How to use it in the classroom.
It is good to use the tool when your aim is to teach them sentence construction. If your classroom has computers, then you can ask them to create a movie using the tool and later on, you can discuss the structure of the sentences which they use as dialogues. However, if your classroom does not have any computers, then you can ask the students to do the  movie as a homework and send it to your email.

OMG..I do like it.

1)  It gives students chances to develop their creativity in using language.

This website allow the learners to play with words. Learners need to fill in the boxes with dialogues. Thus, this activity could help the learners to enhance their vocabulary(by using adjective to describe the character etc) and also give them a platform to practice their writing.

2)  It makes language learning fun.

Its really fun. For your information, I tried the activity and I could not let my eyes off from my computer screen.  This is a good news for teachers.  Instead of doing drilling aka boring activity, why not trying something new and refreshing to make language learning fun? Mind you, you will be completely 'out of date' (unnecessary adjective which I love to overuse it) if you don't wanna use the activity from this website to teach the learners. Steven Spielberg used this website to create several characters like Anakin Skywalker for Star Wars(did he do that?Nay,I was joking).

3)  Autonomous learners will surely love this website.

What more can I say? The learners can create a movie, and send it to anyone that they want  ( Ask them to send it to Steven Spielberg. It is worth a try). Surely for students who like to do the learning on their own, it will help to keep them busy.

Points to ponder.
1)  The boxes for dialogues are quite limited. 

Let say if the learners want to put more than 6 dialogues, why not let them do that? Lift the restriction and let their creativity drive you crazy.

2)  One issue which I would like to point out is this activity needs an internet connection and a computer. 

In Malaysia, most of the learners have computers at home but the internet connection could be an issue here. So, learners who do not have one of the resources could struggle to do the activity at home.

Well, despite the disadvantages, this activity worth a try for teachers who short on ideas  (Not you though =) ) and for learners who want to learn the language in different way. I bet you're gonna love it..


Link to the website:
http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/make.html