Editing videos with EDpuzzle!

John Deway once quoted ‘If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterdays, we rob them of tomorrow’. This is why I think it is substantial to be aware of new teaching’s methods. This week, I want to talk about an online tool which is by far one of the most useful teaching application. It is called EDpuzzle.

What is it ?

Larry Ferlazzo describes EDpuzzle as an innovative online tool which allows its users to take just about any video off the web, edit it down to the portions you want, add audio notes and questions for students, and create virtual classrooms where you can monitor individual student work. Moreover, it is free. With EDpuzzle, you can take video from Youtube, Khan Academy, Learn Zillion, National Geographic, TED Ed, Veritasium, Numberphile, Crash Course, Club Academia, Vimeo and TeacherTube, then, instead of taking the whole video, you can simply take parts from it, create a video with as many parts that you want. Then, you can add your voice, keep the original audio track, insert audio notes and even insert quizzes.

How does it work ?


First, you have to sign as a teacher or as a student. Then, on the website, you can search for any videos that you want and it will suggest you different browsers or you can simply click on youtube or another one and write the title of the video you’re looking for. For instance, if you’re looking for a video explaining a specific English rule, you can type something like the difference between this and that. When you have chosen the video, you can simply crop the video and take the part that you need. For example, if you only need the first two minutes of the video, you can cut it after two minutes. Then, if you want to add your voice, you can click on the microphone directly on the website. If you want to record yourself, the original audio track will be removed. Also, you have to record during the whole video. Otherwise, the recording won’t work. The next step is to add audio notes. For example, instead of recording your voice during the whole video, you can insert short audio notes at any moments during the video. The next step consists of inserting questions at specific moments in the video. You simply have to click on the question mark and choose where do you put the questions. Then, you have to type the questions. When you’re done with the video, you can upload it in your private session and even share it with the community on EDpuzzle. On that website, teachers can create classes and invite their students to join the class by giving them the number of the class which is given by the website at the beginning. You can assign your videos to your classes ask your students to watch it and to answer the questions. You can even put a due date for watching the videos.

How would I use EDpuzzle in a ESL classroom ?

First, as mentioned by EdTechReview, I would assign to students some videos in the target language. Then, they will be able to wach them until they get comfortable with the language. When you’re teaching verb tenses, it would be very useful to use a video made by a professional explaining the particular verb tense. Then, you could also insert questions during the video to have your students practice. I would also use it to track my students’ progress. Suggested by Duqetech, I would see which students watched the videos and I would also track if their understanding. Another way to use EDpuzzle in the classroom is to share your videos with other teachers. On the website, you can privately share your videos with teachers. This way, you can get new ideas.

The benefits of using EDpuzzle in the classroom :


First, it is free which is a great advantage. Second, it allows teachers to track their students’ progress. EdTechReview reported that using Edpuzzle in the classroom boosts classroom engagement. Adam Watson supports that Edpuzzle enables students to actively use critical and high-order thinking skills. Another nice benefit of EDpuzzle is that it allows its users to quickly create videos.

The Verdict :

EDpuzzle is a great application for teaching. I think that most of the teachers should use it in their classrooms.


Pray for Socrative! No need to pay!


What is it ?



Multiple choice :


True or False :



Short answer :


Quiz :



How it works :


How can an ESL teacher use Socrative in the classroom ?


The benefits of using Socrative :



My opinion


Studying has never been that fun!


What is it?


How does it work?


The advantages of using StudyBlue



Videos in classroom with Animoto! :)

Technologies in teaching are sometimes useful to entertain students and to keep their attention. This week I will discuss about the advantages of using Animoto, an application that I did not know but recently discovered. If you want your students to learn while having fun, keep on reading you will be satisfy.

What is it?

Animoto is an amazing video creation application founded in 2006 by Jason Hsiao. This application has over 10 million users and it allows them to create HD videos easily from photos, video clips and music. Animoto can be used to create any type of videos such as business presentations, family presentations, special events and in education. The videos made with Animoto can be shared with family, colleagues, friends, etc.

How does it work?

First, you need to go on Animoto’s website and then you sign up. There are three different packages that you can purchase. There is a personal package for 9.99 $/month, a professional package for 19.99$/month and a business package for 29.99$/month. The differences between the three packages are the number of video styles that are available, the number of music tracks and more options such as the number of users and the creation of logos. However, if you want to try the application before purchasing a package, there is a 14-day free trial. Teachers can send an email to Then, after signing up, you must choose a video style that will determine the look and atmosphere of your videos. After that, the application will direct you to the video creator. The web site will propose you to watch a tutorial, even if it is simple and easy, I recommend you to watch it because it gives useful tips. Then, you can add any pictures, videos or texts you want and select the order of your sequences. After that, you may choose a soundtrack for your video. At any time during the movie making, you can click on preview and watch what you’ve done so far!

How can an ESL teacher use Animoto?

There are many ways to use Animoto in education. First, as mentioned by Nick Merlino, this application is useful for creating welcome messages that will entertain students and attract their attention. Second, teachers can use it to explain a subject about the class. For instance, an ESL teacher could create a short video with images and add a voice in order to evaluate his students’ listening skills. An ESL teacher could also use Animoto to explain a specific chapter in an English novel or even to describe a specific place around the world. According to the website Teaching History, Animoto can be used by teacher as “a way to bridge curriculum and student engagement or develop digital storytelling projects”. Also, this tool can be used as visual aids. For example, an ESL teacher could create a video with functional language on it to help his/her students to perform an activity.

How students can use Animoto?

Students can use Animoto for many purposes in class. Kathy Wickline mentioned that students could use Animoto at the beginning of the school year in order to introduce themselves to the class. By using this app, they could put pictures of themselves, their interests and their families. Also, it is useful when they are creating a project. For instance, they can use it to present research information or to present a poem that they wrote. According to Pelin Irgin and Yildiz Turgut, Animoto is designed with a constructivist approach encouraging students to navigate, create, and construct their knowledge.

The benefits of using Animoto

One of the most important advantages of using Animoto is cited in an article on Teachinghistory.org: “Students will find the ability to express themselves through new media tools an attractive aspect of Animoto ». In other words, by using Animoto, students will have the opportunity to be more creative. Also, another advantage of Animoto is that the videos and productions can be shared via email or by embedding them into blogs or web sites. Moreover, an article on Learnitin5 adds that Animoto’s user scan upload videos and pictures from other web-based libraries such as Flickr and Picasa. In addition, the quality of visuals on Animoto is insane. Pictures and videos are in HD. Another substantial benefit of using Animoto is that it has a wide variety of styles, videos, pictures and music tracks.

To conclude, I honestly think that Animoto is “The” slideshow application that teachers should use.

Content management system into teaching practices? Of course!


What is it ?



How an ESL teacher can use a portal for teaching practices :



The advantages of using a content management system into teaching practices :
