EdTech Essentials: Panopto vs. Canva vs. Google Vids for Video Creation- Which Should You Use?

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Welcome to the EdTech Essentialsblog, your weekly source for insights, trends, and practical applications of educational technology aimed at enhancing teaching, learning, and research in our academic community.

Note: Features may change with future updates.


In a previous post, we explored how Panopto and Canva can be used to create engaging videos for education and communication. Now, with the rollout of Google Vids, we’re updating our guide to include this new tool and help you decide which platform best suits your needs.

In today’s digital landscape, video content is becoming a key tool for communication and engagement, especially in education. It’s estimated that in 2024 video accounts for 82.5% of global internet traffic. Whether you’re creating a tutorial, capturing a lecture, or promoting a project, knowing how to create and edit videos efficiently can significantly enhance your digital presence.

Visual representation of video usage in education, showcasing key statistics and insights on its impact on learning outcomes.

Read the full report from ScreenPal

Panopto, Canva, and Google Vids all offer excellent video creation and editing tools, but they serve different purposes and workflows depending on your project’s needs. Here’s a breakdown of each tool to help you decide which is best for your video creation.

Panopto: Lecture Capture & Academic Integration

 

panopto logo

Panopto

Panopto is a robust video platform designed primarily for academic environments. It’s great for recording lectures, capturing screen presentations, and is seamlessly integrated with Blackboard.  

Key Features of Panopto:

  • Lecture Capture: Record lectures, presentations, or webinars directly from your computer or classroom setup.
  • Screen & Webcam Recording: Capture screen activity and add video commentary through your webcam.
  • Automatic Captioning: Panopto offers automated transcription and captioning, making your content accessible.
  • Blackboard Integration: Panopto links directly to Fordham’s Blackboard system, allowing easy uploads and sharing with students in specific courses.  
  • Advanced Analytics: Track how students engage with your videos, from total view counts to specific interactions.
  • Multi-Stream Recording: Panopto allows simultaneous recording of multiple video feeds, making it ideal for capturing complex presentations.
  • Zoom Integration: Zoom meetings that are recorded to the cloud will automatically appear in your Panopto account

Best For: Lecture recordings, presentations, course-specific video content, and integration with LMS for direct student access.

To access Panopto, sign in with your Fordham account or you can access the tool in your Blackboard course by going to the “Tools & Content Market.”  For more information on how to access Panopto, the Panopto Retention Policy, and other helpful information please visit www.fordham.edu/panopto.

Canva: Creative Video Design & Visual Content

 

canva logo

Canva

Canva is an all-in-one design platform—it’s also a powerful tool for video creation offering a wide range of creative tools for making visually engaging videos.  Unlike Panopto, Canva is more suited for content that blends video, images, and design elements like text, graphics, and animations. Canva’s drag-and-drop interface makes the process of creating an engaging video smooth and intuitive. 

Key Features of Canva for Video:

  • Design Flexibility: Use customizable templates to jumpstart creating your video.
  • Drag-and-Drop Interface: Intuitively drag and drop videos, images, and elements onto your project to design visually engaging videos.
  • Animation and Graphics: Canva makes it easy to add animations, transitions, and text overlays, giving your video a professional polish.
  • Stock Library Access: Access millions of stock images, videos, and music tracks to enhance your videos.
  • Collaborative Editing: Canva’s team features allow multiple users to collaborate on a project, which is perfect for group efforts.
  • Simple Timeline Editing: The video timeline in Canva allows for quick edits like trimming, adding new frames, and overlaying elements.

Best For: Promotional videos, social media content, visual storytelling, and creative projects that require a polished design look.

Fordham faculty, staff, and students can use the Education plan by joining the Fordham Canva Team. Contact us at edtech@fordham.edu for an invite!  

Steps to create your video in Canva

  1. Select a Video Template: Choose from a wide range of customizable templates to fit your needs.
  2. Insert Videos/Images: Upload your content and drag it onto the project canvas. You can adjust the layout and size of your media easily.
  3. Add New Video Frames: On the timeline, use the (+) button to add additional video frames and transitions between scenes.
  4. Choose HD Output: Before exporting, ensure your video is set to HD for high-quality viewing.

Canva Resources

Fordham EdTech: Audio & Video Resource Guide 

Videos on using the Canva video tool

Help guide on using the Canva video tool

Google Vids: A New Entry for Quick, Simple Videos

 

google vids iconGoogle Vids

Google Vids, recently launched, is Google’s latest video creation tool.  Designed with the familiar Google Workspace experience, it is an AI-powered video-creation app that offers an intuitive interface that makes video creation accessible for beginners.  With Vids, you can create custom videos right in your web browser—no special software or video editing skills required. The videos you create can be up to 10 minutes long. 

Key Features of Google Vids:

  • User-Friendly Interface – Works seamlessly with other Google applications, making it easy to learn.
  • Pre-Made Templates – Start quickly with a variety of templates.
  • Screen Recording & Voiceover – Easily record over a shared screen, similar to Panopto.
  • Simple & Fast Editing – Designed for quick, uncomplicated video creation.

Best For: Quick instructional videos, announcements, and engaging coursework additions.

To access Google Vids, go to your Fordham Google Drive and click on the “+New” button.  As Google Vids continues to evolve, we’ll keep an eye on its features and potential integrations with educational tools.

Google Vids Resources

 

 

A pink and purple arrow diverging in multiple directions, symbolizing choices and possibilities.

Choosing the Right Tool

  • Use Panopto if your goal is to create lecture-based content, record screen presentations, or integrate directly with Fordham’s Blackboard for academic purposes.  
  • Use Canva if you want to focus on visual design and creativity, such as creating engaging videos for marketing, tutorials, or storytelling that requires more custom animations and design elements.  
  • Use Google Vids if you need a simple, fast solution for recording short instructional videos or announcements, especially if you prefer working within the Google ecosystem.

Each tool has its strengths, and choosing the right one will streamline your workflow, improve engagement, and produce the best content for your specific audience. For academic content that needs to be shared quickly with students, Panopto is the way to go. For highly polished, visually compelling videos, Canva is unbeatable.  If you need a simple, quick-to-create video for announcements, instructional clips, or collaborative projects, Google Vids offers an intuitive and familiar option.


Looking for assistance in integrating educational technology into your classroom? Visit the EdTech website for resources or reach out to our team!

EdTech Consultation Calendar | edtech@fordham.edu | www.fordham.edu/edtech

 

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