ZooBurst

I had a few minutes yesterday, so I began to explore some new web 2.0 tools that are available that teachers and students can use for Digital Storytelling. I actually have a session on this at our Summer Teaching and Learning Conference and was looking for some new ideas.Digital Storytelling provides a way for students to tell their stories or share their content knowledge using technology in a fun and creative way.

I stumbled across ZooBurst, discovered it had a free version, and immediately signed up for an individual account. ZooBurst provides a way to create your own 3D pop-up books. Best of all, it is pretty easy to use.

You arrange characters and props within the 3D world of the book either using items from their free collection or uploading your own images. You set the stage for what is happening on the page. You can also make your characters or props "clickable." When the object is clicked, a speech bubble pops up allowing you to narrate the story or provide information through the character itself. The finished book can be shared via email, through the link, and/or embedded into a website. I did find the set-up of their database to be a little cumbersome, hopefully they will add a search feature in the future.

If you upgrade to the $49 per year version, you have additional options such as the ability to create and manage a class, add sound, record your voice, print copies, and share images across the class. Pretty cool, huh?

Check it out for free and let me know what you think!