Screencasts, Instragram, and Flipagram
Screencasts, Instagram, and Flipagram are three more technological tools that can be utilized in the classroom and library setting. While screencasts have been used by educators for some time, Instagram and Flipagram are typically thought of social media tools for teens and young adults. I will admit, before this blog I would have never thought to use either of these tools in my library or classroom and I'm glad to have had a change of heart.
Screencasts are a great tool for giving audio directions while your audience can see the computer screen and can see exactly what you are clicking and doing on that screen. Screencasts allow you to be "live" with the audience, as if you were giving a presentation in front of them that they were following. Screencast-o-matic is one of many screencast tools that can be used. There is a free version, which limits the amount of recording time, but even with that limit there is plenty of time to record a long enough video to keep your students' attention. As I said before, screencasts are great for giving directions for students, teachers, or parents to follow. One of the screencasts I uploaded below gives directions on how users can access Overdrive to read e-books from the district. Screencasts could be used to show parents and students how to solve a complex math problem, how to search a database, or even how to earn credit for reading a Bluebonnet book (I have a screencast of this on my library website). With screencasts, anyone can easily give directions, so this could be a great time for the student to become the teacher and show how to do something that they are good at online.
Screencast: accessing Overdive
Screencast: using Storybird to create online stories and poems
Instagram has been around for years and has been a popular social media platform for teens and young adults, but can Instagram can be used in the school setting as well? Yes! Instagram can be used in a variety of ways from showcasing student work to displaying neat activities you are doing in the classroom. Hannah Hudson, from We are Teachers, gives lots of great ideas on how to use Instragram in the classroom setting. As a librarian, some of my personal favorites included, "imagine how a historical figure would use Instagram, imagine what a favorite character would post, and share reading recommendations". Instagram could also be used as inspiration for writing with all of the beautiful, and sometimes odd, pictures posted daily. Check out my Instagram account here!
Another popular social media tool is Flipagram. While I knew lots about Instagram already, Flipagram was new to me. With Flipagram, users can make videos from pictures/videos on your device and easily add text, music, and other filters. Before I created my first video, I looked at the review of Flipagram from Common Sense Media here, which recommended this tool for grades 8-12. After creating my first video and seeing how simple it was, I think that my 4th and 5th graders could definitely do this with limited assistance. There are so many great ways to use this app in the library and classroom. I would love to have my students make a video retell of a book they liked or a book recommendation. Students could make procedural, how-to, videos using Flipagram. Mr. P, in his ICT blog, has other ideas for using Flipagram including, "making a #ReadingSelfie video, make a Flipagram to plan a story, and to record and make an assessment of children's oral reading." Check out my Flipagram account here!
Of the three tools, it is hard to pick my favorite because they are all great for the library and classroom setting and each have their own individual purpose. I have used screencasts the most, but I think Flipagram is my new favorite. I love how simple it is to use and how easily students can combine pictures, video, audio, and text to create short videos. The possibilities are endless with this app!
Screencasts are a great tool for giving audio directions while your audience can see the computer screen and can see exactly what you are clicking and doing on that screen. Screencasts allow you to be "live" with the audience, as if you were giving a presentation in front of them that they were following. Screencast-o-matic is one of many screencast tools that can be used. There is a free version, which limits the amount of recording time, but even with that limit there is plenty of time to record a long enough video to keep your students' attention. As I said before, screencasts are great for giving directions for students, teachers, or parents to follow. One of the screencasts I uploaded below gives directions on how users can access Overdrive to read e-books from the district. Screencasts could be used to show parents and students how to solve a complex math problem, how to search a database, or even how to earn credit for reading a Bluebonnet book (I have a screencast of this on my library website). With screencasts, anyone can easily give directions, so this could be a great time for the student to become the teacher and show how to do something that they are good at online.
Instagram has been around for years and has been a popular social media platform for teens and young adults, but can Instagram can be used in the school setting as well? Yes! Instagram can be used in a variety of ways from showcasing student work to displaying neat activities you are doing in the classroom. Hannah Hudson, from We are Teachers, gives lots of great ideas on how to use Instragram in the classroom setting. As a librarian, some of my personal favorites included, "imagine how a historical figure would use Instagram, imagine what a favorite character would post, and share reading recommendations". Instagram could also be used as inspiration for writing with all of the beautiful, and sometimes odd, pictures posted daily. Check out my Instagram account here!
Another popular social media tool is Flipagram. While I knew lots about Instagram already, Flipagram was new to me. With Flipagram, users can make videos from pictures/videos on your device and easily add text, music, and other filters. Before I created my first video, I looked at the review of Flipagram from Common Sense Media here, which recommended this tool for grades 8-12. After creating my first video and seeing how simple it was, I think that my 4th and 5th graders could definitely do this with limited assistance. There are so many great ways to use this app in the library and classroom. I would love to have my students make a video retell of a book they liked or a book recommendation. Students could make procedural, how-to, videos using Flipagram. Mr. P, in his ICT blog, has other ideas for using Flipagram including, "making a #ReadingSelfie video, make a Flipagram to plan a story, and to record and make an assessment of children's oral reading." Check out my Flipagram account here!
Of the three tools, it is hard to pick my favorite because they are all great for the library and classroom setting and each have their own individual purpose. I have used screencasts the most, but I think Flipagram is my new favorite. I love how simple it is to use and how easily students can combine pictures, video, audio, and text to create short videos. The possibilities are endless with this app!
Hudson, H. (2016, August 07). 10 Surprising Ways to Use
Instagram in the Classroom. Retrieved
March 4,
2018, from
ICT, M. P. (2015, March 26). Mr P's ICT blog - Tech to raise
standards! Retrieved March 15, 2018,
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Leppla, M. (2018, February 01). Flipagram. Retrieved March
15, 2018, from
Moore, A. (2012, June 07). Using Instagram in the Classroom.
Retrieved March 14, 2018, from
I love this blog! Your descriptions of each tool and creative uses to use in your library program were helpful and informative. Your screencasts were great as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the article by Hanna Hudson. She lists out so many unique ways to use Instagram in the classroom or library. I didn't realize there were so many creative ways to incorporate social media. I thought of it more as a promotional tool but it is great to reinforce content as well.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, the information that you provided was very useful! I agree, that Flipagram is pretty easy to use. I think that this app is a great tool to use with teachers and students! My 3rd graders would love to play around with this app especially because they are able to personalize their slideshow and add music to it! Loved your Flipagram! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed using Flipagram as well. Instead of sharing just one picture, you can upload multiple at a time! It also allows you to add texts and musical background. Students can definitely use this app to showcase their learning and I think that it is going to be easy for them to use.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Love the flipagram. I also think that kids much younger than 8th could use and benefit from using it. I intend to utilize Screencasts much more often, because I think it would help staff and students alike.
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