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Table of Contents
I. Purpose of BubbleShare
II. Background Information
III. How does BubbleShare work?
IV. Similar Web 2.0 Applications
V. Unique Features
VI. Educational Applications A) Elementary Lesson Plans B) Secondary Lesson Plans C) Post-Secondary Lesson Plans D) Business Lesson Plans
VII. International Applications
VIII. References

Developed By:	Albert Lai
Release Date:	2004
Type:	Photo sharing
URL:	http://www.bubbleshare.com/

I. Purpose of BubbleShare

According to the site itself, "BubbleShare's mission is to help you tell your story using fun, web-based tools to make your photo sharing experience easy and entertaining. Simply put: You have stories and we want to help you tell them."³ BubbleShare is simple and easy to use; it does not require users to create a complex account to upload photos. Only an active e-mail account is needed to share photos on BubbleShare. Additionally, BubbleShare enables users that are not as technologically inclined to easily incorporate photos into blogs or other webpages by providing HTML code for uploaded photos. By adding sound and comment boxes, BubbleShare allows you to tell a story any way you want.

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II. Background Information

BubbleShare was founded by Albert Lai in 2004. The company is based out of Toronto, Canada. In 2007, BubbleShare was sold to Kaboose, a family-focused online media company. ⁴ BubbleShare is now under the leadership of developer Terry Gregory and engineer Mazdak Rezvani. ⁵

BubbleShare is a free online photo sharing application. Users don't even need to create accounts on BubbleShare; only an email address is needed to share pictures.

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III. How does BubbleShare work?

How do you sign up?

To sign up for BubbleShare, simply go to www.bubbleshare.com. In the right-hand corner, there are buttons that say "Sign up Now" and "Log in". To register for an account, click the "Sign up Now" button and follow the steps. You will then get a confirmation email, which will give you a link to follow. Once you click the link, your account will be activated and you can start sharing photos!
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How do you upload and share photos?

Once you have registered for BubbleShare, you can start uploading photos and designing your own unique photo albums. Go to www.bubbleshare.com and log in with your email address and password. Click on "Create a New Album", and decide on a name for your album. You can then start browsing for photos from your own documents. You can also choose your privacy settings - either allowing only the people you share with to view the photos or allowing anyone in the world to see them. If you choose to let the Public view your album, you can also put the album under a certain category. After choosing an album theme, click the "Next" button to continue uploading. You now have the option to add different comments, descriptions, and even clip art to your photos. When you are finished adding to your photos, click "View Album" to see how it will look to others. You can then choose to share your album with others through email, your blog, myspace, or facebook.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Is BubbleShare compatible with other operating systems?

Yes, it is campatible with all operating systems and with all the major browsers, including FireFox, Safari, Netscape, Mozilla, and Opera. For the MAC users, BubbleShare also provides a iPhoto plugin. ⁸

How many pictures can you upload using BubbleShare?

You can upload as many digital images that you desire without any restrictions, you can create as many photo albums as you want to. ⁸

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IV. Similar Web 2.0 Applications

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photobucket

"Photobucket offers: sharing of photos, videos, and albums by email, IM, and mobile phone. Friends and family don't need an account on Photobucket to see your stuff. They just need to click the link you give them. So stop emailing photo attachments around, and start sharing with Photobucket."¹⁰

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flickr

"Flickr is an image and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community platform. In addition to being a popular Web site for users to share photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers as a photo repository. As of November 2008, it claims to host more than 3 billion images."¹²

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V. Unique Features

Add audio and video captions to your photos

You are able to narrate your photo or slide and if you want add some flavor to the story.
Click the video gizmo on your gizmo bar at the top of the page.
Make sure your camera is plugged in or on.
You can talk for up to 30 seconds each slide to give the audience a better understanding about what the picture is about.
You can position the video caption icon on the picture so it is easy for the person looking at your slides to watch the video. ¹³
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Create themes for your photos

There are 20 different themes you can use for your pictures.
Themes can add something unique to your pictures.
They can also include some sort of silliness in your pictures.
The themes can also help create an even better appearance to your photo albums.
An important factor in choosing a photo sharing is the different unique options you can do with your picture. ¹⁵
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Bubblezoom

An exciting new feature called Bubblezoom has gotten a lot of reviewers' attention
This feature can work on any photo in your albums.
All you do is simply click on the BubbleZoom button and have a 3x zoom view on any area of the photo.
This can be convenient if you are standing in front of something memorable or far away that you would like to emphasize in your picture.
It can also point out a funny moment caught on film in the background.
CEO Albert Lai says that it's inspired by Apple's Aperture Zooming capabilities. ¹⁷
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VI. Educational Applications

BubbleShare has many different educational applications. Its many unique features allow teachers to integrate it into a variety of different classes. BubbleShare allows you to tell a story or "narrate" for your slide show. This gives the teachers an opportunity to help students to narrate their class projects and really apply what they have learned. Here are a few ways projects can be used.

- A foreign language teacher assigns students to take pictures of their morning routine. The students then set the pictures up in a slide show. After the slideshow is created, the students must narrate their routine.

- A biology teacher assigns students the task of creating a slide show of different animals. They label all of the different types using the comic boxes feature. Finally, the students list where they are commonly found throughout their area.

- A physical education teacher assigns students the task of creating a new game. They are required to take pictures of the game and create "How To" to play the game. They will use the many features on BubbleShare to depict how the game is setup and properly played.

BubbleShare allows teachers and students many opportunities for educational uses through photosharing. Teachers can now prepare project and have the students easily upload their projects to this site. Also, BubbleShare allows the teachers to give lessons in a unique and fun way. BubbleShare is a program that can easily be incorporated into the classroom.

Below are a number of lesson plans for all levels of education

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Grades 4-5	Science - Ecology - Leaves (Created by Shana Musall) Elementary - Ecology Lesson PDF
Overview	This lesson will provide the students with useful knowledge about trees and their leaves. They will be able to go around to the different trees and take pictures of the leaves so they will be able to identify them later. The students will upload the images onto BubbleShare and make a Leaf Collection album.
Objective	After completing this lesson, students will be able to: Name the different trees and identify them by their leaves Be more familiar with using a camera Be comfortable uploading and sharing images on BubbleShare
Materials	Camera Access/ability to photograph trees Computer/internet access to upload photos to BubbleShare
Procedures	The students will be put into groups for this lesson. Each group will receive a camera and go around to the different trees. Students will take a picture of a leaf on each tree. Students will upload the photos onto BubbleShare and put the name of the tree on the photo using the caption feature. The students will use the album as a study guide for the unit.
Evaluation	The students will be graded on the accuracy of their labeling of the trees. Students will receive points if the pictures are uploaded correctly. The students will be assessed using the A-F grading scale.

Grades 2-3	Social Studies - Family Tree (Created by Shana Musall) Elementary - Family Tree Lesson PDF
Overview	This lesson will help the students grow closer to their family and learn more about their background. They will take a picture of each family member then make a family tree. They will need to upload the photos of their family members on BubbleShare. They will also need to record audio of each family member explaining their relationship.
Objective	After completing this lesson, students will be able to: Be more familiar with and understand their family ancestry Use a camera Upload photos onto BubbleShare and make an album to share
Materials	Camera Ability to contact family members Computer with internet access to upload photos to BubbleShare Audio Recorder
Procedures	Each student will have a camera. The student will take a picture of each of their family members. The family members will also be recorded describing their relationship with the student. Students will upload the images and audio onto BubbleShare to create a Family Tree album.
Evaluation	The students will be awarded points based on the number of family members they have included in the family tree. Since not all families are large, students are required to have three family members photos. Any family members beyond that will be bonus. Students will be assessed using the standard A-F grading scale.

Grades 2-4	Spanish - Vocabulary Words (Created by Shana Musall) Elementary - Vocbulary Words Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	This lesson will provide students with a new way to learn Spanish vocabulary words. The students will be able to go around and take pictures of the Spanish words they are learning. Once students take pictures, they will upload them to BubbleShare and add the Spanish word as a caption.
Objective	After completing this lesson, students will: Become more familiar with Spanish vocabulary Have experience using a camera
Materials	Camera Computer/internet access to upload photos to BubbleShare
Procedures	Each week, the teacher will introduce x number of new Spanish vocabulary words to the class. The student will have x days to take a picture of those objects. The student will have x days to upload the photos to BubbleShare and add captions.
Evaluation	The students will be graded on the accuracy of the photo captions. Students will also be given points for uploading the pictures correctly. Students will be graded on the standard A-F system.

Grades K-1	Colors (Created by Shana Musall) Elemantary - Colors Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	This lesson is very basic and will provide the students with an overview of colors. They will be able to take pictures of different items of various colors. Once they take the pictures, they will upload and label the images accordingly.
Objective	After completing this lesson the students will: Have a brief overview of colors Be able to take pictures Gain experience using computers to upload images
Materials	Camera Computer/internet access to upload images to BubbleShare
Procedures	Each student will have a camera. Students will take pictures of items of each of the required colors. Once they have captured the images, teachers and aids will help each student upload their photos onto BubbleShare. The student will label each image by its color.
Evaluation	Students will be graded on the accuracy of their labels. They will be given points for uploading the images onto BubbleShare. Students will be graded on a standard A-F scale.

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Secondary

Grades 7-12	Fine Arts - Still Movie Making (Created by Rachel Lowery) Secondary - Still Movie Making Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	Students will use BubbleShare to store photos and make a presentation that will look similar to a movie.
Objective	After completing this lesson, students will: be able to use BubbleShare to design a short still-movie become familiar with different types of artistic expression
Materials	Camera Computer/internet access to upload images to BubbleShare Voice recording device
Procedures	Students will be divided into groups of 4-7. Students will take pictures that they will compile into a shot movie-like presentation. Each group will need to write a script of the narration that will be added to each picture. Using BubbleShare, students will make the presentation and add audio captions to each picture.
Evaluation	The presentations must have a beginning, middle and end and must tell a story using some sort of artistic expression.

Grades 9-12	Biology - Binomial Nomenclature (Created by Rachel Lowery) Secondary - Binomial Nomenclature Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	Students will explore Binomial Nomenclature.
Objective	After completing this lesson, students will: Be able to identify different animals using the Binomial Nomenclature Understand the importance of Binomial Nomenclature
Materials	Camera Computer/internet access to upload images to BubbleShare Access to a local zoo or somewhere animals may be photographed
Procedures	Students will be divided into groups of two. On a field trip to the zoo, sudents will gather photos of different kinds of animals. By the end of the field trip, students should have at least 10 photos of different animals. In the classroom, students will upload photos onto BubbleShare and add captions.
Evaluation	Students will receive points based on the number of animals photographed and the accuracy of the captions.

Grades 7-10	Health - Unhealthy Lifestyles (Created by Rachel Lowery) Secondary - Unhealthy Lifestyles Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	Students will take pictures of things that cause harm to your body and the effects that those things can have.
Objective	After completing this lesson, students will: Understand the negative effects that an unhealthy lifestyle can have on the body Gain experience sharing photos using BubbleShare
Materials	Camera Computer/internet access to upload images to BubbleShare Access to unhealthy items
Procedures	Students are put into groups of 3-6 which will be assigned an unhealthy habit (Examples - smoking, fatty foods, not getting enough sleep) Students will stage scenes using these items and will take pictures of what happens when people practice an unhealthy lifestyle These photos will be uploaded to BubbleShare where students can make a presentation and use the audio feature to add sound effects and narration. Each group will give a short presentation to the class.
Evaluation	Students will be graded based on their labels of the unhealthy pictures.

Grades 7-12	History - Industrial Revolution (Created by Rachel Lowery) Secondary - Industrial Revolution Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	Students will take pictures of items that they use every day and were totally, or in part invented during the Industrial Revolution
Objective	After completing this lesson, students will: Understand the importance of the Industrial Revolution Gain experience sharing pictures on BubbleShare
Materials	Camera Computer/internet access to upload images to BubbleShare
Procedures	Students will be divided into groups of 2-4 These groups will take pictures of 5-10 items around their home that were invented or influenced by the Industrial Revolution Students will upload these images to BubbleShare and add commentary about how the item was impacted by the Industrial Revolution Each group will give a short presentation to the class
Evaluation	Students will be graded based on their commentary of the pictures. Students should identify as much background information about the product as is necessary to gain a basic understanding of how the Industrial Revolution changed this product.

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Post-Secondary

Education	Digital Storytelling (Created by Charity Blackwood) Post-Secondary - Digital Storytelling Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	Students will use up to 20 photos and use BubbleShare to organize them into an effective digital story.
Objective	After completing this lesson, students will know how to effectively share a story using photos instead of words.
Materials	Camera Computer/internet access to upload photos to BubbleShare
Procedures	Students will take 30-40 digital photos of an event. The students will then upload the pictures onto a computer. Students will use BubbleShare to organize the photos into a "digital story."
Evaluation	Each student will be graded based on having completed all of the steps of the project, the quality of the photos, clarity and creativity in which they were arranged and whether or not a story is being told through the photos.

Consumer and Family Science	Recipe Documentation (Created by Charity Blackwood) Post Secondary - Recipe Documentation Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	In groups of two, students will be given a recipe to make and will have to document each step of the procedure. They will use BubbleShare to upload, arrange and share photos. Each group of students must then write a two-page report on the project.
Objective	After completing this lesson, students will be able to follow a complex recipe and document each part of the procedure.
Materials	Recipe Ingredients Camera Computer/Internet access to upload photos to BubbleShare
Procedures	Divide students into groups of two. Students must take turns following each step of the recipe and taking photos of the procedure. Students will upload the photos to BubbleShare. Students will organize photos chronologically, showing each step of making the food. Students will write a two-page report discussing what worked best in their following of the recipe and what problems they may have faced, as well as their overall satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their project.
Evaluation	Each student will be graded based on having documented each step of the food-making procedure and organizing the photos in a clear and creative way.

Education	Blogging (Created by Charity Blackwood) Post-Secondary - Blogging Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	Students will keep a web-log (blog) for three weeks, adding daily posts and weekly photos.
Objective	After completing this lesson, students will know how to keep a web-log and share digital photos of different life experiences.
Materials	Blogging account Camera Computer/internet access to upload photos to BubbleShare
Procedures	Students will create a blogging account. Students will post 200-300 words on their blogs each day. Once a week, students will upload photo albums, created on BubbleShare, which relate to their posts.
Evaluation	Students will be graded based upon the length and quality of their posts as well as the relevance and creativity of their photo albums.

Communications	Persuasive Presentation (Created by Charity Blackwood) Post-Secondary - Persuasive Presentation Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	Students will find and/or take photos relating to a relevant, controversial issue.
Objective	At the end of this lesson, students will have experience persuading an audience using images.
Materials	Computer/Internet access to upload photos to BubbleShare Camera (optional) Projector/Screen in class
Procedures	Students will gather up to 15 images relating to a controversial issue. Students will organize photos in BubbleShare to create a persuasive presentation which deals with the problem and a solution of the issue. Students will give their presentations in class. Students will fill out peer evaluations for the other students' presentations.
Evaluation	Each student will be graded based on how relevant their topic is, how effective their photos appear to the audience, and how successfully they are in presenting the problem and solution of their controversial issue.

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Business

Training	Importance of Documentation (Created by Jacob Pleasac) Business - Importance of Documentation Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	The following plan is to teach business executives how to save important pictures that are needed for their business. This includes pictures that can be used to appeal to clients and pictures that could be used for later projects.
Objective	Members of a corporation will learn how to use BubbleShare and hold a conference explaining it to executives or other interested workers.
Materials	Conference room Computer/internet access to upload images to BubbleShare
Procedures	The instructor will introduce BubbleShare and its purpose He or she will then explain how it can be utilized by the company The instructor will take employees through a tutorial of BubbleShare
Evaluation	The instructor will monitor employee progress using BubbleShare.

Presentation	Business Proposal (Created by Jacob Pleasac) Business - Business Proposal Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	The following lesson plan informs company workers of the perks and advantages that a corporation can offer to individuals.
Objective	This presentation will show employees: Benefits they can receive from entering or buying from the company A visually attractive presentation created on BubbleShare
Materials	Computer/internet access to upload images to BubbleShare
Procedures	Inform clients and workers of the benefits and perks of joining or buying into the company Use BubbleShare to give an effective presentation.
Evaluation	The results of the presentation will determine the effectiveness.

Armed Forces	Visual Assimilation (Created by David Joest) Business - Visual Assimilation Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	During training exercises, branches of the armed forces show trainees photos of situations that they could encounter on a mission. This lesson plan utilizes BubbleShare to effectively present photos.
Objective	After completing this lesson, participants should: Recognize problematic situations more quickly Be more familiar with combat situations
Materials	Photos of combat situations Computer with internet access Projector/screen
Procedures	Gather photos from field experiences. Upload photos to BubbleShare and create a slideshow. Add text, audio, or video captions to enhance the presentation. Deliver presentation. Give trainees the post-presentation test.
Evaluation	Trainees will be given an exam to test how much they retained. The test will cover material in the lecture, photos, and captions.

Training	New Employee Program (Created by David Joest) Business - New Employee Program Lesson Plan PDF
Overview	This lesson plan utilizes BubbleShare to allow new employees to become more familiar with a company's products. Audio and video captions will be added to photos to increase the amount of information retained by employees.
Objective	After completing this lesson, participants should: Be more familiar with company products Increase knowledge of company products
Materials	Photos of company products Computer with internet access Projector/screen
Procedures	Gather photos of company products. Upload photos to BubbleShare to create a slideshow. Add text, audio, or video captions to enhance the presentation. Deliver presentation. Give trainees the post-presentation test.
Evaluation	New employees will be given an exam to test how much they retained. The test will cover material in the lecture, photos, and captions.

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VII. International Applications

BubbleShare is currently being used across the globe. From its conception in Canada to its use in Romania and China, BubbleShare's unique features explain the expansion of the application. Teachers and students, families, and companies worldwide have taken advantage of the ease of using BubbleShare. BubbleShare's Community tab allows users to view recently uploaded public albums from all over the world.¹⁹ In China, users enjoy including BubbleShare albums on their blogs.²⁰ BubbleShare provides HTML code to easily add albums to blogs and other web pages. Stories told through photos are not bound by language in the way that written stories are, so BubbleShare can be used to share stories internationally. But BubbleShare is only accessible in English, it is difficult for most Chinese who are not good at English to use it. As a result, the application of BubbleShare has been hardly used in education field in China.

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