Teaching and education have come a long way since the days of chalk on blackboards and kids sitting in rows facing the teacher behind ink-splattered desks. Video content is playing an increasingly prominent and vital role in education today. With 97% of academic staff reporting that video is an essential part of the student experience today, finding the right educational video tool is critical to the success of the learning journey.
Although teachers were forced into remote and distance learning via video during the global pandemic almost five years ago, the shift toward using video content in education has existed for many years. However, the pandemic acted as a catalyst for more institutions to adopt video software to enable remote and distance learning and increased levels of communication between teachers and students as the shift towards blending learning environments accelerates.
This comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know about video tools for creating engaging content in 2024. From what to look for to the best tools currently available, such as Dadan and its unique screen recording features ideal for helping educators create outstanding content.
What to look for in an educational video tool?
With such a competitive marketplace to browse, it can be difficult to know what to look for when searching for educational video software. Here is a list of things that should be the bare minimum you’ll need:
Ease of Use
Think about who’s going to be using the tools. They may not be technically minded. Look for an easy-to-use tool with an intuitive interface and a simple learning curve so that people of all technical abilities can use it effectively.
Features
At a minimum, you should look for a tool to record your screen, webcam, system audio, and microphone. Editing tools can help emphasize certain parts of the presentation, while interactive elements such as annotations help with communication and feedback.
Integration
The best educational video tools allow you to seamlessly integrate the software and content with existing tools, such as Learning Management Systems (LMS) and other tools.
Pricing
Some of the tools in this guide have free versions. However, these usually have limited features and functionality. Look for a tool that offers the features you need at an affordable price, prioritizing value for money.
Support and resources
If you work in a fast-paced educational setting, you don’t want to waste valuable time on lengthy training packages to onboard users. Many video content creation tools have excellent customer support packages, tutorials, and community user forums to help.
The best educational video tools: A quick heads-up
| Tool | Ease of Use | Screen Recording | Editing Tools | Interactivity | Pricing | Ideal For |
| Dadan | Very Easy | 4K HD | Massive range of editing tools | Suite of AI-powered interactive elements | $9 per month | Distance learning at all educational levels |
| Synthesia | Easy | AI-driven | Good range of AI editing tools | Interacts with many other programs | $30 per month | Tech-savvy content creators |
| PowToon | Easy | Animated creations | Massive array of templates | Integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. | $8 per month, billed annually | Animating classroom content |
| Explain Everything | Quite easy | Up to 4K | Drawing, text, animations | Integrates with Google Classroom | $37.55 per year or $139.49 per year | Replicating the classroom environment online |
| Filmora | Easy | Up to 4K | Huge range of editing tools | Integrates with other software | Begins at $7.99 per month | Tech-savvy video editors |
The top 5 educational video tools
1. Dadan
Dadan is a superb, all-encompassing video creation tool, ideal for classroom and educational environments. It offers 4K recording capability, webcam capture, and comprehensive audio recording, but the real value lies in its auto-captioning capabilities and outstanding suite of editing tools. These include cursor highlights and annotations to add context.
USP
Auto-captioning capability makes Dadan perfect for creating accessible content.
Features
- 4K HD recording
- Webcam, system, and microphone capture
- Screen snipping
- Cursor highlights
- Annotations
- Auto-captioning
- Easy integration with LMS tools
- Password-protected content
- Create chapters and tags on content
- Add AI-powered interactions including quizzes, polls and feedback questions
- Direct video sharing via URL
- Available on Windows, macOS, and Chrome
Pros
- Intuitive and easy-to-use UI
- MP4 downloads
- A wide variety of editing tools
- (New AI suite) for auto-creating video interactions, metadata and transcripts
- Synced video and audio recordings
- Perfect for educational use
- No download is required with the Chrome extension
Cons
- It doesn’t work with older versions of Windows (pre-Windows 10)
Pricing
Subscription for the full version is $9 per month
Ideal for
Distance learning and asynchronous communication between teachers and students
Customer testimonials
“Dadan is one of those awesome pieces of software that just works. It is quick, fast and easy to record. I send Dadan videos in so many concepts as a quick screen share. Great product.”
Why not begin your educational video content creation journey today with the Dadan free trial?
2. Synthesia
Synethsia is a video creation tool that uses AI to produce professional-looking educational videos. This web-based program uses text prompts to build videos from a template in its online library.
USP
Creating compelling educational content using AI technologies.
Features
- AI screen recorders
- Personal AI avatars
- Automated multilingual content player
- Voice cloning
- AI video assistant
- Wide range of templates
- Media library
Pros
- Intuitive editing panels
- Built-in screen recorder
- Easy to export and share content
- Integrates with Intercom, Mindstamp, PowerPoint, YouTube etc.
- Highly customizable content
Cons
- Only import PowerPoint decks with max. 10 slides
- Difficult to learn
Price
$30 per month
Ideal for
Tech-savvy creators wanting to embrace new AI technology
Customer testimonials
“Synthesia has been a user-friendly way for our group to introduce video and audio to text-heavy content.”
If you like the idea of Synthesia and AI automation, try out Dadan’s auto-captioning capabilities with a 14-day free trial today!
3. PowToon
PowToon is the ideal video content creation tool for producing animated presentations for the classroom. This allows teachers to engage and explain with their students, especially when teaching complex topics.
USP
Animated content to help students learn
Features
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Animated characters
- Animation tools
- Integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, and YouTube
- Voice-over and audio capture
- Easy to collaborate
Pros
- Easy to use
- Massive range of templates and animations
- Quick to create videos
- Engaging and colorful
- Useable by users of all expertise
Cons
- Time-consuming to upload images
- Software can lag
- Limited features in the “Lite” subscription
Price
$8/month, billed annually
Ideal for
Animating classroom content to make it engaging for students
Customer testimonial
“My 2nd graders are fascinated by how easy and fun it is to create presentations with PowToon. Our presentation even won first place in the K-2nd grade Science Fair. I believe our top prize was due to our fun PowToon presentation.”
Try Dadan’s free 14-day trial for a video content creator with an unparalleled range of editing and annotation tools.
4. Explain Everything
Explain Everything is a virtual whiteboard that allows you to create virtual whiteboards as if you were at the front of a classroom for lessons. However, unlike real-world whiteboards, Explain Everything allows you to do more than write.
Instead, you can create in-depth video content that includes drawings, annotations, video recordings, audio capture, and import media to create compelling presentations.
USP
Versatile blank virtual whiteboards allow you to create unique video content.
Features
- Mixed-media virtual whiteboards
- Captures voice chat
- Record, draw, write, and animate
- Share recordings via web links
- Share projects as images
- Available on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
Pros
- Easy to use
- Versatile blank canvas
- Integrates with Google Classroom
- Easy media import
Cons
- Some features require plenty of practice
- Teachers are limited to 100 students
Pricing
There is a limited free plan. A solo teacher subscription is $37.55 per year to collaborate with one student, and a class subscription is $139.49 per year for collaboration with 100 students.
Ideal for
Replicating the classroom environment online
Customer testimonial
“I love it! I use this program EVERY day in my classroom. It will project any file onto my screen that I can write on or manipulate to help my students learn.”
Like this? Why not try Dadan’s outstanding and comprehensive educational video content creation software, complete with a versatile editing suite, on a 14-day trial now?
5. Filmora
Filmora is a widely used video software tool that offers excellent animated transitions to make your content pop. It also offers a wide selection of royalty-free music to add even more life to your video content.
It also has plenty of advanced features to give your videos a professional flourish that captivates your students.
USP
Video content creation tool with a superb range of editing tools, including green screen.
Features
- Advanced color correction
- Motion tracking
- Chroma key or green screen
- Split screen and picture-in-picture capability
- Integrated stock library
- 4K resolution editing support
Pros
- Excellent video editing tool
- Well-stocked predesigned themes
- Royalty-free music library for background
- Easy to use and edit videos
Cons
- Limited number of filters, themes, and fonts
- Minimal features on the free version
- Simplistic screen grab features on paid subscription
Pricing
$7.99 monthly for an educational plan. $39.99 annually for a subscription plan and $69.99 one-time fee for the perpetual plan.
Ideal for
Users wanting to make highly edited educational content.
Customer testimonial
“Filmora is integrated with many professional features that you only get in expensive professional video-making software. I always recommend this software to my audience and the students I teach as well.”
If you want to make use of an unmatched range of editing tools, try the 14-day Dadan free trial today!
How to choose the right tool for you
Now you know the best video content tools available in 2024; knowing which one to choose depends on your educational content-creating needs. Here are some things to consider:
Assess your needs
List the essential features you need to create the right content. Choose a tool with high-quality capture, ideally 4K. If you need a webcam and audio capture, then choose a tool accordingly.
Look at what editing tools you need, and consider whether you need captioning and cursor highlighting for accessible content.
Consider your technical skill
Think about your technical skill level and the level of anyone else using the software. Look for tools with an intuitive UI and good online tutorials to help you get the most from the tool.
Choosing a tool with excellent customer support is worthwhile if you need additional help onboarding users.
Budget constraints
Check out the pricing models for each tool before purchasing. Most video content creation tools come with a free version. However, these come with limited availability, and the full suite of functions requires a paid subscription.
These can vary widely in price, so consider your budget and purchase a subscription you can afford.
Trial periods
One of the best ways to determine whether a tool is right for you is to “try before you buy.”
Most reputable video content software providers offer a limited-time free trial that allows you to test the software before purchasing a subscription. This will enable you to try it out, test its ease of use, and understand whether it has the features you need for your requirements.
Integration requirements
Many educational institutions have a range of existing systems that your video content tool will need to integrate with. For instance, many schools use Google Classroom as an LMS, allowing students to learn remotely, submit work, and receive assignment feedback.
Check whether each tool integrates with your existing software systems to ensure a seamless remote learning experience.
Next Steps
Video content creation tools continue to revolutionize the classroom and learning environment. With the adoption of AI technology in Synthesia, the flexibility of the virtual whiteboards provided by Explain Everything, the rich range of animations on PowToon, and the massive range of editing tools on Filmora, there’s more choice than ever for educational content creators.
However, Dadan stands out thanks to its simplicity, ease of use, effectiveness, and dedication to providing an unparalleled range of editing tools. These outstanding features make it the ideal choice for educators seeking quick and easy video creation tools to elevate their students’ learning journeys with highly effective educational content.
So, if you’re looking for a market-leading video content creation tool to take your educational material to the next level, get a 14-day free trial with Dadan today.
FAQs
What is the best educational video tool for beginners?
Dadan stands out as the best educational video tool for beginners with its simple-to-use UI, superb suite of editing tools, and high-quality video recording.
Can I use these tools on multiple devices?
Most of these tools are available across multiple devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Check the system compatibility before purchasing.
How can interactive videos enhance learning?
People learn in different ways. Interactive videos allow students to learn in a way that suits them, while teachers can add emphasis and context to their content in an engaging and compelling way.
Are there discounts available for educators?
Some software providers do offer discounts for educators. Contact them for full details on pricing.
