50 animation tools
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50 Animation Tools & Resources For Digital Learners
by Lisa Chesser, opencolleges.edu.au
A purple monster with wild curls spiraling out of control explains the economics of oilproduction in the Sudan to students in Los Angeles, Sydney, Berlin, Jerusalem, and
Riyadh.
That is education and animation working together to teach students everywhere, everything
they ever wanted to know. Educators need only utilize the tools available, most of them for
free.
Some of the animation links catalogued here will give educators very basic tools and
histories of animation while others have the animation already created and set in motion,
its just a matter of sharing it with students.
Educators need to decide which tool is best for them. If you want to create your own
animation from scratch, then you want to go to sites such as Animwork. If you want to
select from animation thats already set up for you then perhaps Explainia makes more
sense.
One of the easiest ways to animate, however, isnt with your own camera and modeling
clay, its with your links to sites that hand you everything within their own forums.
Use the first part of this list for creating original animation or using animation tools to create
lessons. Use the second part to select animated lessons that are already completed and
set to share.
1. Animation for Education
In this support system for educators,iCreate to Educatehelps teachers and schools from
primary through higher education become better learners by making animation more
accessible throughout Europe. It offers some great resources and valuable animation
software and resources. It also has a free stop-motion animation tool called SAM.
2. Animwork
A European partnership created this guide to help teachers learn more about using
animation to teach. With some basics in place such as how to create a good story and what
tools to use,Animworkputs everything into perspective for any teacher who wants to
create his or her own animation.
3. GoAnimate for Schools
http://www.animationforeducation.co.uk/http://www.animationforeducation.co.uk/http://www.animationforeducation.co.uk/http://www.animwork.dk/TWA/http://www.animwork.dk/TWA/http://www.animwork.dk/TWA/http://www.animwork.dk/TWA/http://www.animationforeducation.co.uk/ -
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Easy and quick,GoAnimate for Schoolsis a one-stop shop for creating custom animation
thats well-made and easy to use. Globally accessible to any educator, its also secure and
educators get a major discount. Schools can sign up about 200 students at a time.
4. GoAnimate
If the purpose of using the animation tool is solely for teaching and sharing educator-
created animation, take another route toGoAnimatefor business. This tool has a free sign-
in where educators can use basic tools to create animation with whatever message they
need to get across to their students.
5. Devolver
Quick animation with some bizarre characters and sleek backgrounds that help make a
point or send students into the beginning or end of a lesson makesDevolvera great tool for
the educator who moves fast. Students can also use it to email professors their
interpretation of a theory or lesson.
6. Voki
Adding an interesting twist to communication and lecturing,Vokiallows educators to create
avatars that speak for them. Record or type in messages and send or embed the clips on a
site. Voki even offers educator logins with free extras.
7. PowToon
A free business presentation tool,PowToonhelps users create animated presentations
with quality graphics. It even has a home dedicated to educators at any level. PowToon
touts itself as being as easy to use as Powerpoint and educators seem to think it is.
8. Make It Share It
For those who prefer to draw, theresMake It Share It.Create your own drawings from stickfigures to sketches to full cartoons and animate them all online. This might be an online tool
to share with students who like to draw or to create a project.
9. Wideo
But, if drawing seems to just get in the way, go toWideo.Some modern graphics with
interesting selections and fonts give users the ability to make unique videos for business
and education. Nicely done tutorials provide users with confidence and basic skills to begin
quickly.
http://goanimate4schools.com/public_indexhttp://goanimate4schools.com/public_indexhttp://goanimate4schools.com/public_indexhttp://goanimate.com/http://goanimate.com/http://goanimate.com/http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/http://www.voki.com/http://www.voki.com/http://www.voki.com/http://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/http://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/http://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/http://www.makeitshareit.com/homehttp://www.makeitshareit.com/homehttp://www.makeitshareit.com/homehttp://www.wideo.co/http://www.wideo.co/http://www.wideo.co/http://www.wideo.co/http://www.makeitshareit.com/homehttp://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/http://www.voki.com/http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/http://goanimate.com/http://goanimate4schools.com/public_index -
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10. Mixeek
This free software allows users to design web animations based on Javascript, CSS3, and
HTML5. One of the best parts of this tool is that users can make their animation
interactive.Mixeekalso makes it easier for beginners to start the whole process with simpletutorials.
11. Myths and Legends
Hailing from the United Kingdom, this site is best used as a tool for students to create their
own myths and legends. For instance, students might want to turn a factual news story into
a myth or legend using theMyths and Legendstools.
12. Zimmer Twins
Make a movie or watch a movie with animation tools set neatly in place atZimmer Twins.
Create scenes from scratch or choose from scenes that are already set up. Educators can
take advantage ofZimmer Twins at Schoolby creating accounts for up to 40 students
including blogs for added communication.
13. Loogix
For simple movements and creative elements of photographs or short film, useLoogix.Its
very basic and not as innovative or interactive but it gets the job done if the goal is to add a
fun twist to images.
14. Blabberize
A hilariously fun site,Blabberizeturns any image into a talking image complete with your
recorded message. Now, whatever point any educators trying to make is a lot more
effective when a talking cat, dog, or lama says it.
15. Aniboom
If theres a need for something more tailored and none of the tools youve looked at so far
meet your needs, tryAniboom.There youll find access to actual animators. Just post your
project then assign an artist to it. You can check on the progress during the process.
16. Creaza
Another online animation tool has both a free limited version and a version that you can get
a quote on for pricing. With a large variety of backgrounds and characters, using the
http://www.mixeek.com/http://www.mixeek.com/http://www.mixeek.com/http://creator.myths.e2bn.org/http://creator.myths.e2bn.org/http://creator.myths.e2bn.org/http://www.zimmertwins.com/http://www.zimmertwins.com/http://www.zimmertwins.com/http://zimmertwinsatschool.com/http://zimmertwinsatschool.com/http://zimmertwinsatschool.com/http://www.loogix.com/http://www.loogix.com/http://www.loogix.com/http://blabberize.com/http://blabberize.com/http://blabberize.com/http://www.aniboom.com/http://www.aniboom.com/http://www.aniboom.com/http://www.aniboom.com/http://blabberize.com/http://www.loogix.com/http://zimmertwinsatschool.com/http://www.zimmertwins.com/http://creator.myths.e2bn.org/http://www.mixeek.com/ -
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premium version might be worth it. Creazas selling points are the video editor, an audio
editor, a cartoon editor and a mind map builder.
17. Doink
An app for ipads, iphones, and ipods,Doinkoffers really creative tools that allow users to
customize artwork and to create a library of drawings and animations. With a composition
editor, animation appears professional and adds more versatility than a lot of other
programs out there.
Ready To Go Animation
The following links will help educators find animation thats already set in motion. Its tried
and true so educators simply search for their subject or their purpose and grab videos to
help their students grasp concepts or even learn difficult material that otherwise may have
eluded them.
18. TEDEd
Here educators will find brilliant animation with unique twists on a basic concept add new
dimensions to learning withTED Ed.The clips are usually short, approximately 5 minutes,
but they squeeze important information into that time frame and do it rather effectively.
19. Brain Pop
Another site with quick clips,Brain Popsimplifies difficult lessons in all the basic subjects
including engineering and technology. Like TED Ed, it adds material constantly so theres
always more to choose from; however, there is a fee to access the material.
20. BBC History
Walk through the architectural planning of the Colosseum, watch the reconstruction of the
Iron Age Chariot, and learn about the Battle of Somme in World War I among many otheranimated insights. It can all be found at theBBC Interactive Content Animations.
21. ABC
An Australian site full of insightful and entertaining documentaries,ABCalso has cool
animated videos about Greek gods, Naval officers, and science plus lots of interactive
video and gaming.
22. Explania
http://www.doink.com/http://www.doink.com/http://www.doink.com/http://ed.ted.com/http://ed.ted.com/http://ed.ted.com/http://www.brainpop.com/http://www.brainpop.com/http://www.brainpop.com/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/online/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/online/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/online/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/online/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/http://www.brainpop.com/http://ed.ted.com/http://www.doink.com/ -
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From learning how to save the oceans to how to calculate your body mass index, the
animations seem endless onExplania.Just register and gain access to creative animations
that explain almost anything.
23. Google Apps
Google Apps for Educationis filled with animated apps that shed light on otherwise out of
reach concepts and difficult problems that sometimes even the best educator cant perfect
into a lesson readable by all students. GeoGebra and Desmos have sketchpads and
graphing calculators and thats just the beginning.
24. Enlightenment
RSAbrings power to intellectual debates with animation. Use their videos as a springboard
for further debate or to introduce 21st century topics to any subject that thrives on
arguments.
25. Brainpickings
Full of informational animations that give the learner visuals that transfer difficult concepts
into understandable snippets,Brainpickingsnarrows the gap between confusion and
understanding.
26. Literature
Openculturecompiled a list of animations relating to various literature such as Emily
Dickinsons poetry and Shakespeare. Explain the wonders of Plato and Kafka as well as
Hemingway with these short clips.
27. Electric Literature
Find folktales, comedies, minidramas, and more, all animated with fascinating graphics and
sound onElectric Literature.Bring story telling to students with these videos that offerunique perspectives.
28. WatchKnowLearn.org
With tons of videos to choose from, some arent animated but you can sift through them to
find the animated ones.WatchKnowLearn.orgis broken into subject areas and acts as a
database for rated videos that teach students. The ratings have stars and a review, which
is really helpful because it saves time when choosing which one to use.
29. Canada Film
http://www.explania.com/enhttp://www.explania.com/enhttp://www.explania.com/enhttp://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/education/http://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/education/http://comment.rsablogs.org.uk/videos/http://comment.rsablogs.org.uk/videos/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/03/19/animated-visualizations-for-education/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/03/19/animated-visualizations-for-education/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/03/19/animated-visualizations-for-education/http://www.openculture.com/2012/12/17_animations_of_classic_literary_works.htmlhttp://www.openculture.com/2012/12/17_animations_of_classic_literary_works.htmlhttp://electricliterature.com/single-sentence-animations/#!prettyPhoto[portfolio]/0/http://electricliterature.com/single-sentence-animations/#!prettyPhoto[portfolio]/0/http://electricliterature.com/single-sentence-animations/#!prettyPhoto[portfolio]/0/http://www.watchknowlearn.org/http://www.watchknowlearn.org/http://www.watchknowlearn.org/http://www.watchknowlearn.org/http://electricliterature.com/single-sentence-animations/#!prettyPhoto[portfolio]/0/http://www.openculture.com/2012/12/17_animations_of_classic_literary_works.htmlhttp://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/03/19/animated-visualizations-for-education/http://comment.rsablogs.org.uk/videos/http://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/education/http://www.explania.com/en -
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At the site for theNational Film Board of Canada,educators will discover free streaming
documentaries and animated films. Short animated films about poets, poetry, music, and
other themes add interest and are a great resource for any educator.
30. National Geographic
While housing all types of great resource videos, National Geographic also has valuable
interactive animations for teaching about the world around us and the world itself. Click
through the steps ofGreenhouse Effectand learn exactly how it works.
31. BioInteractive
Sleek, professional, colorful, and detailed animations atBioInteractivehelp educators
communicate their curriculum with students. Educators choose from topics such as
anatomy, brain, cancer, cardiovascular, organism behavior, and a lot more.
32. The Archeology Channel
Using Google maps,The Archeology Channelhas created an interactive map that gives
educators a visual guide of its animated videos of historical figures and finds according to
the country or region. For instance, if educators click on Italy, theyll find a video about
Matilda of Canossa.
33. How Stuff Works
Full of videos, the animated ones make understanding any subject or process much easier
atHow Stuff Works.Under the category Culture, you might click on the animated video
How Murphys Law Works.
34. Cell Biology Animation
John Kyrkcreated intricate animations explaining cell biology. Beginning with amino acids
and protein and delving into DNA structure, the animation available on his site provideslearners with complete visuals into the workings of cell biology.
35. Plant & Soil Sciences eLibrary
Access well-made animations of flower structures, plant breeding, gel scoring, gene
cloning, genetic mapping, herbicide metabolism and so on.Plant & Soil Sciences
eLibraryallows educators to access and use animated videos for free after they login.
36. Exploratorium
http://www.nfb.ca/http://www.nfb.ca/http://www.nfb.ca/http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview-interactive/http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview-interactive/http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview-interactive/http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractivehttp://www.hhmi.org/biointeractivehttp://www.hhmi.org/biointeractivehttp://map.archaeologychannel.org/http://map.archaeologychannel.org/http://map.archaeologychannel.org/http://www.howstuffworks.com/videoshttp://www.howstuffworks.com/videoshttp://www.howstuffworks.com/videoshttp://www.johnkyrk.com/http://www.johnkyrk.com/http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://passel.unl.edu/pages/index.php?allanims=1http://www.johnkyrk.com/http://www.howstuffworks.com/videoshttp://map.archaeologychannel.org/http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractivehttp://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview-interactive/http://www.nfb.ca/ -
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Split into categories such as Astronomy or Cognitive Science/Psychology, educators can
find animated videos depending on the subject within the subject insideExploratorium.
37. iTunes U
Find any and everything atiTunes U,just search or select a category and move through
animation after animation. Sign up as an educator and add something even more useful to
the equation by creating your own unique lessons or even videos.
38. MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers open courses with some great animation
available. Check out some of the courses available atMITand send students that way if
they need extra guidance or even if they need a good challenge.
39. PBS Online
InsidePBS.org,educators have access to animations of such topics as growth, well-being,
and jobs in what it calls the new economy or the story of Theodore Roosevelts building the
Panama Canal.
40. YouTube
Another helpful place to find animations,YouTubedelivers any and every animation on
almost any topic or subject imaginable. However, educators might have to sift through
some unprofessional videos while searching.
41. Science Stage
Not just focused on science,Science Stageis worth visiting for almost any subject except
literature. Anyone who wants to learn more about a chosen field will find all the videos
fascinating, not just the animations.
42. NOVA
An animation of the Island of Stability for physics or animation of the
growth spurts of a T. Rex give learners clear insight into the unseen worlds of learning
onNOVA,a subsection of PBS.
43. NBC Learn
http://www.exploratorium.edu/tv/archive.php?discipline=4http://www.exploratorium.edu/tv/archive.php?discipline=4http://www.exploratorium.edu/tv/archive.php?discipline=4http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htmhttp://ocw.mit.edu/index.htmhttp://ocw.mit.edu/index.htmhttp://www.pbs.org/search/?q=animationhttp://www.pbs.org/search/?q=animationhttp://www.pbs.org/search/?q=animationhttp://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/http://sciencestage.com/http://sciencestage.com/http://sciencestage.com/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/video/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/video/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/video/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/video/http://sciencestage.com/http://www.youtube.com/http://www.pbs.org/search/?q=animationhttp://ocw.mit.edu/index.htmhttp://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/http://www.exploratorium.edu/tv/archive.php?discipline=4 -
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From sustainability of water to the science of the summer Olympics,NBC Learnmakes
education simple and understandable. The animations work alongside professional videos
explaining various topics.
44. History
History actually partnered with Aniboom and created a contest where people use Aniboom
to create a historical, animated video. On top of that, History online has awesome
interactive games, maps, and timelines including Ellis Island: Then and Now and hilarious
animation ofGreek Gods.
45. LearnersTV
If educators need animated video of science subjects such as biology, chemistry, and
physics, thenLearnersTVboasts animated videos detailing these subjects. It also
catalogues video on such subjects as engineering and economics but those videos arent
animated.
46. Maps of War
AtMaps of War,the history of religion, the Imperial history of the Middle East, democracy,
terrorism, the World Wars, and more map out the past and sometimes the future,
depending on how you look at it.
47. Khan Academy
Well-respected and known as the place to go for all learners,Khan Academymasters
teaching and animation with videos that lead a student to the unanswered questions.
48. See Math
See Mathanimations explain simple and complex math with animations that make learning
precise and understandable. Educators can sign up and show the videos to students orhave students sign up and learn.
49. Math is Fun
Animated cubes, triangular prisms, hexakis icosahedrons, gyroelongated square bicupola,
or hebesphenomegacorona among other three-dimensional animated shapes fill the web
pages ofMath is Fun,offering learners various ways to manipulate and view the
movements.
50. Vimeo
http://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/resourceshttp://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/resourceshttp://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/resourceshttp://www.history.com/videos/greek-gods#greek-godshttp://www.history.com/videos/greek-gods#greek-godshttp://www.history.com/videos/greek-gods#greek-godshttp://www.learnerstv.com/animations.phphttp://www.learnerstv.com/animations.phphttp://www.learnerstv.com/animations.phphttp://www.mapsofwar.com/index.htmlhttp://www.mapsofwar.com/index.htmlhttp://www.mapsofwar.com/index.htmlhttp://www.khanacademy.org/libraryhttp://www.khanacademy.org/libraryhttp://www.khanacademy.org/libraryhttp://www.seemath.com/#/New--New/http://www.seemath.com/#/New--New/http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polyhedron-models.html?m=Hebesphenomegacorona%20(J89)http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polyhedron-models.html?m=Hebesphenomegacorona%20(J89)http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polyhedron-models.html?m=Hebesphenomegacorona%20(J89)http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polyhedron-models.html?m=Hebesphenomegacorona%20(J89)http://www.seemath.com/#/New--New/http://www.khanacademy.org/libraryhttp://www.mapsofwar.com/index.htmlhttp://www.learnerstv.com/animations.phphttp://www.history.com/videos/greek-gods#greek-godshttp://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/resources -
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If educators searchVimeo,theyll find some nicely done animation of shorts about anything
from sci-fi to love stories as well as beautifully done animation of challenging and
enlightening concepts to spark creativity and innovation with any learner who needs a
boost of imagination.
http://vimeo.com/search/page:4/sort:relevant/format:thumbnail?q=animationhttp://vimeo.com/search/page:4/sort:relevant/format:thumbnail?q=animationhttp://vimeo.com/search/page:4/sort:relevant/format:thumbnail?q=animationhttp://vimeo.com/search/page:4/sort:relevant/format:thumbnail?q=animation