Showbeyond

Showbeyond allows you to create, share, and search for slideshows. It combines and syncronized slideshows with podcasts.

Resources/Links [|Showbeyond] [|Showbeyond Tour] [|Showbeyond example created by children]

__**STRENGTHS**__
 * FREE
 * Engaging and interesting for students
 * Easy to use and provides an informational, step by step tutorial
 * Images can be quickly uploaded from the desktop, a url, Picassa or Flickr
 * Allows creator to include text
 * Allows for the addition of sounds and background music
 * Shows created can be made public or kept private
 * Can search for shows by keyword, user, or tag
 * Allows viewers to provide feedback
 * Has a spell check function available when text is added
 * Shows can be edited even after they've been shared
 * Allows you to save your "work in progress" story until you are ready to finish it
 * You can create slides combining sound (both voice and continuous background sound) with your image stories.
 * You can adjust the images orientation or it can be done automatically. Using image functions you can crop your image and adjust its position in a slide.
 * You can configure the duration of the interval between slides or Showbeyond automatically sets up the time based on the content.


 * If you have a long story to tell with more than 24 images, you may have to create new stories or you can create a chapter book.

__**WEAKNESSES**__
 * Limits the number of slides per story to 24
 * Limited background choices
 * Students must have an email address to be able to create an account
 * Shows can't be deleted once they are posted
 * Computes must hve Flash plug-in and Java enabled.
 * The max file size is 8MB
 * Showbeyond currently supports .jpg and jpeg files ONLY

__**OPPORTUNITIES**__
 * Can be used to present educational content creatively
 * Opportunity for students to write, create, edit, and publish their own slide shows
 * Can be used to start discussons about stories.

__**THREATS**__
 * Students work should be monitored periodically for content appropriateness
 * Shows should be previewed prior to begin showed to students
 * Content can be subjective or misguiding since shows can be created by anyone
 * Students can share private information and should thus be monitored and their shows previewed

__**IDEAS FOR THE CLASSROOM**__
 * Students can research topics and present findings through Showbeyond
 * Teachers can use previously made shows to introduce, clarify, and reinforce content
 * Students can create shows to introduce themselves, their communities, or share their
 * Teachers can create slideshows that review content and students can access it from home to study
 * Showbeyond can be used to publish students created stories and illustrations
 * Students can use authentic experiences (like family trips or school field trips) to create journals that connect to classroom content.