Video Tools
Video is one of the best things to happen to education. With new advancements in technology, video has become more interactive and makes learning accessible for so many more students than ever before.
EdPuzzle- EdPuzzle links directly to YouTube and allows the teacher to use any video and personalize it. This means: you can decide to only use a segment of the video- or use the video as a whole. Once you've decided what you're going to use for a video, you then can embed questions directly into the video- and the program will grade it for you. EdPuzzle has a gradebook view and lets the educator see how long the student spent on the assignent as well as their score. AMAZING! During the Covid-19 remote learning in the spring semester of 2020, Haley used EdPuzzle regularly- combining screencasts of readings from various novels and EdPuzzle via YouTube to create scaffolded lessons concerning various skills and content. If your district purchases EdPuzzle, you will get more out of the program, for instance- you will have access to contributions from your own school. (Offers certified Educator Program)
Google Duo- A video conference call. You can have 1:1 conversations or add up to 12 people to a group via an email link. You can also leave voicemails!
Google Photos- Haley uses Google Photos in the classroom as a place for students to upload pictures of lecture notes. This helps all students (those who are home can still get the notes, and those who were there can review and be sure there didn't miss anything). Get creative- so much of this tech is more than what it seems.
Playposit- Playposit, much like EdPuzzle, allows teachers to add questions and content to videos. There is a free version and offers a finite amount of views (100) per month. Playposit also includes a grading feature and a grade book. (A Freemium site)
Powtoon- Powtoon is a presentation program. The teacher creates the Powtoon using the platforms many options. Powtoon is highly compatible with YouTube, which makes it a great choice for a Flipped Classroom. If you're familiar with Powtoon, and haven't seen it in a while, you're in for a sweet surprise! The interface has changed quite a bit- most likely with the fazing out of Flash. It's clean and streamlined now in 2020! Powtoon takes a bit more effort than a Google Slide option, but it's well worth it! CLICK HERE for the Powtoon QuickStart Guide.
Adobe Spark-Adobe Spark for web and mobile makes it easy to create social graphics, web pages, and short videos. With Spark, available as a standalone subscription or as part of an Adobe Creative Cloud plan, you get full access to premium templates, Adobe fonts and more. You can even add your brand to make anything you create uniquely yours. (Adobe Spark)
Screencastify -Screencastify is an extension compatible with Google Chrome. It offers users the ability to record a screen, using audio, and video. Screencastify has a built-in editor in BETA, but it works great! This program is great for instructional videos. During distance learning this last spring, Haley used Screencastify to read PDFs to her students who needed guided reading- she also used it for how-to/ instruction videos. Check out this video about how to install!
TEDTalks- TedTalks are pretty awesome- (usually) short and sweet about a specific topics and given largely by experts in their respective fields. What they offer educators in the 21st century is a way to engage students through authentic learning. TedTalks work really well with a Flipped Classroom model and lend themselves well to programs such as EdPuzzle and Playposit.
WeVideo-WeVideo is an easy-to-use video creation tool used by millions of students across grade levels and subjects. Whether students are learning in person at school, from a distance or in a blended setting, WeVideo empowers them to create, collaborate and express themselves with authenticity(WeVideo). WeVideo is also really great for making instructional videos. It's easy to use and its many free features offer enough that you don't need to do the upgrade!
Flipgrid - Flipgrid is 100% free for all educators, learners, and families. Engage and empower every voice in your classroom or at home by recording and sharing short, awesome videos...together! (Flipgrid) (Flipgrid offers a Certified Educator Program)
Teacher Tube- Provides an online community for sharing instructional videos. We seek to fill a need for a more educationally focused, safe venue for teachers, schools, and home learners. It is a site to provide anytime, anywhere professional development with teachers teaching teachers. As well, it is a site where teachers can post videos designed for students to view in order to learn a concept or skill. (PLN opportunity)
YouTube YouTube offers so many excellent videos for students. The world is at your fingertips in a YouTube Search. Consider using YouTube videos for differentiated instruction. Your own content can be uploaded to YouTube and edited there as well. YouTube can be found in your Waffle and is compatible with programs like EdPuzzle and PlayPosit- where in you can embed questions right into the video for your students! (PLN opportunity) Check out this awesome resource: From Don't Ditch that Tech
Catlin Tucker breaks down the broad spectrum of videos and the use of video in a classroom. She explains how videos can be broken down into two different areas: instructional or supplemental. She offers links to various websites that fall into both of these categories. She continues on to talk about curating videos for students and the steps necessary to evaluate videos and decide whether or not they work for YOUR classroom. Catlin Tucker then discusses the proper ways to blend videos into your curriculum and classroom. She then provides information regarding the flipped classroom as well as offers examples of great video samples.
In 2012, Ron Peck writes "Lights, Camera... Engagement! Three Great Tools for Classroom Video." He talks about Animoto (see above), Common Craft and the steps necessary to create this type of video, and a Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) videos where students can click through and make decisions throughout the text.
Curtis Chandler offers basic yet important tips that teachers should keep in mind when using video(s) in the classroom. Just as we want to be mindful of the Triple E Framework and always Engage, Enhance, and Extend, it is important to focus on the purpose of the video and it's ability to help move students toward the learning objective(s).
Matt Miller from "Ditch that Textbook" and also an author of the newest book, "Don't Ditch That Tech," offers ideas surrounding video projects and engagement.
