Certain web applications allow students to be creative and have fun while learning a foreign language. It is of paramount importance to educators that these applications offer a safe and suitable environment in which students can learn without fear of being exposed to unsuitable content.
Ever since I discovered Go!Animate, online animations have formed an integral part of my schemes of work. Tools such as this have allowed me to transform written tasks into creative exercises that students want to share and, most importantly, repeat.
Having said that, Go!Animate was never conceived by its creators as an educational tool. As its popularity grew, so did the wealth and breadth of its content, sometimes with undesirable consequences for the school environment.
This resulted in ever increasing demands of content moderation by educators. Go!Animate did not wish, as they viewed it, to censor or curtail its content in any way, but what they did do was to make another website available which would be version of their site that would not contain inappropriate content.
This website is Domo Nation. There, all animations are reviewed and users cannot upload their own assets, thus ensuring a well controlled environment. There may still be odd silly, pointless or immature animation, but you won’t come across an offensive one.
I have been using Domo Nation – or Domo Animate, as it is also known – for several months now and I can attest that it is indeed a safe environment for students to learn as they play. Next time you want to ask your students to write a dialogue for homework, get them to do it using this wonderful alternative to the exercise book.
What’s your experience using animation tools such as this? Do you know any alternatives? Please share 
