Mix And Match--Masher

The 2010 Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning selected by the American Association of School Librarians included under the heading, Media Sharing, using the Standards for the 21st Century Learner, 2.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use and assess, 3.3.4 Create products that apply to authentic, real-world context and 4.1.8 Use creative and artistic formats to express personal learning, the free service provided by the web 2.0 application, Masher.  Combining video clips, photographs and music tracks to produce videos could not be easier.  The home page visually proclaims three easy steps to accomplish the desired results.

Blend together videos and/or photographs of your own with those from the Masher library which includes video clips from the  BBC Motion Gallery and Rip Curl to name two.  To this mixture add words, music and special effects.  Share the final product via a variety of social networks, embed in a website or blog post or via email.

Sign up by clicking on the large Get Started button on the home page.  You are requested to fill in a username, password, first and last name and email address.  Terms and Conditions, Code of Conduct and the Privacy Policy must be accepted.  A validation email will be sent.

They require, if you are under 13 years of age, to get parental or guardian permission prior to using any interactive features of the application.  It is recommended that no personal information for those under 13 (or anyone else), with their protection in mind, be revealed such as telephone numbers, a home or email address.

With registration completed log in to start.  Click on the tab that says Studio.  This takes you to the work area for the creation of your video. 

Scroll through the offerings by choosing Videos.  Drag them to the timeline.  Their order can be arranged and changed by dragging them along this line.

Skins (frames) can be added.  Currently there are 24 types specific to events, staging or a form of technology. 

To add text click the Text tab.  In the text box type what you desire to say.  As you type the text appears on the screen to the left.  Drag that text to a position on the screen.  Choose from eight font styles.  Text can be sized and colored. Drag the text tab to the timeline to put it in position.  Text can not be added unless a video is in place.

Adding music tracks is the same, drag a particular selection to the timeline.  There is a list of thirteen genres, many tracks within each.  Artist's name, track title and length are shown.  Mousing over any of these items begins the music so you can preview the sound.

A bar above the timelines allows for ease of movement to edit and arrange the videos, text, music and other extras.  I advise frequent saving of your work.  When initially saving you are asked for a title, description and tags for your Masher creation.  Any of the elements you have added can be deleted by moving your mouse to the right hand corner and clicking on the X.  

Click the View/Share button when you are satisfied with your work.  An HTML code and URL link are given.  The Masher can be submitted to MySpace, Facebook, Digg, Del.icio.us and StumbleUpon or emailed. 

By choosing the Gallery button at the top of the page, Masher videos by others can be viewed.  They are grouped by popular and featured on the home page as well.

The Masher below was made entirely with videos on site but you can also upload your own pictures, videos and music. Here is the link if the embedded video does not play for you. I recommend adding this to your web 2.0 toolbox.