It seems like whiteboard animation for teachers and educators should be a given at this point. After all, teachers and educators spend the majority of their time creating what are, essentially, static whiteboard animations with little to no motion. The addition of music and voiceover appears to be a logical progression. So, why isn’t whiteboard animation used more frequently in educational settings?
Whiteboard Animation Software for Educators and Teachers
In previous instalments of this blog, we discussed the common misconceptions about whiteboard videos and how to create them (expense, timing, approach, etc.) Many of these misconceptions are shared by professionals of all types, including those in education. However, there is one particular challenge that teachers face that is specific to their profession. As a matter of fact, it strikes at the very heart of why so many people enjoy teaching and choose it as a career. Examine that point of contention in greater detail here.
The thing about teaching is that it involves just as much performance as it does anything else. Despite the fact that they are always working with the same material, teachers and even stand-up comedians are not required to perform it in the same manner on a second occasion. They can adjust their delivery on a daily basis based on the feedback they receive from the audience, such as emphasising different points, changing the tempo, and further refining their delivery. Performing is unquestionably the most enjoyable aspect of the process, and the use of whiteboard animation would appear to detract from that enjoyment at first glance. The truth, however, is that this is not always the case.
Teachers are being pressed to find new ways to communicate with students now more than ever, particularly in cases where in-person instruction is no longer an option due to technological advancements. Students can review key lessons at home on their own timetables if you use whiteboard animations to deliver the information. This is especially true for students, who may not have access to the high-bandwidth internet connections that are required for streaming video content. Given that there are an estimated 25 million people in the United States who do not have access to high-speed internet, this is still a very important factor, particularly when it comes to education and employment opportunities.
To begin with, the simple act of developing an animated lesson plan in whiteboard is a fantastic way for teachers and educators to evaluate their own delivery methods. Consider it in the same way that people who videotape their golf swing in order to identify their weak points would think about it. When you have to convey a lesson in a different medium, it is an excellent opportunity to refine and raise your level of performance.
Finally, who says it has to be one or the other in order to be effective? Consider creating a whiteboard animation of your lesson with everything except the voiceover instead of drawing the same figures, symbols, and formulas over and over again. If you do this, the whiteboard animation will behave more or less like a slideshow, with you guiding students through the lesson and pausing at various points to answer questions. A whiteboard animation is guaranteed to be attention-grabbing, and it’s in a format that students who are accustomed to the quick, eye-catching content of apps such as TikTok will be familiar with as well. Furthermore, the less drawing you have to do, the less time you will have to spend on your feet working. That alone is a significant advantage that should be considered! Here are a few examples of FREE software for educators to consider.
Adobe After Effects is the best software for animation, and it is also the best software for creating whiteboard animation. It is the software that is used to create national television commercials. It is the software that our team makes use of. Adobe After Effects is the best option if you want the best. Adobe provides a free trial version of their software at this link.
Videoscribe is a whiteboard animation software that is driven by templates. If you want, you can also upload images that the programme will “draw” for you. This is the software to use if you need to create an animation in a short amount of time. Unfortunately, because this software is available to everyone, the videos you create will only be moderately impressive. In addition to Photoshop and other software, you will need to download and install the programme. Here is the link to their free trial offer.
Doodly is another template-driven software that offered a free trial period in the past.
