OurStory

www.ourstory.com

[|Our Story] is an online, multimedia timeline creation tool. [|Our Story] is designed to be used as a way to collaboratively record the events in a person's life or the genealogy of a family. The timelines that users create on Our Story can include videos and images as well as standard text information. [|Our Story] timelines can be embedded into your blog or other website.

Resources links and/or class examples Website given examples [|Website screenshots] Interview with creator Slideshare about OurStory

Strengths
 * free
 * easy to navigate and edit
 * visually appealing
 * variety of design layouts
 * share media for others to see and comment
 * upload multiple media elements at once
 * can upload media from other web 2.0 applications
 * can create a dvd, video, or postcard out of timeline
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">timelines can be created collaboratively
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">can include texts, videos and images
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">has private settings
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">finished timeline can be played like a movie

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Weaknesses
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">can only create one timeline for free
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">can not print timeline but you can purchase
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">only for students ages 13 and up
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">may be blocked by some school districts
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">must register to create a timeline
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">question function to assist doesn't make sense

Opportunities
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">motivating and creative outlet
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">collaborative timeline creation
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">students can be creative while studying history or representing themselves through biographies

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Threats
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">teacher has no control over what is posted (therefore, can be inappropriate, etc
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">limited security and control on who comments and what is written

Classroom Uses/Ideas
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">teaches sequential order
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">may be good to teach genealogy
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">great for teaching historical perspective and events
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">could be used when writing an autobiography