What is a GIF?
GIF or JIF? Does It Really Matter?
Where to Find GIFs
How to Create Your Own GIFs
- Online - Try the GIPHY GIF Maker. You can upload your own video or add the URL of a YouTube video to start creating your own GIFs and share them on the GIPHY website. You can also try sites like http://freegifmaker.me.
- iPhones & iPads - There are a number of iOS apps that let you create the GIFs of your dreams. They include GIF Toaster, GIPHY Cam (also available on Android) or stop motion apps like iMotion HD which will make GIFs out of your stop motion movies.
- Mac or PC - We are big fans of TechSmith's Snagit tool. You can create GIFs with Snagit and share them quickly with others. You can do the same with Camtasia if you change your export settings to GIF instead of MP4. Mac users can try the free GIPHY Maker app, while Adobe afficiandos may want to check out this Photoshop tutorial.
Classroom Uses for GIFs
2. Math teachers may enjoy the animated GIFs at the Math Warehouse website. There are a variety of interesting concepts that are free to download and use in your classroom. There is also a Math GIF subreddit that is worth a look, while GIPHY and other GIF search engines will also have a selection of math animations you can use. Just search for a term like “pythagorean theory” and see what comes up.
4. What was that? It’s Science! Using a GIF to give a quick glimpse of an amazing moment will generate questions and hypothesis. There is a great website called Phenomena for NGSS that has images, GIFs and short videos to spark curiosity and make you wonder “What is happening here?”
6. Add in a little GIF fun to your curriculum! On the first day of class, why not lay out your classroom expectations in GIF format. Your students are sure to retain it better than a traditional text based slideshow. Use GIFs in teaching to bring attention to a topic or at the end of a lesson will leave all of your students as determined as a chihuahua in a superman costume on a treadmill!
- Amber Bridge, Digital Learning Consultant, @abridgesmith
- Jonathan Wylie, Digital Learning Consultant, @jonathanwylie