This document discusses several web tools that are useful for project-based learning in distance education classrooms. It describes VoiceThread, which allows users to add voice or video explanations to presentations. Capzles allows creation of timelines using multimedia. Animoto enables creation of slideshows and videos by compiling photos, videos, text and music. These tools allow students to incorporate their voices and be creative in projects in ways that facilitate collaboration and engagement in distance learning environments.

1. Essential Web Tools for
Project-Based Learning
By Daniel Kruger
Course: Cur/538
Instructor: Melinda Medina
Date: 2/1/2016

2. VoiceThread
• VoiceThread is a great tool that allows an
individual or a group to add their voice into
their presentation, whether it is a slideshow
or a video.
• VoiceThread gives students or employees the
opportunity to explain what the audience is
seeing by using their own voice to explain.
• This is a great tool for presentations that can
not be presented in person.

3. Distance Learning Classrooms
• VoiceThread can allow students in distance learning
classrooms the opportunity to use their voice or input
their video when discussing their project, instead of
typing all of the information out.
• VoiceThread allows groups the opportunity to add all of
their voices or videos into a project so everyone in the
group can hear their thoughts and ideas. This tool can also
be used on several different devices, including a laptop
and Ipad.
• According to voicethread.com (2016), “VoiceThread
bridges the gap between real-time discussions and
standard video lectures or online presentations. This
makes VoiceThread the platform for teaching, learning,
training, and collaborating, on-demand”.

4. Capzles
• Capzles is a great web tool that allows students create
timelines using pictures, videos, their voice, and text.
• This tool can be used by teachers, used for individual
projects or used for group projects.
• Capzles can be used on the computer, Iphone, or Ipad,
making it a mobile tool.
• According to “Creating Timelines with Capzles” (n.d.),
“Capzles is a refreshingly unique take on a timeline
creation tool that goes far beyond what you may have
seen previously”.

5. Distance Learning Classroom
• This tool can be incorporated into distance classrooms
to allow students the opportunity to be creative
when creating timelines and moments they can share
with the class or employers.
• Groups can work together to create timelines and can
share their progress as they work on the assigned
portions.
• Students can use their own voice, videos, photos, and
text to create this time line, which allows them to
have multiple ways to create the timeline and allows
them the opportunity for their voice to be heard,
instead of text.

6. Animoto
• Animoto is a web tool that students/employees can
take their videos, pictures, text, and music and
create a slideshow or video.
• This tool allows students/employees to take
information from their experiences or information
from research and present a visual to other
employees and classrooms.
• According to Mossberg (2014), “Simply put,
Animoto lets you pick photos and videos from your
iPad’s camera roll and choose a visual theme and a
soundtrack. Then it creates a short movie based on
your choices, which it stores in the cloud for
viewing, sharing or downloading”.

7. Distance Learning Classroom
• Animoto can be incorporated into distance
classrooms to help students work as an
individual or work in a group.
• This is a creative opportunity that can help
students challenge themselves and use
different sources to create projects.
• Animoto gives students multiple choices on
how they would like to create their
video/slideshow.

8. References
• Creating Timelines with Capzles. (n.d.).
Retrieved from
https://sites.google.com/site/tomorrowtoolkit/
capzles
• Higher Ed. (2016). Retrieved from
https://voicethread.com/products/highered/
• Mossberg, W. (2014). Animoto Makes Quick
Work of Creating Movies on an Ipad. Retrieved
from http://recode.net/2014/07/01/animoto-
makes-quick-work-of-creating-movies-on-an-
ipad/