End of the Year Easy Memory Slideshows with Animoto, Gmail, and QR Codes

Yes, you know me, or if you don't, I will always find a way to insert QR codes into a school project. This year, I have been taking pictures of my students with my iPhone and creating Animoto slide shows that are SO easy (the only catch - if you want more than 12 photos, you have to pay $4.95 a month). I actually didn't pay the premium fee until April and May, so if you want, just wait unil the end of the year and pay for one month's fee. You have to manually renew your membership, so no worries about forgetting to cancel. However, it's super fun to go on a field trip or do a special project and then share a slide show the very next day that took you about 3 minutes to put together.

Click on the video to see an example of a video I made about my daught-- um, I mean dog. :P

 

So, here are the steps to getting your slideshows throughout the year onto one page that will open by scanning a QR code.

1) Using PowerPoint or some sort of design program, type out the names of the videos. Here's mine:

2) Go to Animoto, click on the video you want, and copy the url of the video at the top.

3) Go to your document, highlight the title of your video, and add the url as a a hyperlink.

4) Once you have completed this for all of your videos, save your document as a PDF.

5) If you don't have a Gmail account, create one! You get 5 GB of shareable storage which is awesome for us teachers.

6) Open your Gmail account and go to Drive. This is where you upload files you can share.

7) Click on the red button with the arrow (see image above), and upload your PDF.

8) A box will appear once it has downloaded. Click on share.

9) Change your Share settings to "Anyone with the link." That way the slideshows can only be accessed by persons with the link.

10) A link should appear to where your PDF is stored. Copy the link.

Now to create the magical QR code!

11) Go to QR Stuff and paste your link into the box. Click on the url shortener button, so your QR code will be easier to scan.

12) Download your QR code and save it to your computer.

 

And now the fun part!

13) Click on this freebie postcard template, save it, and insert it into PowerPoint or other design program.

14) Insert your QR code as a picture (it's an image file) on top of the beach balls, and insert text boxes with your personal message.

15) Add a beach ball for students to autograph as a keepsake, and you're good to go! I will also email a copy of my postcards to the parents in case the postcard doesn't make it home. :P

For a video explanation of how to attach images to QR codes, click here.

Back to QR Code Tutorials

FlapJack QR Code Resources

Try your hand at QR Codes with these freebies. :)

 

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Tabitha Carro