Flipbook is one of a number of Web 2.0 tools available from Benettonplay. In particular, Flipbook is a great tool for digital storytelling in a classroom setting for a number of reasons: no registration or download is required, quick and easy to learn and use, and finally, it is simply a great storytelling tool. Flipbook is easily accessible on the Benettonplay website at http://www.benettonplay.com/toys/flipbookdeluxe/. Saving work in progress is not problematic, as simply clicking the ‘save’ button will save work on the Benettonplay website prior to publishing. Unfinished work can then be reopened by clicking the ‘my flipbooks’ button in order to continue working toward the publishing phase. When a flipbook is ready for publication, the ‘save and publish’ button can be clicked. Once a flipbook has been published it cannot be edited or changed any further. One of the greatest features of this Web 2.0 tool for digital storytelling is that no registration or download is required for use.
Flipbook is a great digital storytelling tool for use in the classroom, as it requires no registration or download, making it very practical for lessons that need to be completed in a limited time frame. Flipbook makes it very easy for students to jump right in and begin experimenting with and creating a digital story in the form of a flipbook. However, students will not be able to save work in progress unless they register for an account on Benettonplay. It is recommended that students register for accounts if they are using Flipbook for an extended period of time. When students register for an account on Benettonplay, there are a number of terms of use, most importantly, students must be aware that they cannot violate the property rights of any third party. Furthermore, it must be stressed that students are responsible for what they create on Flipbook; therefore, students must refrain from creating anything that includes offensive or obscene material. Additionally, students must be made aware of the Benettonplay privacy policy, which states that Benettonplay observes its users privacy rights. According to the Benettonplay privacy policy, “Your personal details, as voluntarily submitted by you, are collected or processed by Benettonplay, during registration and access to Benettonplay web site and services, to the only and exclusive scope of providing the Benettonplay Services with the exclusion of any purpose of advice, advertising and market research.” Both the terms of use and the privacy policy do not pose any problem for student use in the classroom, especially if students do not register an account with Benettonplay. It is quite possible to carry out an introductory lesson on digital storytelling without the students having to register an account.
Flipbook is an excellent interface for students to create a digital story quickly and easily. Unlike many Web 2.0 tools, Flipbook is relatively simple and easy to learn, even for young children. As a teacher, I would use Flipbook as a way to introduce my grade 1-3 students to digital storytelling. Flipbook allows students to create short clips based on individual frames that the students create themselves. When students have completed their digital story on Flipbook, they are able to save and publish it to the website quite easily using their pre-set school board email address. Once published, the students’ productions become available for viewing on the Benettonplay website; students also have many sharing options after publication. The only drawback of Flipbook is that it does not allow for audio input or easy text input. If students want to tell a story that has text, they will have to write the text on individual frames using the drawing tool available. These limitations are why I would only use Flipbook as an introductory tool for digital storytelling and choose other web 2.0 tools for more advanced digital storytelling.
In my opinion, Flipbook is an excellent storytelling tool because it enables the students to see and feel the process of digital storytelling. Once students have completed individual frames in their flipbook they are able to view a PDF copy of each frame laid out in a storyboard. This feature benefits the students’ understanding of the planning phase of the digital storytelling process. From this stage, students can see all individual frames and decide if they want to change the order of the frames or edit individual frames in any way. Before the students are ready to publish their flipbook, they have the option to preview it and see how all of the frames come together and make one, cohesive story. As a teacher I would encourage students to take advantage of the preview feature in order to see how their flipbook is developing as they go along, this way they can make any necessary alterations along the way instead of having to go back and edit them all at the end.
I think that Flipbook is a great tool for introducing students to digital storytelling as it is relatively simplistic and easy to use. Flipbook will not allow students to create vastly creative digital stories, as its features are limited to simple image creation tools. However, Flipbook is a perfect introductory tool that allows students to experiment and familiarize themselves with digital storytelling. As a teacher I would not only have my students experiment with and create stories on Flipbook, I myself would do so also. I think that Flipbook is a great Web 2.0 tool for teachers to create creative and engaging stories that their students can learn from.
Flipbook is a great digital storytelling tool for use in the classroom, as it requires no registration or download, making it very practical for lessons that need to be completed in a limited time frame. Flipbook makes it very easy for students to jump right in and begin experimenting with and creating a digital story in the form of a flipbook. However, students will not be able to save work in progress unless they register for an account on Benettonplay. It is recommended that students register for accounts if they are using Flipbook for an extended period of time. When students register for an account on Benettonplay, there are a number of terms of use, most importantly, students must be aware that they cannot violate the property rights of any third party. Furthermore, it must be stressed that students are responsible for what they create on Flipbook; therefore, students must refrain from creating anything that includes offensive or obscene material. Additionally, students must be made aware of the Benettonplay privacy policy, which states that Benettonplay observes its users privacy rights. According to the Benettonplay privacy policy, “Your personal details, as voluntarily submitted by you, are collected or processed by Benettonplay, during registration and access to Benettonplay web site and services, to the only and exclusive scope of providing the Benettonplay Services with the exclusion of any purpose of advice, advertising and market research.” Both the terms of use and the privacy policy do not pose any problem for student use in the classroom, especially if students do not register an account with Benettonplay. It is quite possible to carry out an introductory lesson on digital storytelling without the students having to register an account.
Flipbook is an excellent interface for students to create a digital story quickly and easily. Unlike many Web 2.0 tools, Flipbook is relatively simple and easy to learn, even for young children. As a teacher, I would use Flipbook as a way to introduce my grade 1-3 students to digital storytelling. Flipbook allows students to create short clips based on individual frames that the students create themselves. When students have completed their digital story on Flipbook, they are able to save and publish it to the website quite easily using their pre-set school board email address. Once published, the students’ productions become available for viewing on the Benettonplay website; students also have many sharing options after publication. The only drawback of Flipbook is that it does not allow for audio input or easy text input. If students want to tell a story that has text, they will have to write the text on individual frames using the drawing tool available. These limitations are why I would only use Flipbook as an introductory tool for digital storytelling and choose other web 2.0 tools for more advanced digital storytelling.
In my opinion, Flipbook is an excellent storytelling tool because it enables the students to see and feel the process of digital storytelling. Once students have completed individual frames in their flipbook they are able to view a PDF copy of each frame laid out in a storyboard. This feature benefits the students’ understanding of the planning phase of the digital storytelling process. From this stage, students can see all individual frames and decide if they want to change the order of the frames or edit individual frames in any way. Before the students are ready to publish their flipbook, they have the option to preview it and see how all of the frames come together and make one, cohesive story. As a teacher I would encourage students to take advantage of the preview feature in order to see how their flipbook is developing as they go along, this way they can make any necessary alterations along the way instead of having to go back and edit them all at the end.
I think that Flipbook is a great tool for introducing students to digital storytelling as it is relatively simplistic and easy to use. Flipbook will not allow students to create vastly creative digital stories, as its features are limited to simple image creation tools. However, Flipbook is a perfect introductory tool that allows students to experiment and familiarize themselves with digital storytelling. As a teacher I would not only have my students experiment with and create stories on Flipbook, I myself would do so also. I think that Flipbook is a great Web 2.0 tool for teachers to create creative and engaging stories that their students can learn from.