Key takeaways
- Video is a versatile tool for overcoming challenges and improving student engagement in schools.
- You can leverage video to improve learning, enhance skills, elevate communication, expand participation and scale training.
- Padcaster is the best and most affordable all-in-one video solution for schools that converts any iPad or tablet into a professional-grade video production studio.
- The quantity of Padcasters you need is determined by how you use video in your school. Start small, with a pilot, and then grow slowly before fully scaling up.
- There are several federal- and private -funding options for school video equipment based on your location, school type, student body and community.
In a rapidly changing education environment, today’s schools need technological solutions to help them tackle multiple problems and elevate the learning experience at the same time. Video is one of the most versatile tools schools can use to overcome challenges and improve student engagement.
What Can Video Do for Your School?
The possibilities of how video can transform your school are practically endless. Here are just a few ways video can be used in your school.
- Improve learning: When students have lessons on demand, they can learn at their own pace and deepen their understanding.
- Boost student creativity: Video lets students explore their storytelling skills and gives them a chance to experiment with and hone their creativity.
- Enhance skills: Today’s students need 21st-century skills to compete in tomorrow’s job market. Video combines technology, creativity and interpersonal skills in a single medium.
- Elevate communication: Video is a powerful storytelling and communication tool. Teachers and principals can use it to better communicate with students, each other and parents.
- Expand participation: Schools can leverage video to live-stream events like performances, sports and ceremonies.
- Scale training: Principals can use video to record top-performing teachers in action and share their best practices.
What’s the Best and Most Affordable Video Equipment for Schools? Padcaster. Here’s why.
- With Padcaster, teachers can convert any iPad or tablet into a professional-grade video-production studio in minutes.
- Our products are intuitive and easy to use—even for elementary-aged students.
- We designed our video equipment to be versatile, lightweight and rugged for teachers and students alike. Use it indoors or out in all kinds of situations. Kids can even handle the equipment on their own.
- You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars using the Padcaster Studio rather than building your own kit or buy professional video equipment.
- Use your savings to invest in salaries or other school needs.
How Many Padcaster Video Kits Do You Need for Your School?
Every classroom is unique as are the things you need solutions for to solve for in your classroom. The quantity of Padcaster Studios you’ll need depends on what you’re trying to do. Here’s a quick guide to help you get started.
Buy One Padcaster Studio to Start a Pilot Program
If you’re just beginning to explore the possibilities of video in your classroom or school, start with a single Padcaster Studio as a pilot. This gives you a chance to experiment and see how using video works best for you and your students.
- Buy a Padcaster Studio for your library as a technology resource teachers and students can check out and use how they want.
- If you have a media specialist at your school, purchase a Padcaster Studio for them to use and experiment with.
- Most schools start the day with morning announcements. Jumpstart student engagement with a Padcaster Studio.
- Get a Padcaster Studio for the principal’s office to record important communications and trainings to for teachers and parents.
Grow Your School’s Educational Technology Technological Capabilities with Two to 10 Padcasters
Once you’ve proven video-based education works for your school, you can start to expand where and how you use it. Here are some thought- starters.
- Develop a broadcast journalism program. With multiple Padcaster Studios, you can deploy several teams at once to cover simultaneous school and current events.
- Create a film program. Having several Padcaster Studios gives film students the opportunity to shoot multiple angles at the same time and break out into different project teams at the same time.
- Use the Padcaster Studio to live-stream events like theater performances, graduation ceremonies and sports.
Scale Up with a Padcaster Studio in Every Classroom
Give teachers and students maximum flexibility and creative opportunity to leverage video with a Padcaster Studio in every classroom.
- Teachers can record lessons and tutorials for on-demand learning and refreshers, so students can learn at their own pace.
- Students can learn how to use video in every subject, from language arts to math, social studies to science.
- Teachers can record themselves in action to share best practices with each other and get feedback from other teachers on how to adjust their in-classroom approaches.
- Teachers can share clips from the classroom and record special messages to parents when and how it works for them.
How to Get Funding for Padcaster Video Equipment at Your School
Multiple grants exist from the government and private funding resources to help schools invest in educational technology. You’ll likely have different opportunities based on your state, school type and community background.
Before applying to for any grants, you’ll want to create a technology plan that outlines which technology products you want to buy, why you need them and what you hope to achieve with them. You might also want to think about how many products you’ll need, how long you expect them to last, and if you plan to resell them later or eventually replace them. This helps you plan for the future as well as the present.
Federal Educational Technology Grants
Here’s a roundup of some grant programs for educational technology that could help you get the number of Padcaster Studios you need for your school.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Schools can apply for and use ESEA funds for technology under two titles:
- Title I: Programs for disadvantaged students, student assessment, migratory students and neglected and delinquent students.
- Title IV: Programs to support a well-rounded education, safe and healthy students, and technology; after-school instruction and care; charter schools; magnet schools; family engagement in education; and various national activities.
You could use the Padcaster Studio to improve professional development for teachers working with disadvantaged, migratory, neglected or delinquent students. High-performing teachers with experience working with kids who have these backgrounds can record themselves in the classroom and create tutorial videos for other teachers.
You could also use the Padcaster Studio to create an after-school program or special class for these students that helps them process their social and emotional needs through video-based storytelling.
Get a primer on ESEA here.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA funds for schools are meant to support students with disabilities through assistive technology and other educational technology.
Closed captioning can be a great way for students with hearing impairments to engage with video content.
Students with disabilities can feel empowered to leverage technology with Padcaster because it is so lightweight and easy to use.
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)
GEAR UP helps middle and high school students with from low-income families get ready for college. Use the Padcaster Studio to help students practice public speaking, teamwork and technical skills.
Private Educational Technology Grants for Video Equipment in Schools
In addition to federal grants, your school could be eligible for private funding to help you purchase video equipment.
National Science Foundation Database
Search for private science, math and engineering grants for research in education. Make the Padcaster Studio part of your application to capture data and create video-based reports.
NEA Foundation Grants
NEA Learning and Leadership Grants are designed for educators to grow their leadership skills and invest in professional development. If teacher training via video is a top priority in your school, this could be a great resource.
NEA Student Success Grants are designed to help educators who want to innovate and help students find joy in learning—the perfect combination for video-based learning.
Rural Technology Fund
If your school is in a rural area, a grant from the Rural Technology Fund could help close the digital divide.
Get Support or a Custom Quote
Not sure how to get started with video in the classroom or how many you need? We can help. We’ll help you figure out how you can best integrate video in your school or give you a custom quote based on your needs.
Need More Information?
Fill out the form here to get in touch with a member of the Padcaster Team.
