Frontline Tech

Category: Create Multimedia Such as Video, Edit Photos, Create Presentations/Flyers

Online graphic/image, audio and video, slideshow, and visual design tools you can use to create multimedia content to use in your presentations, documents, meetings, and more.

  • Pexels

    Description

    Pexels is a stock photography site of freely-usable images. You can download images from the Pixabay website, as well as directly within Canva.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • These images are used on sector websites, flyers, event pages, as well as presentations, wherever visuals are used.
    • Pexels can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create representative visual information of diversity and Newcomers.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    The photos are free to use.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    The pictures are easy to access and download.

    Mobile friendly

    The pictures can be used in mobile settings.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Not applicable.

    Multilingual capabilities

    Not applicable.

    Additional resources

  • Prezi

    Description

    Prezi is an online presentation and video maker that offers an alternative to PowerPoint and Google Slides. Prezi has three different products: Video (incorporating photos, gifs, and presentation slides), Present (more visually interesting experiences using a unique zoom transition animation), and Design (for charts, reports, maps, infographics).

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Prezi can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create engaging visual information for Newcomers.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Prezi has a free version that allows you to store up to 5 projects. They have additional pricing levels for individuals, students & educations, and businesses.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Prezi can be used through their website or downloaded software (Mac and Windows). Prezi Video automatically creates a transcript of your video, available on the video’s view page. You can also download the subtitles from the video admin page.

    Mobile friendly

    Prezi allows you to save your project in a mobile layout for viewing on mobile devices.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Prezi complies with GDPR (The General Data Protection Regulation) requirements. You also have privacy options for your videos, presentations, and designs. You can choose either public+reusable or unlisted.

    Multilingual capabilities

    Prezi Video supports 24 different international alphabets you can use when adding text in the Prezi Video online editor.

    Additional resources

  • Powtoon

    Description

    Powtoon is an online platform for creating short video presentations. You can select from royalty-free libraries of animation, live-action video, images, designed backgrounds, soundtracks, and moving graphics, or you can use your own visual content and add audio voiceovers.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Staff can create short how-to videos.
    • Used as an engagement tool, Newcomers can create video presentations to show their understanding of a topic or concept.
    • Powtoon can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create visual information to help inform and engage with Newcomers visually.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Powtoon’s free account allows you to create videos up to 3 minutes long with Powtoon branding on the video. They offer different levels of pricing plans. They do not appear to have nonprofit pricing, but do have educational institution pricing available.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Like many tools, it takes some time to become oriented to the tool and how to use it. Powtoon has a useful knowledge base with articles and how-to information.

    Mobile friendly

    According to Powtoon, “Currently, it is not possible to edit your Powtoon on a tablet or iPad and we recommend that you use either a desktop or laptop computer.” However, the article outlines a few things that can be done using their Powtoon Connect Apple and Android mobile app.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    According to this help article, “If you have a free subscription plan, your privacy setting will be set to Public by default and cannot be changed. A public Powtoon is searchable in search engines. If you have a paid subscription plan, your privacy setting will be set to Unlisted by default. An unlisted Powtoon is not searchable in search engines.”

    Multilingual capabilities

    None found.

    Additional resources

  • Loom

    Description

    Loom is a screen recording tool where you are able to record your screen, add your video or voice, annotations, and share the video with others. Loom can be used on both Mac and Windows computers, as well as mobile devices.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • As one teacher says, “The use of video in the classroom has allowed me to create effective online teaching and social presence through the creation of a course introduction video, welcome (meet the teacher) video and weekly announcements. It’s a great way to personalize learning! To help learners with cognitive load, I use screencasts to record lessons segmented into bite sized chunks. Video can be used to answer questions, create technical how-to videos, support absent students, provide feedback and more. As a benefit to students, video screencasts allow students to watch at their own pace, learn by example, and free up class time in a flipped classroom approach.”
    • Loom can also be a great tool for Newcomers to use to show their thinking or understanding of a topic.
    • Loom can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create useful videos for a variety of situations.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Loom has a free version and a number of paid options. They offer a free version for educators that has many more features than the free option.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Loom is user friendly and intuitive and features a video series showing how to use the tool. There’s also a page showcasing possible uses for the tool. 

    Mobile friendly

    Loom has Android and iOS apps which can be used to record with your camera, or to record the screen. It is it is not possible to record screen + cam simultaneously on iOS. On Android you can record Screen + Cam or Screen Only mode, but not camera only mode.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    The Loom privacy policy outlines exactly what data is collected, how and why the data is used, and who has access to the data. The policy also outlines GDPR compliance and the Chrome Extension Agreement. 

    Multilingual capabilities

    Loom applications only support English at this time.

    Additional resources

  • Audacity

    Description

    Audacity is a free and open-source multi-track digital audio editor and recording software for Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like operating systems.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Audacity can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create audio content for and by Newcomers to use in classroom and other settings.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Audacity is free.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Audacity has a learning curve, like any audio editing tool. Those who use audio editing tools indicate that Audacity is easy to use compared to other similar tools.

    Keyboard shortcuts can be used in Audacity.

    Mobile friendly

    Audacity is a computer-based software.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Audacity collects very little user data and provides an overview of their privacy settings.

    Multilingual capabilities

    The software’s interface is in English. Of course, you can record audio in any language! 🙂

    Additional resources

  • Canva

    Description

    Canva is an online graphic/image, video, and slideshow design tool you can use to create professional-looking posters, slideshows, images, event flyers, resumes, cards, certificates, infographics, and other media.

    Current known uses in the sector

    Video overview

    Pricing

    A basic Canva account can be created by anyone for free. Canva Pro, with more options and access to functionality and resources (such as many more paid templates, images, etc.) is free for Nonprofits, with up to 10 Canva Pro users for free.

    Service Context and activities

    Canva can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools as a tool to create visuals that help in your work.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Canva takes time to learn, but once mastered is easy and fairly intuitive to use. Make use of their tutorials, Design School, Design courses and other useful resources offered by Canva itself.

    Mobile friendly

    Canva has mobile apps you can use to create and edit your designs.

    Privacy/security features (including data security and message encryption)

    Canva has security features which can be reviewed here.

    Multilingual capabilities

    The Canva interface is in English by default. However you can change that in the Language Settings. If you have any issues with text you add to your design not showing up properly, you may have to modify your account’s language setting so it supports the font you’re using.

    Additional resources