1. Perfect Layout Design
This past year, I’ve been presenting on basic design skills teachers can use when creating documents and activities at state and national conferences. I knew at some point I would want to add on to this training and take things to the next level and I am getting ready to start that process. I always start with some research and I found this great video explaining layout and negative space (also referred to as white space).
While this caters to print publications, you can re-think a lot of this for how it works with designing documents that you want students to interact with.
2. Design with Canva
Canva has grown so quickly and there so many creators, entreprenuers, and educators out there that have tips and tricks to share about this versatile tool. As Canva has grown, they have created a unique position called Canva Experts to share their expertise and unique ideas.
One such group is called Design with Canva by Ronny & Diana. They publish 2 amazing videos every week on YouTube. Here’s a look at one of their recent videos:
I have learned so much from watching these videos and have used them with our journalism and marketing classes for project ideas, ways to teach students new skills, or use as a resource.
3. Canva for Education Webinar Series
I’m full on the Canva love today! I didn’t know they were doing webinars until I happened upon this Twitter post. Definitely some good topics that I am going to have to put on my calendar!
4. How to Use Screencast GIFs
I got really excited when I found this Shake Up Learning post on how to create GIFs. They are something new I’ve recently tried and I really like how this strategy works.
I first saw GIFs being used as an instructional strategy by Jake Miller. On Twitter, he will share something similar to the below tweet sharing tips or the steps on how to do something. He uses a combination of recording the screen along with text boxes and arrows to give the information needed and direct where or what you need to click on. They are so helpful and I have several of them bookmarked.
After a while, I got intrigued by how he was doing this and started trying a few of my own screencast GIFs in WeVideo. I used this technique when I presented on both my WeVideo Tips and Tricks and Design: The Magic Sauce presentations. Both of these presentations are designed to be used as a resource, so I created GIFs of concepts I share during the presentations so participants can go back and re-watch/re-learn as needed.
5. Remix Infographics in Adobe Creative Cloud Express
While I do love Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud Express has many wonderful tools too! Claudio Zavala Jr. is the facilitator of a new online class, a 30-minute “Lightning Learning course”, where you will learn how to use this tool to remix infographics.
I have taken several of the online classes from the Adobe Education Exchange and in my opinion this is really where Adobe shines. Their classes are rich in pedagogy, creativity, and give educators an opportunity to learn and play with all of Adobe’s tools.
What’s your favorite weekly find this week? Do you have a find to share and think it should be featured? Leave a comment below!
You can see all Weekly Finds in this Wakelet collection.
Ms Priester EDU 