How many of us remember watching educational videos in school? How many of us remember having to perform as a group in front of the class? How many of us remember creating posters or PowerPoint presentations? Nowadays, students can combine all three by creating videos for class. These videos can be performances of short stories or narratives written by the students for English class. They can be videos of experiments done at home for science. They can be reenactments of historical events or raps about math concepts. Graphics and text can be added to these videos for context, and students can even release their creative side by including special effects.

True, students in the 90s and from 2000-2010 could create videos for their class projects. But, it was more of a hassle. They had to use cameras with video options. They had to work at home. They had to use movie mixing programs on their computer. They had to find a CD-ROM with enough storage space to save it. And they had to hope that the class computer could read the CD.

But now, with most students owning smartphones and with many classrooms using smart pads, making videos for a class has become easier than ever. There are many apps available for smartphones and tablets to create videos, but we’ve decided to share the top 5 that are the easiest for students to use.

1. iMovie – This is one of the most popular video-making apps, and it is only $4.99 for iPhone and iPad. Students can create movies from the videos they take on their mobile device. Students can use the entire video or can create a clip to use. Students can even use this app to mark favorites from their videos to make them easier to find later. iMovie has 8 unique themes with matching music, text styles, and transitions. There are 10 different filters you can use. Slow-motion, fast forward, and picture-in-picture are just some of the many effects students can use. Videos can be saved to the iCloud, or sent via email or iMessages. Videos can even be directly uploaded to Facebook or Vimeo.
2. Magisto Video Editor and Maker – This app is free, but for Android devices only. However, it is a very useful. Automatically turning videos on Android devices into music videos, this is an easy app for students to use for their projects. Magisto also includes a free movie editor to allow students to create their own movie. You can share the videos directly to Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Twitter, Email, and YouTube. There are even special features that set this app apart from others: automatic video stabilization, facial recognition, video filters and effects, and smooth transitions.
3. Stop Motion Studio – Available for both Android and Apple devices, this app allows students to create stop-motion videos. This app is perfect for students who want to use props, such as Legos or Play-Doh figures, rather than themselves in a movie. It includes a grid mode so students can more easily place their figurines, a frame-by-frame preview, cut/copy/paste/delete/insert abilities, and can automatically capture frames with an adjustable time interval feature. Stop motion videos are done in Ultra High Definition. A remote camera option is available, as well as a green screen effect. The app also includes 8 different themes to use for the videos. Color and sound effects are also available. Students can publish directly to YouTube, Facebook, Dropbox, or iCloud.
4. Video Mixer Pro – A very inexpensive app (only $2.99 for iPhones), Video Mixer Pro is available on both Android and Apple devices. This app claims to be “the most simple and easy to use the app for merging videos and audio.” Students can mix their videos into one on this app. Students can even add a recorded voice to the video to create a narrator effect. Music files can be added to the videos, as well as other audio files. However, the app does warn that the final product’s video quality will be the same as the original videos’ quality.
5. Video Editor AndroMedia – Only available for Android devices, this free app is a “fully featured video editing program for creating professional looking videos in minutes”. Students can easily drag and drop video clips to create their movie. They can even trim the videos to make clips. Audio files can be added, as well as emoji stickers and text layers. Color filter effects and transitions are available. Movies can be exported in HD and can be saved in numerous formats including MP4, MOV, JPG, PNG, MP3, and WAV files.

Creating unique, artistic, and technological projects are a great way for students to learn and present in class. Having students use these movie apps for their assignments is also a great way to integrate other subjects and disciplines into your curriculum.