App+2+Explain+Everything

What is Explain Everything and what can it do for me?
It's a screencasting and interactive whiteboard app rolled into one. This app lets you, well, explain everything.... through images, video, voice over, screen captures and hand drawings. What does this mean? Screencasting tools let you record everything that's happening on your computer screen. Interactive whiteboard tools allow you to draw on the screen, or import images and videos onto the screen to draw on, and then share with others. It's not actually free after the 30 day trial, but the charge is small and the tool well worth it.

Maybe you have a difficult concept that you need to explain, or want to give detailed feedback on an assignment submission to a student. Use the app to record your presentation with everything that happens on the screen, including you annotations and voice. You can create your own drawings or import images and videos. Then export it and share with others.

Take at look at these examples Guide to creating origami Guidance on interpreting information on Wikipedia about impossible colour

To get a sense of what it can do, watch this 2min 30sec video.

To see how you can insert your Explain Everything project into the iQualify learning platform, watch this 1min 34sec video.

Can a screencasting and whiteboard app such as Explain Everything replace or transform the learner experience?
Replacement You could use Explain Everything to create a more advanced 'how to' guide, for example how to use the social notes in iQualify, or how to interpret a sales and purchase agreement. Making use of the interactive whiteboard and screencasting tools makes this very effective, however it is a replacement for the PDF guide that you used before.

Transformation Providing feedback will help drive improvement in student attainment. You can import the student's assignment (PDF, Word, etc) into Explain Everything and work your way through it using annotations, explanatory drawings and audio commentary. This transforms the feedback giving process. Take a look at this example. media type="custom" key="28130557"

Now challenge yourself

 * 1) Download the Explain Everything app from either iTunes or Google Play. There are also Windows and iOS versions; check their website for details.
 * 2) Write your name and what you plan to use this app for in your course. Include a photo or video of the view from your desk, or something more interesting.
 * 3) Grab the link and post it to this blog to share with others.