Samples
There are SO MANY tools available out there, it's hard to know where to start! Here are some samples of videos that I've created using a variety of tools (mostly free, but I have paid for some when I think they're really worth it). In order to help each of you select a tool that will work best for you (based on technology level, availability of media within the tool, cost, etc.), I have included the following icons with each video sample:
1. VideoScribe
(music track only) 7-day free trial available.
VideoScribe is one of those tools that I am TOTALLY okay with spending money on! The popularity of the "whiteboard"-type videos has been growing, and this is a tool that's easy to use on either your computer or your mobile device. Videoscribe provides both a video graphics library and an audio library, but it also allows you to do your voice recording within the tool.
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2. VideoScribe
(voice track only) Here is a VideoScribe example where I have changed the settings so that the hand doesn't show in the animation (or you can choose from a variety of different hands for your video). Also, I have used only the voiceover recording capability, rather than adding a music track from the audio library.
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3. VideoScribe
(voice and music) In this third VideoScribe example, I use BOTH the voiceover recording capability AND add a music track from the audio library. You can also import images of your own instead of using the graphics library, but they have to be SVGA (animated) to work properly.
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4. Moovly:
You can get Moovly for free, but you purchase graphics and audio tracks.
I consider this a "medium" level tool, at least initially, because the interface takes a little getting used to, and because you need to place the graphic elements and get the visual timing in sync with any audio you may be using. |
5. Using a Green Screen
(from University of California - Irvine) You can order green screens in various sizes from Amazon (or elsewhere).
The reason I marked this as "challenging" to use is mostly in the number of components that you need to combine - the green screen recording, the background image and/or recording, any additional audio, etc. |
6. Cell Phone Video Clip:
There is no additional cost to creating video by recording on your phone or tablet!
There are MANY phone apps out there that will then allow you to edit your video (clipping, adding text slides, using audio files from your phone,...), and some are even free! |
7. Camtasia
("Time Lapse" video clip) Camtasia is powerful, but it ISN'T cheap!
Normally I wouldn't consider Camtasia an "Easy" tool, but if you only want to perform this one task, it's easy to do. You drag your video clip into the program, adjust the speed (either faster or slower), and save your project as a new video file. Easy! |
8. Camtasia
(integrating video clips and photographs) For a video like this one, Camtasia works great - but it is a bit of a learning curve to understand the timeline interface, adding text, transitions between clips, etc. Once you are used to Camtasia, though, it's fairly easy to use, and has a lot of wonderful features!
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9. Windows Movie Maker
(using original drawings) Got a PC? Movie Maker is a FREE video editing program.
Movie Maker allows many of the same features as Camtasia - transitions, text slides, speed adjustment, etc. Again, the getting used to the interface is the only challenging part - after that, Movie Maker isn't difficult at all. |
10. Camtasia
(zoom/pan/text/callouts with screencast) NOTE: For this project, I also had to install a (free) mirroring software to allow me to show the content as viewed on my iPad on the screen of my computer.
The Camtasia zoom/pan/callout features allow me to create an instructional (or a guided tour) video with any screencasting tool, then go back through and make adjustments to emphasize certain areas for the video audience to focus on. |
11. Camtasia
(zoom/pan/text/callouts with photos) Here is a short personal bio that uses more of the zoom/pan/callout features of Camtasia. I also did quite a bit of slicing & dicing on the original video clip, taking it from 4 1/2 minutes to 1 1/2 minutes.
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12. WeVideo
(collaborative; filters, titles, audio effects) There is a free trial version (limited to a total of 5 minutes of published video time); after the trial period, you can choose to pay a one-time fee for a total of 30 minutes of video (and renew as needed), OR you can select an annual subscription option.
WeVideo is not only simple to use, it also allows for collaborative video editing, can be used on pretty much any device, and has lots of nice "extras" (like the variety of filters applied to the different video clips that make up this student project video). |
13. iMovie (photos):
Got a Mac (or an iPad, or an iPhone...)? iMovie is a FREE video editing program that comes installed on your machine.
iMovie allows many of the same features as Camtasia - transitions, text slides, speed adjustment, etc. - plus they have the super-awesome "Ken Burns Effect." Again, the getting used to the interface is the only challenging part - after that, iMovie is pretty darned easy! |
14. Animoto:
One drawback to the free basic version of Animoto is the time limit on videos (there is a paid premium version available). LUCKILY, Animoto has an education version available that allows you to make longer videos (and also comes with student accounts!).
Animoto has pretty much everything a beginner could want - its drag-and-drop interface is incredibly easy, it has templates of animations for your videos and a music library to choose from, you can add text... you can create a video literally within minutes. |
15. Xtranormal (now defunct)
"Why show us a tool that is no longer available?"
Because in the age we live in, technology tools come and go at a moment's notice. If you find something really fun, free, fairly easy to use, with existing graphics and voices, and that people like to watch, you want to jump in and make use of it NOW - "here today, gone tomorrow" is one of the painful lessons you may face if you get overly attached to one particular tool (especially if it doesn't have a sustainable business model). As it turns out, Xtranormal went away, then came back briefly as State Plus, then went away, BUT NOW appears to be available as Nawmal. There is an Educator's version for about $10 per month, or you can take it for a test drive with the free trial version.
If you like the animated video route, you could also try Wideo ($4.91/month for Educators), or read this "Xtranormal is Saying Goodbye" post from professorjosh.com, where he gives a couple of animation tool recommendations. |
Screencasting: Grading by Video!
Here is an example of the type of video feedback that I would give a student on their project - what's working, what's not, how they can improve, and reiterating that they have a chance to make changes before the end-of-semester project, which is an instructor & peer evaluation of the end product:
Here is the same student, on the second project assignment:
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Not that this is the norm, but here is the response that I got from this particular student (students are not required to give me any kind of a response) - I was actually surprised to get such positive feedback, because he did NOT do well on the assignment!
Dear Dr. McGlasson,
Thank you so much for the feedback you gave me on my project. I thought everything you said was 100% correct and I feel terrible that I didn't do as well as I should have on the assignment. I never had a teacher that cared as much as you do on an assignment in my entire life. I respect you so much more now, not that it was ever in a bad way :) I can not thank you enough for the video that you sent me. It was amazing, and I love this kind of feedback. I know it is a lot of work, and takes a lot of your time outside of class, but I am astonished. I will definitely change my website to be up to par. Thank you, |