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Technology In Practice

Tips For Teaching w/Technology

We'll Support You In Class!

Do you want help introducing a tech tool to your students?

Aidan, Kris & myself are more than happy to help introduce tech (remote, or IRL) to your class. We can also spend time, or an entire Digital Essentials class period helping your students, or supplementing an existing project in your curriculum!

If it makes sense for one of us to come in more than other (ex: Do you want Kris' database, or Sora expertise? Aidan's website building skills?) We can come into your class even if we don't regularly teach Digital Essentials in that grade. 

Just let us know as a team in advance, & we will work out the logistics.

We are also as excited as you are to help in a more significant way with interdisciplinary projects. Let's collaborate!

Manuela Aronofsky

Loom

About Loom:

Loom is a recording tool that easily allows you to record video & audio from your device, screencasts (recordings of your computer screen), OR a combination of both (a screencast with a small portion showing your face speaking!) These videos can then be easily shared with your class with a link, or downloaded & saved to your computer as a file.  
Different video recording options on Loom include:
  • Lecture-style (Video & audio of you speaking to your camera screen)
  • Screencasts (Video & audio recordings capturing actions on your device screen)
  • Lecture + Screencast combination (A screencast video showing a portion of your face on the screen)

Technology Requirements:

Teachers can create, and share Loom videos from any device. However, it is probably easiest to record Loom videos using your Macbook.
On your Macbook, you can either create Looms through your browser (by signing into loom.com), or through the desktop app, which you can download in Self Service.
There is also a Loom app for iOS (iPads), which enables you to record screencasts of your iPad, as well as regular videos. However, I've personally found it easier to record & create these types of videos using the built-in iPad software (camera, and screen capture function).
Students can watch Loom videos from any device (iPad, or Chromebook), once the video link, or file has been shared with them.
Students on iPad can either use Loom through the app (see above), or using the Safari browser. Students can also create Loom videos from either an iPad, or a Chromebook.
Here is a link with the device & browser compatibilities for Loom listed!

Account Information:

Loom offers educators their Pro version for free. When you are signing up for Loom, make sure you are verifying your educator account (instructions below) so you get access to all of the Loom Pro features! Otherwise, you will be on the free Loom account, which has limited storage & videos. 

Creating a Loom Educator Account:

  • Navigate to: loom.com/education
  • Click "Verify Education Account" (you can do this even if you have already signed up for the free version Loom using your BC email address).

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  • Follow the instructions until you reach the last screen. Then hit "Submit" - Loom says it can take about a week to process Pro accounts for Educators.

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Signing Into Your Loom Account:

Make sure you are continuing to sign in with Google, once your Loom account has been created. You can still use the free version of Loom while your Educator account is being verified. 
To sign into Loom:

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  • Follow the steps to "Sign in with Google" and use your Berkeley Carroll email address.

Creating a Loom Video (Through Your Browser):

This tutorial shows you:
  • The different Loom video options (Screen+Camera, Screen Only, Camera Only)
  • How to adjust your video size, and position
  • How to start, pause, & complete your Loom video recording
You can watch this Tutorial as a video, or view it at your own pace as a scrollable list of steps (Select "View it - List" and scroll down on the dropdown menu for this option.)

 

1 Log into Loom by going to loom.com/login

You will be taken to the My Videos screen when you log in

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2 Click New Video to start recording your video

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3 Take note of the options that pop up! You can choose to record a screencast video (a recording of your screen) with a video of your face somewhere on the screen by clicking Screen+Cam 

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4 For the Screen+Cam option, a video of your face will appear on the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.

Make your face bigger by clicking the different-sized dots in your video screen. 

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5 If you want your small face to appear on another part the computer screen, drag it to another spot

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6 If you would just like to record your screen (with no video), click Screen Only

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7 If a still image of your face (your profile icon) appears on the Screen Only option, click Show advanced options

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8 Toggle OFF Use Photo for Screen Only

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9 To record just a video of you speaking (with no part of your screen being recorded), Click Cam Only

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10 You probably want a larger video perspective if you are just recording Cam Only

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11 Click Start recording (the red Play icon) next to your video, to start recording your video

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12 Or Click the rectangular Start Recording button on the menu to start recording!

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13 You can Click the Pause icon to pause your recording mid-video (Click it again to resume recording)

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14 When you are done recording your video, Click Finish recording - the GREEN CHECK MARK!

Do not click the Red X, or it will cancel your entire recording.

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15 As soon as you click Stop recording, you will be taken to a screen where you can share your video!

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Here's an interactive tutorial

https://www.iorad.com/player/1690048/Loom---Record-a-Loom-Video-Through-Your-Browser

Creating a Loom Video (Through The Loom Desktop App):

Loom also has an app that you can download to your Macbook through Self Service. Installing the app enables you to record Loom videos directly from your Macbook (without opening the web version). This video shows you how to:
  • Install the Loom app in Self Service
  • Enable laptop permissions (camera; microphone; screen recording)
  • Start a Loom recording from the desktop app
You can watch this Tutorial as a video, or view it at your own pace as a scrollable list of steps (Select "View it - List" and scroll down on the dropdown menu for this option.)

 

1 The first step is to install Loom from Self Service

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2 Search for Loom in Self Service, and Click Install

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3 Now go into your Applications and double-click Loom

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4 The tiny Loom icon will now open on the top of your Macbook screen. Click the Loom icon.

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5 Click Sign in with Google to sign into your Loom account.

Follow the steps to sign in with your Berkeley Carroll email address.

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6 The first time you launch Loom on your desktop, you have to Click Enable Permissions to allow your Macbook to record video & audio.

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7 It will then automatically start granting permissions, without you having to open your System Preferences. Just click Next on all of the pop-up windows. 

First enable your camera.

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8 Then enable your microphone

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9 To allow screen recording, you have to Click Open System Preferences - this will open Security & Privacy settings on your Macbook.

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10 Make sure the checkbox next to Loom is selected

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11 Close your pop-ups, and Click Next again on Loom

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12 Now Click Start Recording to make your first Loom video from your Desktop

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13 Or, go back to the video recording options at any time by Clicking the small Loom icon at the top of your screen

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14 Notice that the recording options are the same as the browser version of Loom. You can create a video that is Screen+Cam, Screen Only, or Cam Only.

The Recording steps are also the same as in the browser version of Loom.

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Here's an interactive tutorial

https://www.iorad.com/player/1690070/How-to-Use-the-Loom-Desktop-App

Sharing Your Loom Video:

Once your Loom video is saved, you can share it with your class. This video shows you how to:
  • Customize basic settings on your video
  • Share your Loom video as a link
  • Download your Loom video as a file, to save to your Macbook
You can watch this Tutorial as a video, or view it at your own pace as a scrollable list of steps (Select "View it - List" and scroll down on the dropdown menu for this option.)

 

1 Select the Loom video that you want to share

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2 Tip: You might want to adjust some Settings before you share your video! Do this by Clicking Settings under "Edit Your Video"

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3 On this screen, you can choose to turn on, or off the ability to comment, add emojis, make your video downloadable, or see "analytics" (this is how many times your video has been viewed). 

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4 Click Save when you're done customizing your Settings

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5 The easiest way to share your Loom is probably by sharing a link directly with your class. To do this, Click Copy Link.

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6 In your Assignment post, Click Add Link and paste your Loom link in!

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7 When students click on the link, they will be taken to Loom to watch the video.

Students do not need a Loom account, or to sign in to view your Loom video this way.

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8 You can also download your Loom as a video file. To do this, Click Download.

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9 You can then find your file on your Macbook (wherever you saved it), and attach it to your Classroom post

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Here's an interactive tutorial

https://www.iorad.com/player/1690064/Loom---How-to-Share-a-Loom-Video

Below are a few more "Frequently Asked Questions" that may help you use Loom in your teaching practice:

1. How do I edit my Loom videos before sharing them with my class?
2. Why is the video, audio, or screen capture not working on my Loom recording?
3. Is there a way to organize my Loom videos?
4. What is the Loom Chrome Extension?
5. How do I record a Loom uninterrupted (so that no notifications are going off in the background)?
1. How do I edit my Loom videos before sharing them with my class?
There is a basic way to trim out parts of your Loom video (you can't do anything too fancy). To cut parts out of your Loom video:
  • Click "Trim" on your video screen (under 'Edit Your Video').

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  • Click "Start Trimming" and drag the slider to cut parts out of your video. Then Click "Publish Changes" to save your changes.

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  • Click "Return to Video" to share your newly trimmed video.

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2. Why is the video, audio, or screen capture not working on my Loom recording?
If one of these things is not working, the permissions may not be enabled correctly on your Msacbook.
UPDATE 2021: It is now possible to capture "internal" audio on a Loom recording. This means it will capture audio from a screen recorded YouTube video, or Zoom call (for example). Visit this page for instructions on how to do this.
Troubleshoot this by:
  • Clicking on "System Preferences" on your Macbook.

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  • Then Click "Security & Privacy."

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  • Scroll down to "Camera" & make sure that the checkbox next to Loom is selected

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  • Make sure Loom is also selected next to "Microphone" to allow audio

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  • Make sure Loom is also selected next to "Screen Recording" to allow screencasting

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3. Is there a way to organize my Loom videos?
Yes! You can create folders for your Loom videos, and also rename your videos so you can find them more easily!
To use the Folders function:
  • Click "New Folder" from your My Videos screen

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  • Create as many folders as you need, and then drag (using your mouse) your videos into the correct folders

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To rename your videos (a great way to find your videos easily, and keep them organized!):
  • Click on the "three dots icon" on your video preview
  • Click "Rename" and rename your video

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4. What is the Loom Chrome Extension?
The Loom Chrome extension is yet another way to record the three different types of Loom videos (Screen+Camera, Screen Only, Camera Only) directly from Google Chrome.
You can download this extension here, but it is really not necessary if you are already using Loom another way (with the Desktop app, or recording from loom.com).
5. How do I record a Loom uninterrupted (so that no notifications are going off in the background)?
To enable this, you'll need to toggle on this feature within your app preferences. 
  • Open the Loom desktop app.
  • Click the ... to open your app menu and then select Preferences

  • Make sure "Enable do-not-disturb" is toggled on

  • Once you’ve finished recording, Loom will switch back to your pre-recording state so you'll have your notifications back

Here are a few ways you might use Loom...

  • Record a video lecture of you speaking - a nice option for an asynchronous lesson!
  • Record a screencast showing your students how to do something on their device, or navigate a website/digital tool
  • To narrate over a Google Slides presentation, or something else that you would like to add context to

Below are examples of Loom in practice:

Here are more resources from the Loom support pages:

​Do you have a specific Loom question that you can't find the answer to?
Email Help Desk: helpdesk@berkeleycarroll.org with "App Request" in the Subject Line.

Do you want to see how other educators are using Loom? Interested in updates, or how they're approaching Remote Learning? Browse their Twitter feed!

Below is a recording of the Loom Teaching and Learning Session. Content in the video includes: 
  • Activating your Loom Educator Account
  • Creating a Loom Video (The Basics)
  • Sharing your Loom Video with a class, and customizing sharing options

 

This box is to collect new, helpful updates that Loom is releasing. If you know about more updates, or are using new features for this tool let me know!