30 Tools in 30 Days: Day 20 Adobe Spark Video

Day 20: Adobe Spark Video

A few weeks back I wrote a post singing the praises of Adobe Spark Post (read it here). Today’s tool is Post’s big sister – Adobe Spark Video.

Adobe Spark Video is my go-to tool for creating amazing videos quickly. What I love about this tool is that the technology does not get in the way of the creation process. Many of the video tools out there can be intimidating to new users. The complexity of working with multiple tracks and advanced editing tools may be a barrier to those who are new to video creation and editing. Adobe Spark Video, on the other hand, makes video creation incredibly easy and accessible to even our youngest learners.

You start with your title, then select the template that best fits the story you want to tell. Are you telling a Hero’s Journey or are you teaching a new concept? There is a template that fits your needs. Each template provides guidance on the different elements for each type of story. You could use these templates to create storyboards for your students to help them plan their story. A good video starts with good planning!

The creation screen looks more like you are creating a slideshow instead of a video. For some, that should make video creation more approachable. Each slide (or story element) can be customized with text, icons, photos, video, music, and narration. You control the content and the layout. Choose a theme to set the overall look and feel of your video. To add content, you can use your own media or search for openly licensed media through Adobe Spark. To add narration, you simply press the microphone button on each slide and talk. The narration will be added to that element. To me, this is reminiscent of  Microsoft PhotoStory.

For those of you who are control freaks, not judging, just saying, you might be a bit frustrated by the limited amount of customization. There is limited control over font style and element layout. You can select from the menu of choices but there is not a whole lot of customization past that. For advanced users that may be a negative. However, for those new to moviemaking, I feel the limited choices are a plus. Often I have seen the creation process stall because there are too many options.

Adobe Spark Video is free but you need an Adobe ID or you can use your Facebook or Google login. As I mentioned in the Spark Post post, Adobe has created an excellent guide to answer your questions about using Adobe Spark tools with students. You can find the guide here. Videos are saved in the Adobe cloud but can also be downloaded and saved locally.

Here is a list of ways you could use Adobe Spark Video in the classroom.

• Fact-based fiction: Students create a video based on their own creative story, However, facts and research are used to create believable settings and characters.
• Historical figure “autobiography”: Pick a historical icon and tell their story.
• Personal reflection: Students tell their own stories with their own voice and visuals.
• Teaching video: Students create an instructional video using step by step verbal instructions in conjuntion with good process images.
• Wordless stories: (My favorite) Students create a visual story with no words or narration. Only images and music.
• Student News: Use Spark Video to create a weekly news program
• Product Commerical: Sell an existing product or one dreamed up by your students.

There are many more ideas you could add to this list.

In short, this is an awesome video creation tool. It works on your desktop or on an iOS device. Still hoping for an Android version soon. I am in love with this tool. Its simplicity is its strength.

Are you using Adobe Spark Video in your classroom? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!