empressr

=[|Empressr]=

Empressr is an application that allows you create, manage and share media-rich presentations on the web. You can upload your own media (such as video, audio, images and animations) to your Empressr media library or you can import them directly from other sites like Flickr, or Google. You can also link to digital assets from other websites.

Resources:

 * [|Learn about Empressr]
 * [|empressr blog]
 * Empressr tutorial

Strengths:

 * Has many opportunities for interesting, media-rich presentations
 * Movies and photos don’t need to be hosted by Empressr to be embedded in the presentations
 * The editor of the site can manipulate the presentations to the specifications of the creator
 * It is free
 * Can limit access to you and only your approved people.
 * Currently no limitation on how many free video can be made.
 * Can track who views your video.
 * Now linked to Twitter.

Weaknesses:

 * It is a more complicated site that will require more than a simple "drag and drop"
 * It is not appropriate for all ages (better in the high school age range)
 * You must create an account and you must be 13 years or older
 * There doesn't seem to be much help for troubleshooting.

Opportunities:

 * This is a great way for students to create media-rich presentations instead of simple and often boring text-only presentations
 * 21st century, "digital natives" can be challenged by a more advanced tool

Threats:

 * It is possible to see other people's presentations and the material may not be appropriate
 * The presentations are not filtered

Ideas for the Classroom:

 * Students could create presentations with a video embedded in it (For instance, a presentation on "How to Swim" with a sample video embedded in the presentation
 * Teachers could present lessons with this tool allowing for more technology-rich curriculum
 * History teachers could have students create a movie about a historical event, instead of show traditional videos. This will allow the teacher to eventually build a video collection of student created videos to show to future classes.