Lemon Tech Tidbits

KAPWING: A web-based video editing suite. One of my favorite video creation sites I have enjoyed is WeVideo . This is especially true since we recently started to use Chromebooks and I needed an alternative to iMovie. However, WeVideo can be pricey if you want all of the bells and whistles that make it such a great application. At the KASL workshop in Topeka a few Saturday’s ago, Martha Holmes shared an article about Kapwing from School Library Journal written by Joyce Valenza. So I decided to give it a try. Kapwing lets you do many things beyond a simple video. You can create meme’s, gifs, loop video and even create a stop-motion animation. In addition, you can add subtitles to video, make a montage or collage, and resize or trim videos. To create something, it usually only takes a few steps using images and video already on your computer. It is so easy! Kapwing is free to use, requires no sign in, and can be used on multiple devices such as iPads, Chromebooks, MacBooks and more

GREENSCREENS: How to use Green Screens in your videos. Below are a few hints on using Green Screens in your classroom: Go to Dollar Tree or Dollar General and purchase some green table covers for @ $1.00 each to use as an easy and inexpensive screen.  Make sure there are no wrinkles or shadows on the green screen as it makes things better when editing. Green screens do not always have to be against a wall, lay them down on the floor. Have students lay on top and record from a birds-eye view. Create a Green Screen Movie Maker: Have kids use a pizza box covered in green paper. Have them wear green gloves and green colored popsicle sticks to “move” objects around.  If you don’t have any green around, use blue! It works just as well. Green Screen apps: WeVideo for Chromebooks and DoInk and iMovie for iPads. 5 Quick Projects That Makes Use of a Green Screen .

INSERT LEARNING: Insert Instructional Content On Any Page InsertLearning was developed by two teachers as a way to create richer learning experiences for their students. It is a Chrome Extension that allows you to turn an average website into an interactive lesson. With this extension, you can easily highlight sections of text, add questions, insert sticky notes with links and videos, and create a discussion. Once you have added in these touches, you can easily assign the site that is now a lesson to your students as it is integrated with Google Classroom. You can even share the lesson with other teachers. This is an extension with a free and paid version. The free version allows you to create and share only five lessons. The teacher edition is $40.00 a year and lets you create an unlimited number of lessons. There is also a school-wide or district license. Watch this short video to learn more: https://goo.gl/gr5qQF

ClassroomScreen Many of us have a projector and screen in our classroom that we use every single day. In fact, it is hard to imagine teaching without one. We do many things with our projectors including displaying the day's announcements, opening bell work, and so much more. Now imagine if there was an easy to use website that was custom made just for classroom use. Well, that is where ClassroomScreen comes in. To get started, you simply need to go to ClassroomScreen and click on the widgets located at the bottom. All widgets were designed for a classroom setting on a beautiful background of your choice. There is not an ability to save what is projected from day to day but it has been designed that it shouldn’t take more than 30 seconds to get started. Watch this short video to learn more: https://goo.gl/GHbXLq