Edpuzzle is an educational platform that enables teachers to create and share annotated video lessons with their students. Teachers can use YouTube videos or upload their own, add questions, notes, and voiceovers and share with their students. Students watch the annotated videos and provide textual and audio responses.
Using Edpuzzle Gradebook, teachers can grade students answers, save their scores, and plan for future video lessons. Using the live mode, teachers can also project their video lessons live in class while students provide real-time responses which is helpful in remote learning settings.
The purpose of this review is to introduce you to Edpuzzle and explain some of the main features it offers. More specifically, the review covers the following points:
- What is Edpuzzle used for?
- Edpuzzle sign up and login
- How to create screencasts using Edpuzzle?
- How to create a class in Edpuzzle?
- How to invite students to join your class in Edpuzzle?
- How to grade Edpuzzle Answers?
- How to check students progress in Edpuzzle?
- How to search for video lessons in Edpuzzle?
- How to edit and assign video lessons on Edpuzzle?
- What is Edpuzzle Live mode?
- How much does Edpuzzle cost?
What is Edpuzzle used for?
Edpuzzle can be used for a wide variety of educational purposes. First, to enhance learning through annotated video content. Edpuzzle video lessons allow students to engage with video lessons in a deeper level thus boosting their overall understanding and engagement.
The open-ended questions will further enable students to use their creative and critical thinking skills to come up with responses to the embedded questions. Students have the option to type in or record audio answers.
Edpuzzle video lessons can be used to conduct quick formative assessments in class. For instance, teachers can record their own videos and include questions to test students comprehension.
As students provide their Edpuzzle answers, teachers will be able to see where students have learning difficulties and provide individualized feedback accordingly. Based on students responses, teachers can make informed decisions regarding future lessons.
Edpuzzle has a handy recording tool that enables teachers to easily create and share screencasts. As a teacher, you can record screencasts to use with your students in class. For instance, you can record step by step tutorials, explainer videos, and guides walking students through the processes of answering a given (math) problem, how to use an educational tool, etc.
[PlayPosit is a similar tool for creating interactive video lessons. Learn more about it in PlayPosit Teacher review]
Edpuzzle sign up and login
There are two ways to sign up in Edpuzzle: as a teacher or as a student. For teachers, you can sign up through your Google account or sign up using your own email. You also need to provide the name of your school. To fully access Edpuzzle features, make sure you verify your email by clicking on the link Edpuzzle sends you. Watch this video to learn more about Edpuzzle sign up.
How to create screencasts using Edpuzzle?
The process is simple and easy. First install Edpuzzle Chrome extension from Chrome web store. Once installed, head over to Edpuzzle home page and click on Add content located in the top right corner. Next, select ‘Record video’ and choose whether you want to record a tab, desktop or ‘camera only’ then click on ‘Start recording’.
When you are done click on Stop recording and you will be directed to a page where you can edit your screencast the way you want. You can choose a thumbnail for your video, trim or cut the parts you don’t want then click on ‘Upload video’.
Once uploaded, you can further edit your screencast in Edpuzzle editor. For instance, you can add a voiceover to replace the audio in your video. This is especially helpful when creating step by step tutorials.
How to create a class in Edpuzzle?
To create a class in Edpuzzle, login to your teacher account and click on ‘My classes’ from left hand side bar. Click on ‘Create new class’ and enter the details of your class (e.g., name, description, grade level, subject, and class type). Select Classic type. Once your class is created you can then start adding video lessons and assignments. You can also edit, lock, and archive your class.
Watch this video to learn more about how to create your class in Edpuzzle.
How to invite students to join your class in Edpuzzle?
To invite students to join your class, click on the ‘Invite students’ button from within your class, copy the generated code and share it with students via email. If students already have Edpuzzle accounts, they can simply click on your class and enter the code you shared with them. If not, they need to sign up and enter the class code when prompted to do so.
Watch this video to learn more about how to invite students to join your class
Alternatively, you can connect your LMS class to your Edpuzzle. To do so, click on ‘My classes tab’ in the left hand side and select the LMS you use with your students. As of writing these lines, Edpuzzle is integrated with Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, Moodle, Clever, Blackboard, and Powerschool.
How to grade Edpuzzle Answers?
Edpuzzle answers for multiple questions are automatically graded but open-ended questions are not. Teachers need to grade them manually. Here is how to grade open-ended questions in Edpuzzle:
- Open a class
- Select a video lesson to grade
- Click on Answers
- Read or listen to audio answers and use the checkbox on the right to mark Edpuzzle answers as right or wrong
- Click on comment to add feedback to students
- Once done you will be able to view a breakdown of students answers
How to check students progress in Edpuzzle?
Edpuzzle Analytics provides you with important insights about students performance allowing you to make informed decisions about the steps to take forward in your future video lessons. To check students progress: Open a class and click on a video lesson.
In the video assignment page you will be able to see students responses as a class or you can click on a student name to see their individual progress report (e, their grade, percentage of the video watched, number of correct answers, time spent watching the video, and date the assignment was turned in).
Watch this video to learn more about how to check students progress in Edpuzzle.
To see students grades across multiple video lessons, use the ‘Gradebook tab’. There you will have an idea about students’ total score, total time spent, start date and end date. From there you can download grades and keep them in your lMS.
How to search for video lessons in Edpuzzle
To search for ready-made videos to use in your video lessons, log in to your teacher account, click on Discover on the left hand side and type in your search query. Click on ‘Community’ tab and browse through the videos there. You can filter your search by subject, grade level, country, and source.
Click on the ‘My School’ tab to search for video lessons created by fellow teachers at your school. You can also search YouTube for video lessons to use with your students by clicking on the YouTube tab.
Edpuzzle only features a limited set of YouTube videos but you do have the option to run your query directly on YouTube and from there you can import videos to Edpuzzle editor using Edpuzzle Chrome extension or copy URLs and paste them in Edpuzzle search bar. When you find the video you are interested in click to add it to ‘My Content’ tab where you can copy, assign, or edit it the way you want.
Watch this video to learn more about how to search for video lessons in Edpuzzle.
How to edit and assign video lessons in Edpuzzle?
To edit a video you saved to your ‘My Content tab’, select a video and click to open it in Edpuzzle editor. The edits you can do include:
A- Add cuts to the start, middle, or end of a video
B- Questions: Embed questions throughout the video:
– Multiple questions: These are graded automatically.
– Open-ended questions: Students can answer them using text or audio.
C- Notes: Teachers can add written or audio notes (or both) to provide students with more information.
D – Voiceover: Record your voice to go along with the video. This works with the videos you upload or screencasts you record. Voiceover is blocked for YouTube videos. When you are done click on ‘Finish’ to save your personalized video.
Watch this video to learn more about how to edit a video with Edpuzzle.
What is Edpuzzle Live mode?
Edpuzzle live mode is a relatively new feature which allows teachers to project live video lessons in class. Students can join the live lesson from their own devices and answer questions in real-time. Questions are displayed both on the projector screen and on the students screens. Teachers can provide individualized feedback to students. They can also monitor students performance, see how many students answered the questions, and more.
Watch this video to learn more about Edpuzzle live mode.
How much does Edpuzzle cost?
Edpuzzle is free for teachers and students with the ability to store up to 20 videos per account. To increase storage capacity, you need to upgrade to a School Pro account. ‘When your school gets a Pro license, your admins gain access to curated curriculum for PD and student certifications, your school gets dedicated support, training and coaching, and all the teachers receive unlimited storage space!’
More sources:
Getting started with Edpuzzle (short YouTube video tutorials)
Edpuzzle tutorial for teachers (YouTube video by EdTech Classroom)
Assessment-centered tools: Edpuzzle (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
What is Edpuzzle live mode (post by Edpuzzle)
