Goodnotes App and Creating Video Notes for Teachers

I have been teaching from my iPad for about 3 years now. I use the iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and Goodnotes app for my teaching tools every day in the classroom. The good news is that you don't have to purchase an iPad Pro anymore to use the Apple Pencil...just about any new iPad should be compatible and you can spend a little less money this way. I've linked the products below.

There's a big debate over which app is better: Goodnotes or Notability. I watched a lot of videos on the matter before purchasing one and I can say there is not a HUGE difference between the two except a few features. It basically comes down to preference: I prefer Goodnotes. It does cost money, but I've used it for so many years that the app has earned it's worth.

Since COVID-19, teachers have been forced to switch instruction to an online format. Because I've been teaching with an iPad for years, the transition was simple for me. All I had to change was to screen record everything I was already doing in the classroom and upload the videos to our Learning Management System (like Blackboard). It was actually easier for me than the face-to-face format because I only had to teach the lesson one time and then post it to all sections of the course. I know you miss out on the interaction, but as far as making video lessons, this is a really simple way to get that done.

I love the Goodnotes app because it allows me to create folders and within the folders, create notebooks for each class/section I teach. In the notebooks, you can import pictures, PDFs, screenshots, and more. You can also write over anything you import into the notebook. If you prefer to write notes during class from scratch, you can just have a blank notebook with lined, square, dotted, or blank paper. This app is very user friendly and conducive to personalizations.

In addition to the ease of use of the app, iPad makes it really simple to create videos. There is a screen record option you can do that has microphone capabilities (just make sure it is turned on before you create an entire video and realize there's no sound). Everything seen on the iPad gets captured in the screen record, so you might make sure you turn notifications off so students don't see your text messages, emails, and YouTube notifications. Once the video is complete, you can share it several ways. I've found that the easiest way is to upload straight from your iPad to YouTube. You can post it as an unlisted video if you don't want random people watching it. When it is unlisted, only people you share the link with can view it (your students).

Also, note in my video that I'm a hard tapper with the Apple Pencil when I'm writing. If that's distracting, you might consider tapping a little lighter than I do. I kind of think it keeps the student engaged by signaling to the student that I'm writing.

You can see in the videos that my PDFs have a lot on them. Since this is a lot of writing for the student, I like to post these documents in their Learning Management System (LMS) so they can print them and fill them in along with me. Because video is one of the only ways you can connect and engage students online, it's nice to give them something to do while they listen and watch your videos.

Another really great option if you don't want to upload pre-recorded videos is to use the screen share option in video-conferencing apps. I've really only used Zoom, but I have had a wonderful experience using the screen share feature. There's no lag, blur, or glitching with this feature. You can also record your meetings and post the recording in your LMS for students to watch back later. This option gives you the chance to interact with students while going through the notes via video. I really liked doing this because students asked questions, interacted, and engaged when I asked open-ended questions to the class. If a student is struggling, he/she can stay in the meeting after and you can always cut down that part of the recording before posting the video for students to watch.

Once zoom sends you an email with the recording of your meeting, you can click on the little scissor tool in the bottom left corner to cut off the first part when everyone is arriving and the last part when students stick around for extra questions. You want to keep the video short enough so it's manageable for students to watch back later. I love to start the meeting with important announcements and reminders so students have an additional reason to watch the videos each week/day.

I hope these tips help you in your transition online or if you're a new online teacher! These tools have certainly made my life easier and have been worth the investment. Once you have these tools, you'll wish you'd had them all along. 😉