https://anchor.fm/hitechpod/embed/episodes/11--Multimedia-Lectures--Loom-evgrrq

This Week's App: Loom

What is Loom?

Loom is a web-based audio and video tool. It used to be that if you wanted to edit a video, you had to have iMovie or a really expensive software suite. Now, you only need Loom!

Their free education plan will allow you to create great videos with ease. What's up to you is what type of video you need and how you want to incorporate this into your classroom experience.

What can it be used for?

Of course, video became a staple of remote instruction but it has long been a part of the larger corpus of online and distanced education research.

Consider the impact video has on your students' learning: they can start and stop when they need; they can rewind; they can share clips with their peers; they can ask you questions about what you said at minute 3:43. The value of video for education is great: we can create anything from lecture videos to how-to videos to demonstrations.

With Loom you can use your webcam or record your screen. Even better, with Loom's education plan you can even equip your students to create video content. This practice is authentic to many careers today. Interns, associates, and vice presidents are all creating videos in their careers. Using Loom can help give your students a leg up in their career development, as well as produce quality evidence of their learning for your subject matter.

How do I get started?

First, get your free account! Loom for Education requires that you use an .edu email address to verify, but then will provide you free access to the platform. Getting setup is quick and easy. Once you're in, you just need to craft your video content. Follow these quick steps to prepare your video:

1. Write Your Script: this is helpful to provide as a transcript for accessibility purposes but it also makes it a lot easier to record and fix mistakes.
2. Prepare Your Workspace: if you're just recording yourself, take a moment to pick and clean up your background. Grab any realia you might want to show or demonstrate. If you're recording your screen, throw all of those extra files in a junk drawer folder so they're not visual clutter. Make sure to hide your bookmarks toolbar or your 1,000 tabs. All of these tips make your video that much cleaner and easier to follow.
3. Test Your Equipment: do a dry run. Record a 30-second clip and make sure there's nothing you're not expecting. Weird sounds, screen clipping, your webcam not working; you never know what might pop up.
4. Record! Give it a shot and record. We recommended recording your content in chunks: recording a one-hour video is both difficult to watch for students and a risk for you. What happens if your power goes out 40 minutes into your 60-minute recording? What if your mic cuts out 10 minutes in and you don't notice? Recording smaller chunks is better pedagogically and technologically.

Otherwise, enjoy! Video creation can be a lot of fun. If you're looking for a little more insight, watch **How to use Loom and record your lesson for Remote and Online Learning** which goes over some best practices.