Blog Posts About: online learning

How to Use Common Craft Videos with Google Classroom

Common Craft videos are used by educators in a variety of situations. A popular option is sharing videos in Google Classroom. Here's how use Google Classroom to share video files downloaded from our website.

Video Walk-Through

This video is also on YouTube.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The information below is the same as in the video above. The instructions below apply to members of our "All Access" plans that allow for downloading and embedding videos. Compare plans.

 

Download the Video File

1. First, we need to download the video file to our computer. Go to the video library at CommonCraft.com and find the video you'd like to share. We'll the use "Facts and Opinions" video as an example. Click the "Download" button to get started. 

2. A screen will appear with a checkbox and another "Download" button. Click it and save the video in a memorable location on your computer or network.

 

Add the Video File to Google Classroom

3. Now we'll switch to Google Classroom, log in as a teacher, and find the "Create" button in the "Classwork" tab.

4. A menu will appear with multiple options. To share the video with class, we'll need to connect it to one of three options:

  • Assignment - This assigns the class to watch the video. When a student watches it, they can click "Mark as Done" and you will be notified. The video is no longer available once marked as done.
  • Question - Ask a question or questions about the video.
  • Material - This options adds the video to Google Classroom and makes it acccessible in the future.

 

Add the Video File as a Material

5. We'll start with the Materials option. Once you select it, a screen will appear that allows you to add a title and description.

6. To attach the video as a Material, click the "Add" button and choose the "File" option.

7. A screen will appear that allows you to add the Common Craft video file to the classroom. Browse to find the file, or drag it into the browser window.

8. The file will be automatically added to the Material. Click "Post" to add the new Material to Google Classroom.

It will appear in the "Classwork" tab as a new resource and be viewable by students.

 

Reuse the Video as an Assignment

9. Now that the video is saved in Google Classroom, we can reuse it. Let's add the video to an Assignment by clicking "Add" and the "File" option just as before.

10. When the Google Drive folder appears this time, we can go to "Recent" and find the video we uploaded previously. Click on the video to add it to the Assignment.

11. The file will automatically be attached to the Assignment without having to upload it again. Click "Assign" to share it with the class. Once a student has watched the video and clicked "Mark as Done" they will lose access to the video, unless you assign it again.

This process can be repeated for with the Questions optoin and Annoucements from the front page of the Google Classroom.

 

The Student Experience

When you add new content to Google Classroom, it appears in the "Classwork" stream in Google Classroom for students.

The student will also receive an email notification that will take them directly to the new resource.

When viewing an Assignment, the student will need to "Mark as Done" to alert you that they've completed the assignment.

If you need more help using videos with Google Classroom, check out the Google Classroom Support.

We have similar videos for sharing Common Craft videos with Google Meet and Zoom.

 

Common Craft Video Library Compare Membership Plans

How to Use Common Craft Videos with Google Meet

Common Craft videos are used by educators in a variety of situations. A popular option is sharing videos in online meetings using a service like Google Meet. Here's how use Google Meet to share videos from our website:

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

The information below is the same as in the video above.

 

1. Go to the video library CommonCraft.com and find the video you'd like to share and open it in a browser tab. Google Meet works best on the Chrome browser.

 

2. Go to Google Meet in a separate browser tab to join the meeting or start presenting.

 

3. Once you arrive in the meeting, look for the "Present Now" button on the bottom right and click it.

 

4. A menu will appear with multiple options. Select the "A Tab" option:

 

5. A new window will appear with tabs that are open in your browser. Select the tab for the video you'd like to share and be sure the "Share audio" box is checked.

 

6. When you click "Share" you will be taken to the tab you selected and the audience will see anything in the browser's tab. In this case, it's the Common Craft video. The browser will appear in a blue box and you'll see a message that you are sharing and a "stop" button.

 

6.  Common Craft members can display the video full screen and/or use a version of the video with captions in English. The audience should be able to hear the voice-over of the video as it plays. To share another video, you can navigate to it in the browser.

 

7. To stop sharing, click the blue "Stop" button on the screen and you will be automatically returned to the Google Meeting.

 

If you need more help using videos with Google Meet, check out the help articles on the Google Meet website.

Video Library Compare Membership Plans

How to Use Common Craft Videos with Zoom

Common Craft videos are used by educators in a variety of situations. A popular option is sharing videos in online meetings using a service like Zoom. Here's how use Zoom to share videos from our website:

This video is also available on YouTube.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The information below is the same as in the video above.

1. Go to the video library CommonCraft.com and find the videos you'd like to share and open them in separate browser tabs. Leave open the tab for the video you want to share.

 

2. Go back to the Zoom interface and click "Share Screen" at the bottom. A new window will appear with the windows that are open on your computer.

 

3. Select the option that contains the Common Craft video you want to share. Be sure to add check marks to the options for "Share Sound" and "Optimize for Video Clip"

 

5. Click "Share" to share the web page with your audience. When sharing begins, you'll see the indicator below on the screen. Anything you do in the browser window will be visible to the audience.

 

6.  Common Craft members can display the video full screen and/or use a version of the video with captions in English. The audience should be able to hear the voice-over of the video as it plays. To share another video, you can navigate to it in the browser, or open a new tab.

 

7. To stop sharing, click the red "Stop Sharing" button on the screen and you will be automatically returned to the Zoom meeting.

 

If you need more help using videos with Zoom, check out the help articles on the Zoom website.

Video Library Compare Membership Plans

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Every day, smart, well-meaning people write emails, have conversations or create documents that only make sense to one person: themselves. This lack of clarity causes frustration and wastes time. 

We can do better. 

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The Explainer Academy will provide self-paced, online courses that will:

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We’re working on the courses now and sharing our ideas and progress with an email newsletter. 

Or perhaps you can help us share the word?  Click the Tweet button to review before posting:

Interesting... @commoncraft is developing an Explainer Academy. I know people who need it.  http://explaineracademy.com

You can also follow the Explainer Academy here: