Maybe it is time for your newsletter to get a facelift. If that is the case, here are some ideas to help!
Pages
Lock down the template background in Pages! Lock and group the shapes so you or your students can't undo a template and get frustrated with their work moving around the document.
How can I do this?
Customize a classroom newsletter template (Pages has a few already there for you) and use that as a template each time!
Resources
Group on a Laptop:
1. Select an object.
2. Hold the shift button and select the other objects.
3. Right click and select Group on the pop up menu.
*To undo your grouping, following steps 1-3 and select Ungroup.
Group on the iPad:
1. Select and hold an object.
2. With another finger, select the other objects.
3. When all objects are selected, tap the formatting tool (the paintbrush in the upper right corner of the screen.)
4. Under the tab Arrange, select Group.
*To undo your grouping, following steps 1-4 and select Ungroup.
Lock on a Laptop:
1. Select an object.
2. Right click and select Lock on the pop up menu.
*To undo your grouping, following steps 1-2 and select Unlock.
Lock on the iPad:
1. Select an object.
2. Tap on the formatting tool (the paintbrush in the upper right corner of the screen.)
3. Under the tab Arrange, select Lock.
Tip: If Lock does not appear under the Arrange tab, turn off Move with Text and then tap on the formatting tool (the paintbrush) and the Lock button will appear.
*To undo your lock, following steps 1-3 and select Unlock.
Make Your Own Template:
1. Select File and Save as Template.
2. There will be a prompt to save the template to your computer or to add to the template chooser when you open the Pages App.
Keynote
We always think of keynote as a slide show tool but it can be so much more! Turn it into short movie, add some audio of a teacher or student narrating if you wish.
How can I do this?
Create a short slide show of topics that will always be in the newsletter and use that as a template each time!
Resources
Record on a Laptop:
1. Select keynote theme.
2. Create all slides needed.
3. Select the top slide and then click on Document in the upper right corner.
4. Select the Audio tab.
5. Click on the Record button.
6. When ready, click on the red button in the lower left corner of the screen.
Tip: Headphones improve the audio of the video.
7. Record your message, forwarding slides with the down arrow.
8. Click on the record button again when you are finished. Select the X in the upper right corner to exit the recording screen.
9. Preview the recording but selecting the play button in the upper left corner of the screen.
10. Select Play Recorded Slideshow.
11. If you do not like your recording, select Document in the upper left corner and then the clear button.
12. When ready, you can export your recorded slideshow to a movie file. Select File---->Export to------> Movie.
13. Playback: Slideshow Recording ------> Next
14. Save the title and hit export.
15. Attach your video newsletter to your parent email list or upload to Seesaw or a social media page.
Record on the iPad:
1. Select the Keynote app.
2. If your app opens to an old presentation, click on "presentation" in the upper left corner.
3. Click on the + button to create a new Keynote.
4. Choose a theme. (There is a plus button in the lower left corner of the screen to add slides).
5. Double tap on text boxes to create your own text.
6. The formatting tool in the upper right corner offers some cool formatting features (shadows, grouping, locking, style)
7. For audio: Select a slide and click on the + icon in the upper right corner of the screen and select "record audio."
8. Click on the blue record button at the bottom of the screen. Notice you can preview your recording and edit the recording.
9. When ready, click on the insert button in the upper right corner of your screen.
10. Record your message on each slide.
11. Preview the slideshow and recordings using the play arrow (triangle) in the menu screen. Touch the screen to progress from each slide and to hear each recording.
12. Pinch the screen to exit out of preview mode.
13. When ready, you can export your recorded slideshow to a movie file. Select the icon with three dots in the upper right corner.
14. Choose Export------> Movie.
13. Keynote will then prompt you with a place to share your Keynote movie. (save to photos, airdrop to you laptop, Google drive, twitter, etc.)
Video (Clips)
Take some video throughout the week. Maybe that's your students creating a video in Seesaw or the teacher holding a camera as students explain a cool concept that they just learned.
When ready, task yourself or some students to create a short video of the week's work. Think quality over quantity. Maybe you don't have to report on each subject each week but on a few topics that shares some awesome learning and engagement.
How can I do this?
Clips- Create a short intro and outro for your videos and use that template each time!
Resources
Clips ONLY works on your iPad. There is not an app for your laptop.
Filters on Clips:
1. Select the rainbow star in the lower right corner of the screen.
2. There are a variety of filters, stickers, emojis and labels to use.
Clips Basics:
1. Create video in the app using the camera tab at the bottom of the screen or select the library tab to insert video from your iPad camera.
2. If you create the video in Clips, you can select the word button next to the red button and select how you would like captions to appear in your video. Click the X in the right corner of the pop up screen to exit.
3. Select the rainbow star in the lower right corner of the screen. There are a variety of filters, stickers, emojis and labels to use.
4. In the upper right corner of the screen is a music icon. Click on that icon and you can choose some music to add to your video.
5. In the upper left corner of the screen is a file icon. Click on that icon to create a new video or view other videos you have made.
6. While in this window, you will also see three dots in a circle in the upper right corner. If you select this icon, you can duplicate a video, rename the video or delete the video.
7. Transitions are a nice addition to your clips video. There are called "Posters" and appear in a tab at the bottom of the screen above the large red button.
8. To share your video, select the upload icon in the lower right corner of the screen and follow the prompts to export your video to a desired place. (camera roll, airdrop to your laptop, Google drive, etc)
There isn't a way to share you a template but if you would like to explore more with support, we would be happy to sit with you and help!