Happy Easter... with Vine!

Easter is approaching and it’s high time I wished you all a very Happy Easter. This time I decided to do that with a new app which is also one of the fastest growing social networks (6 million members!!!), Vine.
Here is the result: my first Vine (ever!):

Please click on the top left icon for sound!

App Description: Vine is a mobile app owned by Twitter, available for Android  here, iOS devices here and Windows Phone here that lets users create and share very short, looping videos by pressing and holding our finger down on the screen. Even though videos are limited to six seconds, it doesn’t mean they can’t be beautiful and meaningful; besides, one can start and stop recording as many times as one wishes to during those 6 secs to include several different scenes.
Getting Started: download the app but do check if your version is compatible as not all devices are able to record (camera icon on the top right corner of your screen)

Then set up your profile and you can start creating Vines! Vine is video for the masses, led by youngsters all over the world, being Nash Grier the top viner with over 7,2M followers.

Just like in other social networks, use hashtags for your Vines; you can like, “revine”, comment, share and embed your 6 sec videos, and yes, uploads are unlimited.

Now, as teacher trainer, author, online professor Shelly Terrell points out, what are the benefits of 6 sec videos? What can be taught / learned with Vines?

Well, with so many social networks and easy access to new technologies, the truth is that our students spend more and more time connected and learning – the scary thing is that they may even learn more with the internet than with us in class… they love their mobile phones, their tablets and laptops, so why not make use of them to teach and learn?

Even with 6 secs videos there is a great potential for teaching and learning, and because vine videos are looped, they continuously play what one records which is great for the memorisation of concepts, of small chunks of language; we can also ask students to recreate scenes, events or characters from books, to record wishes (for instance Happy Easter), experiences or simply create something funny to share with the family and friends.

I have just challenged my students to create meaningful vines taking advantage of this Easter season, what about you?

Many Vines and Happy Easter!!!