Web 2.0 Tool Review: Aviary!

Name: Aviary
URL: http://www.aviary.com/
Tool Category: Creativity and Innovation
Description: Aviary is a suite of free, web-based creative tools.  The tools include:

1) Image Editor: This tool can be used to edit raster images.  Raster images are the usual format of images (e.g. jpg), where the image is recorded as a two-dimensional matrix of pixels (compare to the Vector Editor that follows).

2) Screen Capture: This allows you to take a screenshot and makes it available to you for editing.

3) Vector Editor: This graphics tool allows you to create and edit vector graphics.  Vector graphics are based on a mathematical models, not on a specific arrangement of pixels.  One of the virtues of vector graphics is that the images can be rescaled without losing information and resolution.

4) Effects editor: This editor expands on the image editor with a large number of image effects that do such things as blur the picture, or add a glow, or invert the colors (giving a photo negative effect).

5) Music Editor: This allows you to simulate musical instruments and create musical tracks.

6) Audio editor: The audio editor can edit audio files, allowing the user to mix together different music and voice recordings, as well as create effects such as changing the pitch of certain tracks, etc.

7) Image Markup: This tool is for quick marking up of images, allowing you to add circles, arrows, text, etc.

8) Color Editor: This a tool that allows you to create a color palette.  I'm particularly intrigued by this tool, since I am color-blind (I see colors, but I have a hard time seeing green).  This color tool gives more tools for quantifiably modifying colors  than any other color editor I've seen.  If you have trouble seeing colors, it helps to have measurements that tell you, for instance, how much green a color actually has in it. 

What do you need to know before using this tool?
The Image Editor, Effects Editor, Image Markup and Color Editor are similar to the tools found in image editing software such as Corel Paintshop.  It does not require any experience to use their basic functions, although using the more advanced features and effects skillfully would take practice.  To make use of the Vector Editor, you would want to have an understanding of vector graphics and how they differ from raster graphics.  To use the Music Editor and Audio Editor well it would really help to be familiar with audio tracks and sound mixing.  However, using these tools might be a good way to learn these skills.  The Aviary website does provide many tutorial articles and videos to learn how to make the best use of the

What do you need to have before using this tool?
Aviary runs within any web browser, so if you have a computer with an internet connection and a web browser, you can use Aviary.  To use Screen Capture, you must have Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome installed.

How do you use this tool?
You navigate to http://www.aviary.com/ and double click the button for the tool you want to use.  The procedures for using each tool is different.  In this screencast, I attempt to show how the Vector Editor could be used to draw a giant water bug:

http://screenr.com/r4v

Describe a scenario of how you might use this tool for teaching.
In biology lab exercises that involve looking at and being able to remember and identify specimens, a commonly employed activity to facillitate learning is to have the student draw the specimen.  I never liked having to do this because I never liked my drawings.  Aviary provides a way to possibly make drawing specimens fun for those, like me, who don't like their own freehand drawing.  Lab students could be instructed at the beginning of the course that they will be routinely required to create illustration of lab specimens, with labels on the relevant parts.  Aviary would then be offered to the students as an option for creating these illustrations.
When instructed to draw a specimens, students sometimes are not sure what details need to be included in their diagram, and they get bogged down with details.  In contrast, the Vector Tool is ideal for creating images that are more abstract and schematic.  I believe if students were given a demonstration of creating an illustration using Vector Tool, then directed to create illustrations of their lab specimens, it would help them understand the difference between essential features and superficial differences.

What are some advantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?
Since the tools within this suite are free and available on the web to anyone with a computer, you could assign your students an art assignment using Aviary.  As long as there is a computer lab available for students to do homework, all students could be expected to complete the assignment.  Aviary offers "one stop shopping" for a wide range of creative tools.  Having all these tools on one page would simplify the process of directing students to find the tools.
The Color Tool has an option that simulates how colors look with normal vision and then with the various forms of colorblindness.  This could be useful for a science or health class, although I'm not sure how the simulation works for someone who's already colorblind :) .

What are some disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?
Aviary is a very open-ended tool, allowing you to do a wide variety of things.  If students are directed to use Aviary to produce a product, they will probably need a significant amount of guidance.  Without guidance, many students might be overwhelmed by the number of options available.