It is fun to live in a fast-paced digital world. Everything is at your fingertips, especially knowledge. You don’t have to ruffle through the library pages, but a simple Google search will help you find the information you need instantly. Like everything else, this seemingly exciting and easy-going digital world has its downsides. Educators face one such downside as they regularly fight a challenging battle to capture and retain the attention of the students.
Although traditional teaching methods are valuable, they are a struggle to compete with the constant barrage of stimulation that students encounter outside the classroom. Also, the pandemic has played a role in introducing digital learning to students, and this has made several schools around the world consider integrating online learning as a part of their curriculum.
Are you an educator trying to make your online classes more interactive and engaging for your students? You can consider integrating GIFs into your online teaching material. This guide explores how you can create GIFs and creatively apply them to your study material.
Creating GIFs:
Educators can easily utilize available online resources or create their own GIFs to meet specific learning objectives. Here’s how you can create GIFs.
On Mac computers – You can make a GIF on Mac in the following ways:
- QuickTime Player – QuickTime player is a built-in tool that offers basic screen recording functionality. Open the application > click File > New Screen Recording > choose the desired recording area > start recording. Then, you can capture the desired footage, and once you’re done, click Stop. The next step is to edit the captured footage and export the GIF using GIPHY Capture or other third-party software.
- Gifox – Gifox is one of the best apps that allows Mac users to easily turn any video into a GIF. Simply download the app > Upload a video of your choice and let the app automatically convert it into a GIF.
- GlueMotion – This app allows pictures to be converted into GIFs. Import as many pictures as you want into the application and export them as a video. Then, turn that video into a GIF.
On Windows computers – It is possible to create your own GIFs on your Windows computer, and this is how:
- Xbox Game Bar – This is a pre-installed application that allows you to screen record. Press the Windows key and G to open this app > launch the capture tool > record the desired screen area > edit the captured footage and export it to GIF using video editing tools.
- Third-party software – There are various paid and free screen recording and GIF creation tools for Windows users, such as LICEcap, Ezgif, and ScreenToGif. You can choose the tool that caters to your specific requirements and preferences.
When creating GIFs, you must remember to prioritize copyright considerations. Use royalty-free resources or ensure you have the necessary permissions.
How Do You Integrate GIFs Into Your Digital Classroom Material?
- Science experiments – GIFs can be used to showcase biological processes, chemical reactions, and physical phenomena in action. This will bring science concepts to life and make it easier for students to understand.
- Literature analysis – Through GIFs, you can depict character interactions, key scenes, and historical context. This will elevate student comprehension.
- Historical events – History lessons can be made interesting and engaging by bringing to life historical occurrences through the use of GIFs.
- Art and music appreciation – Musical performances, artistic techniques, or the evolution of art styles can be showcased through GIFs.
These are a few examples of how educators can use GIFs in their lessons. However, you are free to experiment.
What are the Benefits of Using GIFs in Education?
- GIFs are visually engaging and, hence, help in capturing the attention of the students. Also, it makes complex concepts much more accessible. Through GIFs, educators can demonstrate procedures, showcase processes, and illustrate historical events.
- They add an element of fun and humor into lessons, which fosters a relaxed and positive learning environment.
- They are capable of transcending language barriers, which makes them an invaluable tool for inclusive classrooms.
- The use of GIFs in lessons ensures the classes are interactive and the students are willingly focusing all their attention on what is being taught. GIFs can be incorporated into polls, quizzes, and other interactive activities. This encourages active participation from the students and makes learning so much more fun.
- GIFs make it easier to break down complex concepts or processes. Through visual representation, tutorials or steps are understood easily by the students.
The Bottom Line
Through the integration of GIFs into their teaching repertoire, educators are finding new ways to unlock a world of possibilities for making learning more dynamic and engaging for students. GIFs are a powerful tool that elevates the digital classroom experience. So, unleash your creativity and explore various potential ways to use GIFs.
