8-+reallusion


 * __​​​ MM OUP Nº 6 __**** __ICT Editor:__ Cobello Vanesa **
 * Stur, Maria Fernanda **
 * Terziche, Verónica **

AUTHORS AND EDITOR THINK THIS IS FINISHED. FINISHED - SUSANA
 * __ REALLUSION CRAZY TALK __**
 * **__What is Crazy Talk__?**
 * CrazyTalk** is a tool that has multiple applications, for movie & video creators, web & game designers, artists & illustrators, and it has also proved to be extremely useful for educators and students, because it allows them to create sophisticated, zany or dramatic talking characters from an image or photo; and facial animation for video, websites and widgets, for unique digital content. If you use the photograph of a person or a drawing, this software guides you to give movement to the different parts of the face. All in all, Crazy Talk is used to give life to any kind of image that you like.

As it has been said before, Crazy Talk gives you the great possibility of bringing an image to life. For instance, you can insert animation and add facial gestures such as mouth, lips and eyes movement. You can also change the size, colour or brightness of the image.
 * **__What are Crazy Talk__ **** __Features__? **

 This tool will help teachers in their approach to improve their teaching techniques and to kindle learning interest in students. Crazy Talk is also useful for teachers to plan their lessons in an enjoyable way, since this program enables children to develop their creativity and they will be more willing to learn. What is more, those teachers who use this resource will immediately get their students' attention, because children can even use their own photos, or images of their favourite characters to give them life, by making them move, talk, etc.
 * **__What are its Teaching and Learning possibilities__? **

As regards students, they will display their talent in designing and storytelling through their work. Besides, as Krashen says, their “affective filter” will be low, because the classroom atmosphere will be completely at ease. Even those students that are shy and introverted will express their ideas and thoughts through their characters, and improve their learning skills. The fact that children can work in teams, sharing and collaborating with others, will also help build up their self-confidence. Moreover, studens will share their work with their families, proudly showing what they have done, as a result parents will be impressed by the technology used in their learning processes.  This tool will also be useful for Higher Education needs for training professionals in an effective way. With time-saving and extensively-applied tools, teachers and students can achieve the goals of their subjects within their set period of time.Teachers will display their ideas quickly, introducing concepts that express their thoughts through visuals. Therefore, involvement and learning will be i nstantaneous and successful due to the use of visual aids.

This is a video example from a variety of school showcases made by teachers or students with **CrazyTalk.** __**Title:**__ "We Love First Grade" Mrs. Morrill's First Grade Class 2007-2008 __From:__ Clark County School __**Link:**__ [] media type="youtube" key="dHf95ND6uFQ" height="344" width="425"
 * ** __Showcase__ (example) **

We have chosen this video because it shows the whole classroom working together with the aid of the ICTs (Infomation and Computer Technologies.) Furthermore, it helps teachers realize how much students enjoy working with Crazy Talk since they indeed love anything related to the world of computers. In this video, you can see and hear how students talk about their work in class, their activities, and even about their teacher. In fact, you can appreciate how they express their thoughts and feelings through their own drawings. In the end, the teacher talks about her pupils through an animated drawing, apparently made by one of her students.
 * __**Review**__

In conclusion, using Crazy Talk, students and teachers will engage in hands-on technology. Many students find language study to be tedious and boring. However, if teachers apply this wonderful tool for language teaching, they will have the great opportunity to turn the traditional learning environment into an interesting and enjoyable one. Consequently, the whole group of students will feel highly motivated and encouraged to participate and cooperate with each other and at the same time, they will develop self-confidence and group awareness.
 * __ **Conclusion** __

Crazy Talk can be used to introduce new language or to reinforce the language learnt. We should remember that students assimilate the language best when they are relaxed and having fun. Teachers should establish the right atmosphere in the classroom to meet their students' needs and stimulate their interests. Since Crazy Talk seems to fulfil all these requirements for an interesting language learning classroom, this software will help teachers to increase their students' knowledge in an enjoyable way.