Capturing (and keeping!) the attention of students is often among the most challenging tasks facing an educator. Anyone who’s had the “pleasure” of standing in front of kids who aren’t exactly keen on the idea of focusing on a lesson knows this.

Some teachers resort to easy fixes. They may simply put on a video, knowing that doing so may be easier than truly striving to engage a classroom.

However, it’s also possible to go too far in the opposite direction. Some educators object so greatly to the idea of using visuals to complement their lessons that they deprive themselves of the opportunity to make a class more interactive.

The strongest educators are often those who leverage the best tools to improve education outcomes in both the short term and the long term. For instance, if you’re a teacher, an animation maker is a tool you could use to turn mere students into learners.

Animation isn’t merely a distraction. When a teacher uses it properly, it can add genuine value to their lessons. The following points explain how.

Animation in the Classroom: How Does Animation Help Education?

Boosting Retention

It’s important for teachers to remember that it isn’t merely enough to boost the focus of students while class is in session. Even if a student is reasonably paying attention when an instructor teaches, a lesson may nevertheless have minimal educational value if the student doesn’t retain what’s taught.

This highlights one of the key strengths of animation-based learning. Research indicates that video content in general tends to boost retention and engagement among students in a classroom. Because animation is particularly dynamic (and because an animation maker lets a teacher customize their video lessons), its impact on retention may be even greater.

Illustrating Complex Ideas

Don’t assume educational animation is only useful as a means of getting rowdy little pre-adolescents to sit still for a lesson! Research indicates that animation-based educational content can also serve genuine purposes at higher levels.

For example, according to one study comparing the effectiveness of animated content vs. static graphic figures in regard to teaching students about a complex biological process, animated educational videos yield higher levels of retention. 

Keep this in mind if you’re a high school teacher or university professor. If your role often involves teaching about ideas or principles that you tend to find difficult to convey, with a user-friendly animated video maker, you could theoretically create content that will simplify what might otherwise be intimidating lessons.

Catering to Different Learning Styles

Not all students learn the same way. This can pose a significant challenge for an educator. A teacher needs to do their best to appeal to all learning styles without wasting time modifying a lesson plan for each individual student.

This is another reason an animated video could be a useful element of a lesson. For students who are visual learners, animated content may help them better digest the subject matter they might have otherwise struggled with during a lecture.

Allowing Students to Learn by Teaching

One of the most effective ways to ensure students absorb and retain the material being taught in a given class is to have the students teach said material themselves. If a class project involves developing presentations on different subjects that students must learn and delivering those presentations to their fellow classmates, students will engage more with those subjects.

Or, well, that’s the idea. Of course, plenty of educators know that tasking students with creating thorough presentations on important class material isn’t a guarantee that students will actually devote the proper amount of attention to such a project.

Luckily, there are ways to easily boost student interest in these types of assignments. A student who has little interest in working on a traditional presentation might nevertheless enjoy creating an animation video to share with the class.

Keep in mind that an animation maker isn’t just a tool for a teacher to use. The right video maker can also be a great tool for students, allowing them to engage more directly with their class materials by generating fun and stimulating lessons.

Facilitating eLearning

Elearning has become increasingly popular in recent years. Sometimes, this is due to necessity. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many schools had to adopt e-learning models to ensure social distancing. However, e-learning services had already been popular as a means of providing remote lessons to anyone with an interest in digging into various topics online.

That said, online learning does come with its own share of limitations. Because a student isn’t in a classroom with a teacher, there is naturally a sense of distance that can prevent a lesson from feeling as interactive as it might in person.

Animation helps compensate for such limitations. Through computer animation, a teacher can deliver online lessons that stand out.

An eLearning service could also use animation to establish its unique brand. By experimenting with different animation styles, those in charge of developing educational video content for an online learning platform could identify a style that represents their unique branded identity.

Powtoon Offers the Ideal Animation Maker for Educators

How does animation help education? As this overview demonstrates, creating your own animation can improve your effectiveness as a teacher in many ways. This is particularly true when you consider the fact that this is by no means an exhaustive list.

Maybe you’re a teacher who genuinely appreciates the potential value that animated content can add to your class. However, you might be reluctant to embrace such content because you don’t believe you have the skills, time, money, or general resources necessary to create and upload strong animated content.

That’s where Powtoon comes in. This intuitive online animation maker combines a simple drag-and-drop interface with templates and other simple features to ensure that creating video animation is an easy task for everyone from seasoned pros to beginners. It’s also worth noting that this tool allows you to generate easy live-action content as well. To find out more about what it can do for you, sign up for free today!

The post How Can Using an Animation Maker Help Education? appeared first on Powtoon Blog.

It’s Ilya Spitalnik, Powtoon’s Chief Executive Unicorn — and no, I’m not being tone-deaf to our current situation. I’m just trying to bring a little spark of hope into our day with this message. 

We’re Living Through Unprecedented Times

What we’re living through right now is unprecedented. We’re seeing the world literally change before our eyes. We’re confined to our homes, and yet, bizarrely, life goes on. 

At the moment, I spend my day mostly in video calls, while trying to balance my home life as a husband and father — or shall I say cook and entertainer for the kids. 

The True Lesson of Running a Company Remotely

I wanted to share with you what I’ve learned in the past few weeks being confined to my home while running a business with over 100 employees. 

I can easily sum it up in one sentence: Communication is now more important than ever and it’s more difficult than ever! 

I can’t just walk into my colleague’s office to ask about the status of some project, align on some strategy issue or even just to inquire about their well-being…

Things that we typically take for granted are just not there. 

Instead, we’re forced to chase colleagues on slack or teams in the hope that they will respond immediately. Or we join countless video calls where we put ourselves on mute, switch off the camera and multitask in the background (Oops! Is that just me?).

Why Is Communication More Important Than Ever?

The current crisis has put a magnifying glass to a problem that’s been brewing for quite some time. 

Put simply: 

• Alignment has never been harder 
• Misunderstandings have never been broader, 
• Lack of transparency has never been greater, and let’s face it… 
• Video call fatigue is starting to set in (Oops… Just me again?)

In the past weeks I’ve come to experience something that many of Powtoon’s clients have known for a long time. 

In times when a single message needs to permeate an entire organization, where alignment is needed, where your attention is pulled every which way, and your business may even be in danger…

In strange times like the ones we’re living through now, your method of communication has to work! 

Video calls, whatsapps, team or slack messages don’t do the trick. But short, sharp visual messages make the difference.  

So What’s My Message Today? 

Powtoon is here to help you and your organization get through these trying times! That is to say: we, as a company, are here for you… and Powtoon, the method of communication, is here for you…

We continue to update our remote working and remote learning guides, with video templates, helpful articles, and inspiration to keep your team engaged and succeeding remotely. 

And to ensure that everyone can access the visual communication tools they need, we’re reducing the price of Powtoon Pro+ annual plans by 33%.

Being remote does not mean being distant… and a small gesture goes a long way these days. Please remember to let your colleagues and loved ones know how much they mean to you. 

Stay safe, stay connected…

And stay awesome,

Ilya

The post The Biggest Challenge of Running a Company Remotely — a Founder’s Perspective appeared first on Powtoon Blog.

Reach your students and effectively teach them through online remote learning.

Remote learning is going to be a topic of conversation for the foreseeable future. The Coronavirus epidemic has left nearly 300 million students studying from home. Schools and universities from 32 different countries have shut down and are moving to online learning to keep students safe, and the number is growing each day. Shifting from classrooms to remote learning is an adjustment for teachers, professors, and students alike. But with these tips, you can become a remote learning expert in no time!  

Tip #1: Capture your student’s attention

Students today are used to many stimuli, making it hard for them to focus on any type of lesson, regardless if it is online or in person. In fact, 1 out of 3 American students claim to be bored most of the time when it comes to school and learning. 

Change that dynamic and engage your students by adding fascinating presentations and animated videos to your lessons and distance learning. Easily edit these video templates and you’ll get the attention of your students in no time!

Remote Learning Tip #2: Keep your students captivated 

Adding voiceover narration will add emotion, personality, and a human touch to your video lessons. Sensory stimulators like sound and narration voiceover make students feel as if they’re in the same room as you, which, in turn, engages them for longer and yields better results.

Remote Learning Tip #3: Create an online community

A recent study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University showed that students who communicated with each other tend to stick around and come to class more often compared to those who choose not to interact with others. 

If you don’t have a physical community to bring together any more, you can easily create a virtual community online. In order to facilitate this in an online setting, have your students create a video introducing themselves. Even if they already know each other, this is the perfect way to initiate an authentic bond on a digital level. 

Remote Learning Tip #4: Use a mix of learning tools

It takes a lot of planning to teach students online. It is easy to overwhelm them with educational technology, learning styles, and formats. Mix up regular remote learning styles with different online tools like video, live chats, and more, to engage with your students. 

Long gone are the discussion board days… today your visual communication strategies have to be omnichannel, so it’s important to take advantage of all the tools at your disposal. 

Tip #5: Make your content mobile

More than 50% of online content is consumed through smartphones. This means that more than half of your class will be watching your lectures from their mobile devices. Make sure that your lessons are optimized for mobile devices. To do so, easily edit the ratio of your video for mobile screens.

Use video to engage with remote students

With these tips, you have the power to make remote learning an interactive and valuable experience for both you and your students.

Need some help getting started with remote video learning? Check out our guide for remote learning that will help you become an expert in no time!

And don’t forget to tell me how YOU tackle remote learning in the comments below.

Please note: Powtoon is a visual communication platform, not a health organization. Information about the COVID-19 outbreak is changing by the minute. Please be sure to verify, by direct and live contact with your local health authorities, any specific health-related inquiries.

The post 5 Tips to Make Remote Learning More Effective With Video appeared first on Powtoon Blog.

If you want to impress your professors, grab attention when presenting, get hired as an intern and stand out – every single time – video templates are the fastest and easiest way to do it

As college students, YOU are the rockstars that will Awesomize the world for tomorrow !

It is you who will research, experiment, analyze, explore and present new ideas and discoveries that will shape our future (no pressure there)… but how can you shape the future and get your classmates, your professors and your audience to sit up and listen, if your presentations are BORING?

How can you stand apart from your classmates, when there are so many voices to be heard? In essence, how can you WIN in college?

To answer that question, I crafted this blog post — written by a grad student, for college students (grads and undergrads alike)! In addition I joined up with Powtoon’s very own Marketing Scientist, Nirel to create an awesome on-demand webinar, guiding you through exactly what you need to know to win in college (found at the bottom of the blog post).

But before skipping to the end of the post to watch the webinar, let’s take a moment to discuss the science behind grabbing attention…

A Few Small Elements Make a Big Difference for Grabbing Attention

Fortunately for us, science (and a few Master Attention Grabbers, such as Steve Jobs) have proven that using a few small tricks can equal giant, attention-grabbing success. Among them:

• Be unexpected
• Be interactive
• Minimize text
• Maximize BSV (big simple visuals)
• Build emotion
• Be genuine
• And… get to the point!

When you do this people will look up, they will pay attention to you because you have now proven that you’re worth their attention.

In our language of English, attention is paid because attention is a valuable currency. When listeners pay attention, they are rewarding you with arguably the most valuable currency in the world.

Sims Wyeth

Work Smarter, Not Harder!

But this is no secret — when we throw our heart and soul into a college/university project, and work through the night, perfecting and re-perfecting it, ensuring that all the right elements are there, then surely we will create the most outstanding result and everyone will love it, right?

WRONG. Just because you’re working harder does not always mean you’re working smarter.

In fact, if you give your all, over and over again, and don’t see results, you will eventually feel burnt and overwhelmed.

This is known as the Failure Frustration Cycle: “a reactionary process whereby students react to underperformance with actions that they think will solve their academic woes.” 

So, how do you stop over-working and start getting more efficient at grabbing attention, keeping it, and having your message remembered?

Use Video Templates

It’s simple, easy, and it works. Video contains all the attention grabbing elements to win: they’re interactive, unexpected, engaging, and contain animation that induces emotion. And luckily, there is a video template for every college situation.

Now, you may be asking yourself, “How can I, a college student without any graphic design or tech skills, make an original, animated or live-action video project/presentation?!”

Well, it is as simple as enrolling in classes as a “tenured” senior! All you have to do is choose a template, add your message, swap characters/objects/scenes, to your liking, and you’re done (and you’ll have a blast making them too)! So what are you waiting for?!

Below Are 14 Ways to Win in College With Powtoon (plus a bonus idea!)

1. Epic presentation

Present your report/project/assignment to fellow classmates or your Professor with a presentation that keeps their eyeballs glued to you. These “listicle” style templates are great for organizing your info±

2. Complicated topic

Explain complex scientific processes, organizational setups, and any detail-rich topic that needs SIMPLIFICATION, using whiteboard!

Explique en Español!

3. Present research results

A must-have for business and psychology majors, compare control and variable results/A-B Testing results (and include statistics!)

Try it out NOW, FREE!

4. Internship fair

Instead of talking their ears off, impress company reps by showing them who you are, (starting off with your digital skills)!

5. Interviews

Paper resumes, LinkedIn profiles and PDFs are so STATIC! Now your interviewer can see who you are through a piece of visual art!

6. Video resume

Imagine all the views your profile would get if you posted a video on LinkedIn … or sent it as a job application!

7. Niche networking events

Tens of thousands of college students are roaming around the auditorium but you need to stand out. Why not hand over a URL with that handshake?! The company rep or professor will be sure to remember you and your original video!

8. Follow-up thank you

Shake up that traditional email, and surprise your recruiter, professor, or college rep with a video message to show your gratitude!

9. Club meetings, announcements & events

Having an upcoming social for your club? Spread the word and increase attendance with a killer announcement!

 10. Organization Fairs

Get Freshmen to sign up for your awesome club by posting a video highlighting the benefits of joining Make sure to include an irresistible CTA (call-to-action).

11. Capstone projects

Capstone projects, A.K.A. a project culminating a student’s intellectual and academic experiences that summarizes what they’ve learned (via a thesis, performance, or artwork) is quickly becoming a college requirement, so do it differently with video!

12. Campus housing staff & R.A. rules

Lay down the floor rules for your new residents with an animated presentation! Send out a video reminder via email for special events and announcements!

13. Greek life & rushing

Recruit the visual way! Highlight the unique aspects of your sorority or fraternity with hand-picked images and video clips 

14. Prevent sexual harassment

Whether you run a club, a frat, a dorm… make your stance against improper sexual conduct crystal clear. Train residents and members on the the laws and ethics surrounding proper conduct.  

BONUS – trivia night!

Break into teams and compete against your friends with a trivia filled video presentation! (Fill-in-the-blank, guess the person, locate the place…)

Watch Our On-Demand Webinar!

If this blog post is information overload, fear not! Nirel and I walk you through the details in our on-demand webinar (watch it now!):

Go Forth & Win College!

We hope these sleek, funny and unique college templates will help you stand out among your peers, impress your professors and colleagues, ace those courses and ultimately help you WIN in college!

Try out a template and let us know what you think in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you!

The post 14 Ways to Win in College with Powtoon [Bonus: Student Webinar] appeared first on Powtoon Blog.

Picture this: you just finished your rockin’ research report for Intro to Neuroscience and you now need to present your findings to the class. Your peers are all planning to make a slideshow, but as a brainiac, you know the COGNITIVE benefits of video and animation. 

I can already hear you shouting back at the screen: “That report is due TOMORROW! Who has time to create a video?!” That’s where video templates come in. Using video templates to create original videos is faster and easier than you think. To prove it, I’ve gathered up the 12 best video templates to give you an edge in college this year. 

How I Get an Edge in College

As a college student, I can personally attest to the value of captivating videos. Whether presenting research in the classroom, setting the agenda at the start of a club meeting, or differentiating yourself in the job search through the use of a video resume, the applications for video are endless. And using a platform like Powtoon makes creating videos for college easy.

Don’t have time to explore all of Powtooon’s incredible video templates? I had a hunch — after all, you are an overachiever — so to save you even more time and help you crush this school year, I have boiled down the very best of Powtoon into a five-minute read. Take a look at these 12 AMAZING video templates that will help you get the very most out of your college experience.    

Without further ado… let’s dive right in!

Best Video Templates for Academics

Presenting research is a triumphant moment where you get to show off all of your hard work and educate others about your findings. But so often, students put together word-dense slideshow presentations that are dull, tedious, and simply boring. Powtoon, however, finds a happy medium between stimulating the visual and auditory senses to give your presentations the “wow” factor.

Present your research projects with the research summary template

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

After you have spent countless hours perfecting your research report, it is commonplace to be asked to present your findings. This template is a great way to demonstrate your discoveries in an informative, concise manner. 

But why stop there? Presentations don’t only take place at the end of a research project. What about the during? In fact, many professors encourage students to present their progress halfway through their report. This enables students to learn from their fellow classmates’ research techniques and allows the professor to monitor students’ progress. This template offers the opportunity to find a common ground between the present and the future, outline your project goals, and paint the bigger picture. 

Create a topic overview presentation with the timeline template

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

In classes that don’t have an individual research component, students often conduct case studies on topics that aren’t necessarily covered in class. In this sense, students have the opportunity to teach a mini-lesson to promote class learning. I have personally given tons of presentations! The Timeline template is an excellent way to put your case study into context and demonstrate your expertise.

Best Video Templates for Extracurricular Activities 

We’ve all heard it before: college is about finding (or attempting to find) a balance. But in all honesty, extracurricular activities are an incredible place to channel your passions while demonstrating leadership skills. Effective communication is vital in ensuring your campus organization’s success and these Powtoon video templates get the job done right.  

Club recruitment template

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

Imagine this: it’s the first week of freshman year and you are walking through an expo featuring endless aisles of tri-fold boards detailing why you should join that organization. Each blends into the next. You walk out with 55 paper handouts, a lot of stress, and zero idea of what clubs you want to join. Could you tell I’ve been through this before? Don’t be another tri-fold board. Make your club memorable by creating a Powtoon video describing your club’s initiatives, where/when you meet, what new members could expect and distribute it via email and social media. You could even display it at the next club expo to stand out! 

Club welcome video

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

The first club meeting of the year is arguably the most important, making it vital that you communicate what your organization is all about. Use this template to kick off the meeting by introducing officers, detailing initiatives, and perhaps most significant, making prospective members feel like you genuinely want them to join your organization. 

Club agenda template

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

You have already used Powtoon to gain a ton of awesome new club members, so now it is time to get the ball rolling. Let’s get to the good stuff: weekly meetings! Students are generally involved in several campus organizations, making their time EXTREMELY valuable. Nobody wants to sit through a meeting with no direction — it feels like a waste. Therefore, when leading a club meeting, it is imperative that you have a clear vision of what will be discussed. This animated agenda template helps guide the meeting by ensuring that everyone is on the same page from the get-go. 

In the academic realm, this template could be used to guide group project meetings. By outlining target goals, it helps keep all group members on task and better manage expectations of what will be accomplished in the given time frame.   

Club resource template

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

Pre-professional clubs are a great way to delve deep into a field of interest by staying updated on-campus recruitment events, learning valuable skills to prepare for job interviews, and connecting with individuals who hold common interests. Use this template as a learning resource to educate peers about relevant topics.

Event publicity template 

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

To state the rather obvious, an event without guests is a flop. Period. There are hundreds of student organizations on every college campus, most of which host at least one event during the academic year — that’s A LOT of events! Odds are, there are days when multiple organizations hold an event on the same day. So how do you get people to choose your event over the rest? The answer: Powtoon. Use this template to inform people about the logistical details of your event and communicate why it is worth their time to come. 

Informative template

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

Your extracurricular involvement says a lot about you as a person. How you choose to spend your time outside of the classroom demonstrates your passions and interests. To get to know you better, people may want to learn more about what organizations you participate in and what you have accomplished throughout your involvement. Why not show them a Powtoon? 

In a more formal context, this template could be used to inform potential employers about what you accomplished in the extracurricular space. Differentiate yourself by attaching your Powtoon to your LinkedIn profile. 

Candidacy introduction template 

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

I had it easy when I ran for President of my high school class. With the last name Love, the possibilities are endless (I eventually went with a Beatles themed “All You Need is Love” campaign). But for those who don’t have a slogan transferable name, videos are a great way to introduce yourself and convey your platform in a fun, creative way. Post your Powtoon on social media, send it via email, or play it at a club meeting to demonstrate why you are the right person for the job!

Hackathons 

If you haven’t participated in a hackathon yet, DO IT! It’s challenging, stressful, but more importantly, rewarding. If this is unfamiliar territory, please allow me to explain. Hackathons are gatherings where individuals interested in software development collaborate on a technology-related project in a relatively short time period to (hopefully) find a solution to the problem posed by the conference organizers. In simplest terms: find a solution to a problem through computer programming. Wow, that was a lot of information, but bear with me. At the end of every hackathon, each team needs to present their project proposal to the judges. This is where Powtoon comes in!

Hackathon template

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

This template is a meaningful way to introduce your team, illustrate your understanding of customer pain points, and introduce your solution. For more intricate presentations, your team could also demo how your project operates and discuss customer and company benefits. Use this video template to perfectly pitch your proposal and wow the judges.

Video Resumes 

Paper resumes — I’m yawning just thinking about it. It’s almost as if there is a global conspiracy to make them as boring as possible. On paper, it is quite easy to sound robotic. This unfortunate drawback plus people’s tendency to use antiquated design templates equals a recipe for disaster. But in the wise words of Dr. Seuss, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” Video resumes offer the opportunity to let your personality shine, highlight your strengths, and show your creative side. Give video resumes a try!   

Video resume template

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

Strike a balance between your professional and creative side with this video template. Discuss your skills, qualifications, and interests in a visually appealing format. Remember to keep it short and sweet; clear and concise communication will take you far in the recruitment process. 

Student Entrepreneurship 

Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Dell, Larry Page: three billionaire entrepreneurs who all brought their empires to life in a college dorm room. Nowadays, university-sponsored entrepreneurship centers, innovation grants, and seed incubators are becoming increasingly commonplace. Check out this article to see which universities are best at embracing student entrepreneurship (maybe yours made the list!). 

Here’s the bottom line: if you have a good idea, go for it! All you need is a plan of action, a lot of grit, and POWTOON to be successful in your venture.

Entrepreneurship template

CHECK OUT THIS TEMPLATE

Use this template to introduce your brilliant product or service in a memorable way. Whether presenting to a potential customer, a prospective seed investor, or a judge at a grant competition, this template is sure to seal the deal for your business.  

SO… Which Video Template Will YOU Use to Crush College This Year?

With all the potential to elevate your college life with video, there is literally almost no end to the possibilities at hand. Did one of these templates get your creativity flowing? Let me know which templates resonate with you the most in the comments below! 

Oh, and if you haven’t signed up for Powtoon yet, time’s a wastin’! Sign up today and see for yourself what makes Powtoon so AWESOME!

The post The 12 Best Video Templates to Get an Edge in College appeared first on Powtoon Blog.

A Roundup of Powtoon’s Best EDU Video Stuff of 2019… So Far!

Let’s get straight to it. Teachers have a job that’s just plain difficult. Between the state requirements that change from year to year,  the ‘standardized testing’ that’s breathing down their necks and the constant struggle to get students to pay attention — teaching can get downright frustrating. But even when teachers do succeed to push through all this mud… and pour their heart and soul into their work… they often don’t get appreciated for it! 

Dear teachers, we hear you, loud and clear. And we truly honor, respect, and LOVE you.

That’s right, our CEO loves you, our designers love you and the programmers coding away at Powtoon LOVE YOU, because teachers are HEROES. It is YOU that shape all the young, vulnerable minds into the creative, productive (and even happy) people of the future.

That’s why we did a little research into what TEACHERS WANT MOST. According to recent surveys, from school teachers spanning all ages, all levels of experience, and who teach all grades (Pre-K up through university), we found that funding, classroom management, and the changing role of technology in the classroom are your biggest hurdles.

So that’s what we tackled. 

We are so proud and excited to present this list (packed with images and examples) of the best EDU video features, characters, templates, and lesson ideas that will not only make you look like the rockstar teacher of the year, but will also keep your students edu-tained and excited about learning (without breaking the bank).

So sit back, enjoy this super valuable list of the 20 best EDU video features, and bite into that delicious red apple on your desk — you deserve it.

(And when you’re ready to get your feet wet with awesomeness, check out our super-subsidized, low-cost EDU PLANS.)

1. Moving, Flying, Bubbling Science & Communication Icons 

More choices mean more creativity, and we are so excited to present a new set of icons that reflect the latest in design trends: extraordinarily bright colors, gradients, and bizarrely beautiful elements!

Where to find them? All Looks ➤ Specials ➤ Social 

2. New Templates to Build Student Confidence

Is there anything more valuable than time? The answer is, NO WAY!

Save time, energy, and the annoyance of having to build a lesson plan from scratch by using templates!

Templates work great as student assignments because they give students a starting point to work from! Here are some newbies:

Student resume template 

As an educator, it’s important to acknowledge your students’ accomplishments. But true self esteem is attained when students can recognize their own positive attributes.

This student resume template compels students to identify those attributes and show them off!

EDIT THIS TEMPLATE NOW!

Group Project Hackathon Template

Originally designed for tech company Hackathons, this template has become a favorite in the classroom. Have each student introduce themself and explain their role in the project.

EDIT THIS TEMPLATE NOW!

3. Plantillas En Espanol — Templates in Spanish

South America, Spain, and Spanish speakers all over the world… tener celebración! Introducing Templates in Spanish:

Meet Jane — Conoce a Juana

One of our most popular templates, this story follows Jane, as she struggles with a problem (a project, assignment) and discovers a solution. Students can easily swap characters, backgrounds, colors, etc., to make it their own.

5 Tips — 5 Tips

Powtoon’s most famous “Listicle!” Use this template to share bite-sized pieces of information: List 5 science facts, summarize 5 takeaways, offer 5 solutions to a challenge… It’s all easy to absorb when it comes in a short list of 5! 

Whiteboard Explainer — Video Explicativo Pizarra Blanca

The signature hand-drawn style is perfect to introduce a topic or simplify a process via clear, step-by-step instructions.

Where to find them? Templates ➤ Work ➤ All ➤ Plantillas en Espanol 

SEE ALL POWTOON TEMPLATES

5. New Fonts in Multiple Languages

We are a bit typography obsessed at Powtoon because we know that one of the most common and QUICKEST ways to make your video or presentation unique, is by swapping fonts. Say hello to Quicksand, Kirang, and Handlee — 3 of over a dozen new international new fonts, released by our Font-Trend Experts!

6. New Smooth Flow for Classroom Accounts

The “My Classroom” page has been completely redesigned and given a fresh new look, so setting up your classroom account is as easy as 1, 2, Powtoon!

7. Glorious Modes of Transportation

It’s time to go places! Jump on board with these sleek new skateboards, scooters, light rails, helicopters, and more uber-modern transport vehicles!

Where to find them? Modern Edge Look ➤ Props tab ➤ Everyday

8. Enter and Exit Sounds

Sound effects are a secret of the industry, used for years by movie producers to add humor, emphasize a point or focus audience attention at specific points in their movie. But now your students can use them too! Add pop, drag, whoosh, and chirp sounds to the ‘Enter’ or ‘Exit’ movement of any object, character, or text, and watch as your students turn into the youngest set of producers around!

9. Powtoon Connect App — When Phones Help EDU

Don’t fight the phone, use it to your advantage! Selfies and face-to-camera videos are all the rage! And now, students can upload pictures they snapped and videos they recorded, straight from their phone via the Powtoon Connect App (available in the App Store and Google Play) and right into the Powtoon Studio! If students choose to narrate their Powtoon, they can even record voiceover from their phone! All images, videos and voiceover will be waiting… in their media folder, in the Powtoon Studio. 

10. 1-Click SWAP

In just ONE CLICK, SWAP your Scene. In ONE LITTLE CLICK, SWAP your character. It just takes ONE TINY CLICK to SWAP your background. And in JUST ONE CLICK, SWAP any prop or object.

That’s right people, if you want to switch anything for anything QUICKLY,  while keeping the same size and timing of the element, no longer do you have to delete and go search for a new one… now you can do it all in one click with 1-Click Swap.

11. Turn Your PPT Into Video in One Click 

To ensure your process from PowerPoint to video (or presentation) is super EASY & seamless, we upgraded our PowerPoint-to-Powtoon feature to support all your favorite PPT elements:

• text
• bullets
• backgrounds added to individual slides
• shapes
• images
• line charts
• bar charts
• pie charts
• transitions
• and more!

So now… turning your PowerPoint into a Powtoon is only 1-click away!

Ready to see how fast it works?

SIGN UP FOR POWTOON & IMPORT YOUR PPTs NOW!

12. Shapes & Overlays — Welcome to the World of Merged Media 

You may not have heard the term “merged media,” but you’ve definitely seen it! Merged media is simply the interface where video and design overlap and it’s found everywhere!

Watching subtitles on a foreign film, or animated characters in pictures are both examples of merged media. Use these gorgeously unique shapes and video overlays to keep up with the latest trends in presentation and video! 

Where to find them? All Looks ➤ Specials ➤ Social

13. More Diversity to Represent Every Teacher & Student

If we were all the same, the world would be snoozeville. But we’re splendidly different! Reflect this diversity in your next Powtoon with the newest characters on the block — introducing this incredible new set of diverse Omnis!

Where can I find them?

Modern Edge Look ➤ Characters Tab ➤ Omnis

14. Video Clips to Make Your Presentations Rock!

As part of our ongoing mission to provide you with the awesomest, most robust video platform, we are introducing an array of HD quality, knock your socks off, premium videos and images… over 1 million— and growing!

So whether you’re searching for a scenic beach with whispering waves, a group of students in a chemistry lab, or a suspicious chameleon, you can now find a video or picture to suit all your needs.

15. For All the Tech and Engineer Lovers: New Mechanical Devices, Gadgets, Tools & Machines

Cool new inventions and products deserve representation! Tech students and teachers everywhere are going crazy for these super modern tools and devices! Use these animated drones when discussing flight and security, add windmills to an environmental presentation and throw in measuring tape when measuring experimental results

Need more ideas? Check out 11 quick and amazing ways to use Powtoon in your classroom!

Where to find them? Modern Edge ➤ Props Tab ➤ Everyday/Tech &Web

16. New Poses to Shock the Masses 

Good video makers know that the best way to get all eyes on you is to limit text and make use of visual elements. Get ready to become an EYE MAGNET — because your Omnis can now text, applaud and cry! 

17. “Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can’t.” ― Johnny Depp

Classical music can transport listeners back in time, while electric and hip-hop get the party started. Marching band brings us into the world of sports, while space themed music adds wonder…

The right music will help your students make a show-stopping presentation (plus it’s really fun to click through all the options!) 

18. Hands — In More Shades and Sizes

The famous human hand, used as an enter/exit effect on objects or text, has just gotten a bunch of new additions. Now you can choose hands in different skin tones!

19. Health and Emergency Scenes

How do you make a technical process look inviting? Or present information regarding serious health matters? You remove your audience from the intense or stressful situation and communicate your message in a safer, less threatening way — via friendly colors and animations.

That’s why we created eight new science scenes — tech, engineering and medical — to help students send a clear message “I may be presenting something scary but It’ll be OK, in fact…it’ll be AWESOME!”

20. Fancy Characters, Objects and Elements

Whether you’re setting the scene up for an Oscar-worthy announcement, graduation ceremony or Valentine’s Day project, we have all the black-tie props to dress up your Powtoon in style. 

Where to find them? All Looks ➤ Specials ➤ Holidays

More EDU Video Awesomeness to Come…

We may have reached the end of the post, but this epic list is not finished yet. Look out for more articles, emails, messages, and posts, with updates about the newest video features, EDU characters, EDU templates, videos, Edtech tools and so much more! 

Are you as excited to create these hi-five worthy Powtoons as we are to watch them — and share them?

That’s right, if you create a Powtoon that is so outstanding you must share, or if you come across any student-created presentations or videos that are just too-cool-for-school, please send them our way!

Stay awesome!

The post 20 Best EDU Video Features, Templates, & Characters for Every Classroom Lesson appeared first on Powtoon Blog.

We’ve been plotting this all summer long! We’re so excited to finally tell you all: Powtoon is proudly partnering with Clever this year! 

For those of you who may be less familiar with Clever, it’s an incredible platform for educators to digitally transform their classrooms. That means Clever creates a synced and secure way for school districts to manage the online learning tools they love and trust. And now, Powtoon has joined the fun!   

Why Clever?

Before we get into the details of our new partnership, it’s important to talk about why we’re partnering with Clever. 

First of all, educators, administrators, professors, and students of all ages who use Powtoon are our absolute favorite people on earth. It’s from the education world that we hear about new and creative ways to use Powtoon in the classroom. And it’s also where we see student imaginations ignite with passion and awesomeness!

As you can imagine, we needed a partner who felt as passionately for real-life educators and students as we do. Clever fits that bill perfectly. In fact, 38% of their team is made up of former educators. And Clever is trusted by 90% of the top school districts in the U.S. 

But it’s not just their commitment to education that made us fall in love with Clever — it’s how they put that passion into action: with cutting edge technology that makes it easier for teachers and students to access the right tools at the right time, without all the muss and fuss of battling your budget or getting a new solution approved by your district. 

That means that by providing “the ‘Amazon Prime’ of educational web apps and services,” Clever has connected with students in districts across the country. In fact, over three million students learn with Clever every day. 

A personal connection to education, plus a fierce commitment to technology that works, divided by 3.1 million students equals an EDU partnership made in heaven. 

Now that we know why we partnered with Clever, let’s explore how this partnership works.

How It Works

Any teacher in a district that’s lucky enough to use Clever can now unlock our Classroom plan for a 21-day free trial of Powtoon bliss! The plan includes the following goodies:

• Automatically sync all students registered to a teacher’s Clever classroom into relevant Powtoon classrooms 
• Access to all Powtoon assets, including characters, photos, videos, templates, objects, music, and more!
• Easy sign in with Clever SSO for teachers and students

Why It’s Awesome

If you’re an educator and a Clever user, this is the plan you’ve been dreaming about! Give you and your students the Back to School gift of becoming professional video makers, public speakers, creative thinkers, and inspirations! Engage the three styles of learning — visual, audial, and kinesthetic — with Powtoon and Clever!   

This special partnership also connects Powtoon to the rest of the technology suite you use with your students. So combining the power of Powtoon videos and presentations with any other app in your Clever Portal is seamless.

How to Get Started

To start your Powtoon EDU trial with Clever, visit their App Gallery today! (Or, if you’re not a Clever user, check out Powtoon’s EDU plans).

We can’t wait to see what you brilliantly Clever teachers and students will create with Powtoon!

Happy Back to School, and stay awesome! 

The post Powtoon Joins Clever to Bring Video Creation to the Classroom appeared first on Powtoon Blog.

Digital citizenship is a new idea that isn’t really all that new. Human beings have been educating our children about how to be a good citizen ever since we started living in groups. The elders in the group could share their wisdom, and help the younger generation avoid the pitfalls of life.  

But how do you teach digital citizenship when technology today is new for ALL of us?! If you’re like the groundbreaking team at Lake Shore Central School District in New York State, you flip the script entirely, and have your students teach the teachers about digital citizenship in the 21st century. 

This past Spring, students from across Lake Shore Central School District, from third graders to the senior class leadership team, took a day to transform Lake Shore Middle School into a mass gathering of digital citizenship games, lessons, performances, and presentations to educate their teachers and parents.

Luckily, since winning the 2018 Powtoon My School sweepstakes, every single student in the district had access to a Powtoon account. Along with a suite of other cutting-edge Edtech upstarts, Lake Shore’s students created a day of learning that not only educated their community, but touted their own skills and capabilities. 

I sat down with Deann Poleon and Michael Drezek, Lake Shore Central School District’s lead tech integrators, to get a taste of what went into creating this special day. Beyond the awards and recognition, I wanted to understand what their students accomplished, and what it means for the future of our digital world.

Ready… Let’s GO!

A Powerful Day of Learning

Before we get the behind the scenes experience, let’s take a moment to take in the final product. Here’s the recap video the Digital Citizenship Institute created.

A powerful day of learning indeed! Because I’ve worked closely with the Lake Shore team since the fall, I know there was an entire year’s worth of preparation that went into their digital citizenship summit.

Integrating Technology & Building a Digital Future

The two hidden heroes behind Lake Shore’s technology landscape are Deann Poleon and Michael Drezek, lead technology integrators for their entire district.

They’re responsible for connecting teachers in their district with the latest technological tools. They work to ensure that the district’s computer infrastructure is running well, and that all classrooms can access the tools they provide.

I asked Deann and Michael about how teachers worked Powtoon into their curricula in the year leading up to the digital citizenship summit.

Michael said, “Deann used it in a pretty wide variety of ways in different classes for different projects, which was cool. Some teachers took to it right away. The digital citizenship summit was great because it was a showcase for those classes that used Powtoon. Because there were parents and a lot of teachers there, the kids were teaching the teachers.”

Deann mentioned that Powtoon fit perfectly in their suite of technologies, because it gives a powerful option for creating animated and live-action videos or presentations. She said, “One of our priorities is to always try to give our kids a choice. Use the tool you want to use. What are you into? If you want to create video and animation, go for Powtoon. If you want to keep things simple, or that isn’t your thing – then use this tool. It was great to have that element of choice.” 

Taking up what they wanted to accomplish, Michael added, “We really wanted to highlight the importance of digital citizenship and how it can be embedded into all subject areas. Everyone has an effective role to play; from students to educators, administrators to parents, through to our wider community members too. We know that technology plays a big part in our daily life, and we really wanted to drive home that it can be used for good in many different ways.”

In all, the different classes tackled a variety of topics, and started to prepare for the big day, which was scheduled for March 15, 2019. Here’s a break down of the major components of the day.

The Big Day: Lake Shore’s Digital Citizenship Summit

You could hear this from me, but I much prefer how Deann described the day:

It a truly awesome day! We held the summit at our Middle School. Our leadership students from the senior class produced a massive carnival, transforming the gym into a space for play and learning.

Each station included games that all taught different lessons. Asking questions like, “Digital citizenship: What is it? What is it about? What do you do in a dangerous situation?”

Kids, parents, and teachers alike went through that whole area. It wasn’t a whole lot of “don’t do this, don’t do that.” The activities focussed on things like, “this is what you can do to be a better digital citizen.” It was overwhelmingly positive, not to mention a lot of fun.

Class Projects — Digital Citizenship From The Next Digital Generation

Several classes participated in group projects that focussed on one aspect or another of digital citizenship. These projects were presented throughout the building, with kids sharing research they completed, media they created, and even raised money for their community.

Fourth Grade Powtoon PSAs

The Lake Shore fourth graders created unique Powtoon videos as PSAs to help share important ideas about digital citizenship. Below are some images from their videos. You can watch them yourself over on the Lake Shore Forth Grade Flipgrid page.

Fourth & Fifth Grade Tech Helpers

Their fifth grade got ready for the big day by preparing to be the on-site tech helpers. They worked during the day to smooth out all technical needs for each of the stations at the summit.

“I Will” Statements from the Fifth Grade… PLUS Actual Funds Raised!

Another group of fifth graders worked with GoBubble to create “I Will” statements around important causes. They crafted these “I Will” statements as a way to commit to making the world (digital & physical) a better place.

Deann mentioned to me that, not only had they turned these statements into actionable plans, but they even had some unplanned successes.

She said, “the kids were talking about recycling, helping out at local shelters, changing out disposable for reusable water bottles, and things like that. But they actually raised money that day — totally unexpectedly. We were like, ‘what the heck!’ So, money actually went back out into our community for those causes that day.”

Fifth Grade Podcasts

Mrs. Wunder’s fifth graders created original podcasts using Soundtrap. They did amazing research into popular games, apps, and famous gamers. They educated teachers and parents about what’s popular, what games people play, and who are the influencers out there leading the pack. Deann liked that it wasn’t all rainbows and YouTubers, though.

She noted, “I liked that it wasn’t sugar-coated. They were honest about what you should or shouldn’t do online, and what the real consequences can be. Their research was really well done, so Mrs. Wunder was very excited about that. The students were so proud of themselves.”

Seventh Grade Girls Uncovered the Neuroscience of Connected Devices

A group of Seventh Graders did research into the effect of electronic devices on our brain development. Recognizing that being a digital citizen means interacting with the digital world, they presented the current research on the impact our always-connected lifestyle can have on developing and adult brains.

The Junior Water Walkers

Another group of students called the Junior Water Walkers shared how to be healthy and in tune with the local environment with DIY step counter kits to encourage tech-savvy exercise and a reason to get outside!

Showcasing Digital Citizenship Success

It’s easy to get goose bumps from seeing these students take the wheel and share their passion, research, skills, and activism with their community. That is, after all, the real mark of success. But the team at Lake Shore continued to rake in the kudos in Philadelphia at the 2019 ISTE conference and with EdChangeGlobal, reviewing the amazing day Lake Shore students created together.

Why Was This Day So Powerful?

Michael and Deann have a passion for learning and technology like no one else. So I assumed that all of the cool software, creative solutions, and Edtech awesomeness would be the biggest takeaway. But, of course, that’s not what drives educators. It’s all about the kids. Here is Deann’s take:

[Holding this summit] was just really, really, really cool. We had our students there on a day they didn’t need to be there (it was our superintendent’s day). We had our teachers thoroughly engaged. It was great energy. Our administrators kept coming to me that day — one of them three or four times — just to tell me again, “this is amazing.” It was nice to get that feedback. But the real victory, I think, was with the kids.

We just recently went back to all the classes we worked with, and we talked to the kids about the summit. Their reaction was overwhelming. They had an amazing time, and they thought it was really cool to teach their teachers. They were so proud of the work they did to make the day a success.

And we were really proud of them, because they were really present at the summit. They weren’t nervous, They were just so excited to be there and to help make it a success.

It was nice for all our teachers to see what our kids are really capable of. I think that was our biggest accomplishment that day. Every teacher knows, sometimes you just get beaten down. Resources are tight, and teaching can take everything you have. It was just a dream to see our kids (especially our younger kids) in action, and how capable they really are.

How Do YOUR Students Handle Digital Citizenship?

Wow. All I can say is I am truly inspired by Deann, Michael, and all the students across the Lake Shore Central School District. Makes me want to hold my own digital citizenship summit.

So, how does your classroom handle the subject of digital citizenship? Have any big plans in the 2019-2020 school year? Wanna make some?

Be sure to let me know in the comments below! And check out Powtoon’s educational plans, with features and pricing created especially for educators and students.

Want to see other Powtoon success stories?

The post Students Shaping Their Digital World — Lake Shore’s Digital Citizenship Summit appeared first on Powtoon Blog.

In recent years, STEM has been gaining traction, not only in the classroom, but EVERYWHERE that curious, young minds dwell. Ironically though, such a popular term comes rife with misunderstanding.

If you ask any teacher or instructor what STEM means, you’ll often hear answers that reflect “the importance of science in EDU,” rather than the nature of STEM itself. Students, on the other hand, offer the literal meaning of the term (an acronym expanded), “S is for science, T is for technology, E is for engineering, and M is for math.”

Neither response was good enough for Trina.

Say Hello to Trina Coleman!

Trina is a doctor of theoretical nuclear physics, founder of Coleman Comprehensive Solutions (a partnership that maximizes educational resources), host of Beyond the Classroom (an HBCUI radio broadcast) — and implementor of the Academic Blue Blood STEM Camp. But beyond all these accomplishments, Trina stands out for her vigorous mission of teaching tech-driven, STEM topics — anywhere she can, especially in her home town of Hampton, Virginia.  

When it comes to understanding STEM, Trina noticed that kids and adults alike, refer to STEM as a general idea — when it’s so much more! On the surface it’s a representative term encompassing 4 important fields, but in reality, each one of these unique fields deserves a closer look. 

Tackling the Meaning of STEM

Trina set out to prove that once children understand the concept behind STEM, they could more easily move onto understanding individual STEM topics. But, there was still one missing piece to the puzzle.

Being involved in STEM education for the last two decades, Trina’s no stranger to the many challenges and stumbling blocks that turn kids away from STEM. She also knows the secrets that keep students engaged, or as she puts it, “learning even though they don’t realize they’re learning.”
One of those game-changing secrets is VIDEO COMMUNICATION. As an ambassador of Powtoon and expert at creating animated clips (check out this Powtoon of Trina representing STEM and the NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Landing) Trina came up with an epic idea…

Trina’s Plan

Trina set up a 5-day, after-school camp, for inner-city students that would teach STEM and STEM skills through the use of computers, animation, and the power of video. The hope was that this pilot would turn into an annual program. 

But the question lingered: How do you set up a tech camp without any funding, and within one week?

From Plan to Reality: STEM Camp at the Y.H. Thomas Community Center

Trina gathered a group of 10 third and fourth graders, from all walks of life, and tasked the students to create animated videos using Powtoon, to explain STEM.

But, how do you teach Powtoon to a person who’s never used Powtoon? According to Trina, you “master the timeline — that’s where you make it pretty,” and as we all can attest to, we love watching (and creating) pretty videos! So, after a short session on learning the in’s and out’s of Powtoon, the students dove right in!

They were so excited, choosing the words, images, footage, clips, timing, and even the background music! Every time the students chose an element for the STEM videos, they had to think about how and why that choice was a good fit for explaining STEM (even if chosen subconsciously). The process of building a video demanded a level of knowledge beyond the repetition of facts -— it demanded true understanding.  

“The person who says he knows what he thinks, but cannot express it, usually does not know what he thinks.”

— Mortimer Adler

Time to Dive Deeper….MATH (Aaaah)

Next, Trina decided to teach individual STEM subjects, and naturally, she chose the most feared, most dreaded, most nightmare-inducing school subject of all….MATH! Dr. Coleman was determined to teach the students about pi… and after having made Powtoons about STEM, the students were more confident to tackle tough topics (such as the circumference of a circle).

Assessing Results

Watching awesome student-made Powtoons is a wonderful way to assess success. But Trina is a true scientist, and as we all know, to prove a hypothesis true there must be hard data. Dr. Coleman handed out pre and post assessment surveys to the students, to determine if a change had occurred, with such questions as: 

• What does STEM mean?
• Do you think math is fun?
• How comfortable are you with building things?
• Was the math activity with circles fun? 
• Do you understand the parts of a circle and how to calculate pi?

And the answers were overwhelmingly happy and positive! These students-turned-mini-producers were excited about math (9/10 were math-happy), and had a deep understanding of STEM. All in all, you could accurately say that the outcome was statistically significant!

There you have it, if you want students to not only attain knowledge but to actually understand it, then ask them to explain it! And what better way to do it than than through video communication!

Trina is a true inspiration to educators, advocates of STEM, and anyone trying to figure out how to teach for understanding. Here at Powtoon, we cannot wait for Trina to expand her STEM projects everywhere!

Are you a STEM educator using Powtoon to shake up your lesson? Or do you know of anyone who’s using Powtoon to Awesomize STEM? If so, write to us, we’d love to hear about it!

The post How Do You Teach Students to Love STEM? Ask Them to Explain It! appeared first on Powtoon Blog.