Tools for Presentational Communication
Digital Storytelling & Flipped Learning
Google Slides or PowerPoint presentations can be recorded and narrated to provide a “flipped” learning module (or instructional video) that students will watch as part of a pre-class or asynchronous class assignment. Digital storytelling is not limited to orally narrated slideshow-style presentations. The “story” may also be told in the format of a movie or animation, or in a written form such as a storybook, a info graphic poster, or a comic strip.
Narrated Slides
Kaltura Capture
Supported by Geddes and BU IS&T
Kaltura Capture is a feature of Kaltura MyMedia, where instructors and students may record their screen and optionally also record video or audio narration. By making use of these screen recording features, students and instructors may record their slideshows.
Resources:
- Web Guide: How to Use Kaltura to Capture and Post Video to Blackboard (BU CFA)
- Video: How to use Kaltura Capture (04:27) (Bob Heim, DL&I)
- Video: Instructional Videos and Quizzes (Kaltura Capture, Kaltura Quizzes, and PowerPoint) (55:56) (Shawn Provencal, Geddes Language Center)
PowerPoint Recording (Windows Only)
Supported by Geddes, CASIT and BU IS&T
PowerPoint 365 for Windows has a built in recorder to create narrated slides and save them as a media file. See the video below on how to use this feature.
Resources:
- Video: Screencasting using PowerPoint 365 (04:57) (Shawn Provencal, Geddes Language Center)
Quicktime Player (Mac OS Only)
Supported by Geddes, CASIT and BU IS&T
Quicktime Player has a screen recording option that allows for voice only narration.
Resources:
- Web Guide: Record Your Screen in Quicktime
- Video: Screencasting with Quicktime (02:30) (Shawn Provencal, Geddes Language Center)
Adobe Creative Cloud Express (Adobe Spark)
Supported by Geddes, CASIT and BU IS&T
Adobe Spark is a cloud based mobile or web app for creating short audiovisual stories. Using a provided template, images, videos (up to 30 seconds) and text can be dropped into a timeline and then optionally narrated.
Resources:
- Web Link: How to use Adobe Creative Cloud Express (DL&I Website)
- Video: Digital Storytelling with Adobe Spark (05:42) (Shawn Provencal, Geddes Language Center)
Adobe Creative Cloud
Supported by Geddes, CASIT and BU IS&T
The Adobe Creative Suite is available for free to students and most faculty. The Adobe Creative Cloud includes Adobe Spark, Adobe Rush, Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and many more apps. Boston University’s department of Digital Learning and Innovation has series of video guides on how to use the suite, listed below. To obtain a license visit the TechWeb website.
Resources:
- Web Guide: Tutorial – Adobe for Adobe Premier Rush (Adobe)
- Web Guide: Tutorial – Adobe for Adobe Premier Pro (Adobe)
- Video: DL&I Adobe Video Guides
- Video: How to Create a Digital Story in Adobe Premiere (14:55) (David Charpentier, DL&I)
ePortfolios:
WordPress
Supported by Geddes and BU IS&T
WordPress is a content management system used to create and display web content. Sites may be created both by instructors who wish to create resources for their courses, or by students who wish to create an online presence/portfolio. WordPress is free to the BU community.
Resources:
- Web Link: Request a site
- Web Link: WordPress How-to’s (IS&T)
- Web Link: Attend a Training Session (IS&T)
Digication
Supported by Geddes and BU IS&T
Digication is BU’s preferred platform for students to publish a professional portfolio online using multimedia tools.
Resources:
- Web Link: BU Digication Site
- Video: Making Students’ Learning Visible with ePortfolios (36:25) (Maria Afzal, DL&I)
Promoting Classroom Interaction
Live Response
Padlet
Supported by Geddes and BU IS&T
Padlet is a bulletin board web app where students and instructors can post text, images, and videos for everyone to see and comment. Contact CAS Information Technology (cashelp@bu.edu) for a instructor license within CAS.
Resources:
- Web Link: Padlet Website
- Video: Introduction to Padlet (Padlet, Youtube)
- Video: The Basics (Padlet, Youtube)