Need an engaging, yet different way for students to share knowledge and understanding? Try GoAnimate for Schools! (https://goanimate4schools.com/public_index) All you need to do is create a teacher account, and then create student accounts. This tool works on all computers and devices (even Chromebooks.) If you want the students to use their voice you will need a microphone, but there are other options if you don’t have one. Students are then able to pick characters to animate. They choose movements and backgrounds. Then, they give the characters a voice– their voice or a robot, that is. Students can have the characters explain how the water cycle works or they can share a story that they wrote. Math, writing, reading, science, social studies: the sky is the limit!

My students have loved to explain concepts they just learned using GoAnimate, as in the example video above. This is a great way to create a flipped classroom! You can create videos for students to watch at home. Read teacher blogs that share experiences of how their autistic students found their voices using GoAnimate, and how the program allowed gifted students to go deeper into topics.

Just play a few sample videos 1, 2, 3 and students will be immediately interested in what you are showing, especially when they learn they get to create them! In my opinion, GoAnimate is well worth the $79 a year price tag, but if you aren’t ready to commit, try the 14 day free-trial!

Resource Review by Tiffany Pontius, School Technology Specialist at Cottonwood Elementary and Truman Elementary.

(We have added GoAnimate to our collaborative list of Digital Storytelling and Presentation Tools. Check out the list and add your own recommendations right in the document.)