Tool A Day #1: Snagit Chrome extension and app

This morning I was looking through some posts from ISTE2014 and I came across many references to using Snagit. This is a screen capture tool I hadn't yet discovered that can work directly from the Chrome browser to save huge amounts of time. This immediately caught my attention as I am looking fora way to quickly capture images using an Apple Mac. (On my Windows machine I use Snipping Tool).

What can Snagit do?

Snagit offers some fantastic possibilities:

1. Create a quick screencast to create an image or demonstrate an idea

2. Crop the image immediately

3. Create a video screencast
4. Save your screencast video as an animated GIF, (a format that is perfect for publishing quick & short demos.) Note: the duration of your recorded video should be 20 seconds or less. The GIF is sent to your Google Drive for quick sharing or you can download it locally as well.

How to get Snagit's extension and app

1. Open the Chrome browser and click on the Chrome Store application.

2. Ask for the extension Snagit and select  'Add to Chrome'.

  3. To get the app go to the Chrome Store again and ask for the Snagit app and select 'Add to Chrome'.

Classroom Use

I love to show my students new and useful Chrome extensions and apps that they can add to their browser. This is a superb way for students to capture images for a project or assignment.

Further Reading

• Snagit for Google Chrome: Extension workflow update, animated GIF productio
• Create GIF Screencasts with SnagIt for Chrome
• Use SnagIt + Screencast.com As A Free Temporary Image Host
• Snagit for Chrome Update – Screencasting Comes Out of Beta, Gets Facelift
• Tutorials

A wonderful image on using Thinglink to summarise information

Thinglink is one of my favourite applications, and Digital Storytelling is one of my passions! This image has been created by Tonia

 

Yay, I completed the Adobe Youth Voices online course!

Recently I have been one of 12 teachers in South Africa participating in the Adobe Youth Voices programme where youth are encouraged to make video media that gives a voice to an issue. The idea is that the teachers do the very comprehensive, well-designed course and then teach their students what they have learned. The 12 of usfrom South Africa joined a group from around the world in this online course and viewed each other’s’ progress along the way. During the course we learned how to use Adobe Premier for video editing and Adobe Photoshop Essentials for editing still photos. This was really a superb though demanding  course (especially when time is at a premium) and I was thrilled when I received my Certificate of Participation for completing the course!

Unfortunately my Grade 7, 8 and 9s didn’t get their media completed in time to enter the Adobe competition. Howver the winners have been announced and can be viewed on this post Celebrating the Adobe Youth Voices Awards Winners