Screencasts, Instagram, and Flipagram

Screencasts, Instagram, and Flipagram

I am excited to say that I successfully downloaded Instagram and Flipagram to my smartphone.  I am always a little nervous to try something new, but it is so exciting when it works!

Instagram

I've heard of Instagram, but I didn't know it was something that I could use for educational purposes.  Instagram can be used for many purposes in an educational setting:

• showcase student work
• student of the week
• highlight field trip memories
• imagine how a famous person in history would use Instagram
• imagine what a favorite character would post
• share reading recommendations
• record steps in a science experiment
• go on an ABC scavenger hunt
• discover ideas for writing

I used Instagram for a writing prompt.  I took a picture of the playground and the prompt was:  Write what you like most about recess.

https://www.instagram.com/shannoncaesar/

I think the picture prompt made it much easier for my ESL students to write.  Check out these writing samples!  These students just came to the United States at the beginning of the school year!

Flipagram

I had never heard of Flipagram, but it is fun and easy to use.  It is described as an "easy to use video slideshow creator for Grades 8-12." 

Pros:  access to all your photos, makes videos simple, can add text and music to slideshow

Cons: lack of tutorials

I was worried about the lack of tutorials.  I could figure it out on my own, so I don't think tutorials are needed.  If I can add pictures and music, everyone else is good!

These are ways Flipagram can be used in schools:

• Reading selfies
• Perfect pupil
• Field trip memories
• Topic presentation
• Oral reading
• Retell story
• Plan story
• Instructional Video
• Reflective Video
• Create a Stop motion animation

I took the idea of Perfect Pupil and changed it to our school's skill for the week:  How to Walk in the Hallway.  We focus on a skill during the announcements and our class meetings.  So, I told my students that I would look to see if I could take a picture of us with correct behavior:  straight line, facing forward, no talking, and hallway hands.  I liked this because I could get pictures of their backs, so I didn't have to worry about a photo release.  

https://flipagram.com/f/157RrbgTeoaI

I have shown this app to two coworkers.  I showed the librarian because I think she would love to use this to do reading selfies.  She is going to try it and show it at her next book talk.  I also showed it to my teaching partner.  She is teaching the water cycle and life cycles in science.  I think flipagram would be a perfect way for the students to do a stop motion animation for these topics.  We'll see what the kids think!

Screencasts
I should begin by saying that making a tutorial makes me feel very smart!  My first attempt did not go very well.  I tried Screencast-o-matic.  It was surprisingly simple and had a great tutorial..  After successfully creating the screencast, I was not able to download it. The error message I got was "Failed to encode!  Try disabling anti-virus software to see if it's interfering." I did that and it would still not let me save to youtube, a video file, etc.  

So, I gave up!  No... I tried Jing and it worked.  It provided a great tutorial.   Here is the link to my screencast on how to make a blog.

https://www.screencast.com/t/PnHcElQC3t

I know my librarian always says that she has cool stuff to show us, but nobody wants to go to an additional meeting.  This would be a great way to show us how to do something new in class.  I went to a training this week, and the leader was showing how to put information into a google document.  Many teachers did not know how to do this and make a table in the document.  This would be a perfect screen-cast!  I think teachers would really love it and appreciate the new information!

What is my favorite?
This is a hard question because I am always so happy to learn something new.  It is between Flipagram and Screencast/Jing.  I am amazed that Flipagram can so quickly take pictures and make a slideshow with music.  That is super fun!  I feel that I am most appreciative of knowing how to make a screencast because that will help me the most as a librarian.