TeachthruTech

A good friend, @RafranzDavis, led me to a new free app this past week called 30 Hands.  The app allows you to import images and/or draw within the app, either on a blank page or an image you import.  You can then record audio over each image you have selected.  It puts them all together to create one video presentation.  I can always trust that what Rafranz is dishing is something I want a piece of!  I gave it a try and was immediately impressed.  It is very easy to use.  I can see students of any age using this app for a quick presentation idea.  There is little to learn…just start playing.  

Another major plus for the app is that it gives you control of the end product.  You can post it to their site or save it to your camera roll.  This gives you freedom to do with it what you choose.

Start your presentation by naming it.  Then start adding slides.

You can take pictures right within the app or access your camera roll to select the images you wish to add to your presentation.  You can select multiple images at one time.

Your next step is to start working with your slides.  By pressing and holding a slide you will cause them all to shake.  Like arranging apps on your device, you are able to drag slides to rearrange them to the order that makes most sense to you.  You will also see an “X” in the upper-left of each slide which allows you to delete the slide if it is no longer needed.  Click Done when you have it ordered correctly.  

By choosing to Record from this view, the app will automatically go to the first slide and allow you to start recording your audio.

To work with any slide, click on it.  From this view you can record your audio (bottom-middle), draw on the page (bottom-left), or choose the action button at the top-right for even more options.  If you choose to record, you can stop your recording by either pressing the record button again or swiping the screen to move to the next slide.

If you choose to draw on a slide you will see your options at the top of the screen.  You can choose from a brush or a pen, select your color, and choose your line width.  If you don’t like what you’ve done you can undo your last lines.  Save your work when you have completed your edits.

When you feel you are completely done, return to the overview screen.  You can play the entire presentation to preview and decide if any adjustments need to be made.  The action button on this page gives you the option to Add Slides, Change the Title, or Publish your Video.  When you choose to publish you can either save it to the 30 Hands site or save to your camera roll.

Here is a finished product that took me about 3 minutes to make.  Quick and easy…perfect for a simple classroom project!