Engaging content - animation

Animation is moving images that contain graphic elements but not live action – these may be animated models, diagrams or characters.

For research insights into the effectiveness of animations for learning, and tips for creating animations that work well for learners, we recommend the short article Create animations that are good for learning by Connie Malamed. 


Good practice guides and tip sheets

Good practice guides and tip sheets have been developed to support quality in both curriculum design and teaching practice. Good practice guides provide a pedagogical overview and tip sheets provide you with practical strategies and ideas for implementation. Links to engaging content-related resources are provided below. 

Design principles for creating engaging digital contentSourcing and creating digital content



Camtasia iconCamtasia

Camtasia is video recording and editing software that features simple drag and drop editing and libraries of effects and interactions. With Camtasia, you can record, then edit your computer screen activity, audio and webcam input. If you capture video footage on mobile devices or digital recorders, you can import and edit it. Camtasia is available to all staff and can be downloaded via the IDS Support Portal. Home-use licences are available (request via Service One). Camtasia is available for both Mac and Windows.

  • Training is available for making educational videos in Camtasia. Refer to iEnrol for scheduled and upcoming sessions
  • The first time you start Camtasia, the program will open a tutorial video. You can find this video again later under Help > Open Getting Started Project within Camtasia. This built-in video provides basic instructions on how to use Camtasia 

Good for

  • Creating basic movements and transitions with graphics you have created or sourced elsewhere
  • Creating animations that include sound elements or narration

Useful features

  • Able to have items move or transform with time
  • Able to add some animated effects to video (eg zooming in). Click and drag animated effects onto timeline from library
  • Able to add animated annotations over video

Limitations

  • Basic movements of objects only
  • Limited library of shapes for animation (generally you need to create or source graphic elements outside of Camtasia)
  • Cannot create character animations

Cautions

  • Can be time consuming

Tips

  • Keep animations and effects minimal and limit to where they add value to your video
  • Camtasia project files can be large. While working on your project save your files to the hard drive of your computer. Working with your project files on network storage will slow editing down and can also cause crashes. Once complete, store the files on OneDrive or S: drive (your U: drive generally won't have enough space for these large files)

Help resources





Microsoft Powerpoint icon

PowerPoint


Good for

  • Building relatively simple animations using the graphic elements already available within PowerPoint, or graphics sourced elsewhere
  • Most suitable for animations that feature basic movements / reveals of the graphic content (ie to represent processes, systems, interactions, relational concepts)

Useful features

  • Familiar environment
  • Extensive drawing tools, shapes, icons, smart art libraries, grids, guides, grouping, alignment and layering options make diagram creation easy
  • Built-in animation effects and animation properties which provide control of timing and sequencing

Limitations

  • Animation of objects is fairly limited
  • Cannot animate characters

Cautions

  • User triggered / interactive animations will only be available when viewing in Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow. Must be provided as .pptx or .ppsx files. Users must download and open
  • Mobile devices require Microsoft PowerPoint app
  • Printing of a PowerPoint slide that contains animations would only show starting point of objects

Tips

  • Use motion path animation type to move items around the slide
  • Use a Morph transition to smoothly change an object from a starting state (size, colour position) (first slide) to a final state (second slide)
  • Export presentation as a video to record animation (playthrough, but not interactive). Upload to Kaltura
  • Keep animation and transition effects simple and only use when adding value

Help resources





FLO tools: FLO Lesson iconLesson FLO quiz iconQuiz FLO Active Quiz iconActive QuizFLO Choice iconChoice  Feedback FLO Book iconBook FLO PAge iconPage FLO Glossary iconGlossary


FLO tools cannot create animations but can be used to deliver/publish animations to students.

Useful features

  • Animations created in other tools can be embedded within FLO tools wherever the editor is available

Cautions

  • Content hosted on non-Flinders servers should not be relied on as critical content

Help resources





Digital Content Producer

Digital Content Producer

The Digital Content Producer is a highly talented member of the Online Learning Team (OLT) in the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT), who has an extensive skillset with multimedia and digital content, and can work with you on the development of complex digital learning resources.

If your needs are not met by the existing tools or the resource you are looking to create is complex in some way, please speak with the Learning Designer in your college about your needs as there is some capacity for digital content production for learning and teaching.

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