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If you are an online teacher, using Manycam in the online classroom is a great way to jazz up your classroom, save money on props, and have some awesome reward options for your students!
A couple of years ago, I started teaching online with VIPKid, and I immediately LOVED IT. However, after just a few weeks, I started to get a little overwhelmed with the rewards and props that I was starting to collect. I started to realize that I needed to do something different.
Anyone that knows me, knows that it doesn’t take long for me to start finding tech solutions to make a job easier.
This is exactly what I did. I started thinking about using games on my phone or on my old iPad to do something a little more exciting, which then led me to look for a way to be able to put the games on my teaching screen (instead of holding up a device with the glare), which led me to… MANYCAM!
Before I knew it I was using Manycam in the online classroom for EVERY class. I cannot stress this enough: I LOVE IT!
What Is Manycam?
Manycam is a software that allows you to live stream video WITH digital effects. This is great for video chatting, video conferences, and, of course, online teaching!
Manycam has chromakey and picture-in-picture which are the MAIN features that I use in my classroom to 1) stick out 2) engage students with relevant pictures, gifs, and videos to help them learn English.
In addition to these features, Manycam allows you to use images to load directly into the software as digital props. If you have read my previous posts or watched my intro video, you see me hold a digital apple and pretend to eat it. Manycam is what makes this cool trick possible!
Save Time
Manycam can save you a lot of time when preparing for classes. When I first started VIPKid, I was using physical props. Before class, trying to find the appropriate props for each lesson to have them ready was a pain in the butt. It was difficult to keep all my props organized and find the ones that I needed for each lesson without spending too much time preparing.
I DO NOT like to spend a lot of extra (unpaid) time on VIPKid. This was why I left teaching in a brick and mortar classroom. So much unpaid work.
Because Manycam is digital all of my props are saved on my computer in different categories, very easy for me to find. I do very little prep work! If a new word comes out that I think I have a prop for, I can simply use the search feature during class and find it right away.
Now that I use Google slides that have been prepared and shared in the Google Slides Facebook group I save even more time. The creators of that group have also made a planner that allows me to copy and paste my entire schedule for the day and it pulls up all the prepared slides for each of those lessons. I simply open the slides and choose which one I want to use for that day and display them using Manycam.
Save Money
I did invest some money in buying the paid version of minicamp. There is a free version, and many teachers like it just fine to use for props. I wanted to be able to use a green screen that is available in the paid version so I invested some money to buy the studio version of Manycam.
Although I spent some money on this software, I have saved much more money in the fact that I do not buy props or rewards for VIPKid. If I want a new prop or I’m teaching a new lesson I simply look it up online and load it into my Manycam software. Or as said before it probably will be in one of the slides that I have to choose from that are already prepared.
Many teachers spend a lot of time and money creating new props printing and laminating 2D props. They also are always buying thigns for rewards or spending a lot of time making them.
Some teachers love to do this and that’s great! It just wasn’t for me. Manycam helped me find a way to make my online classroom really fit my teaching style as well as my budget!
Save Space
As mentioned before all of my props are digital now. That means they’re stored on my computer and they are not taking up space in my house.
Manycam allows me to have as many problems as I want without taking up space in my very small office. As mentioned in many of my other blog posts, I am not great at organizating when it comes to this kind of stuff.
Impress Students and Parents
One of my favorite things is when I have a new student who has obviously not encountered special effects in their previous classes.
Their reaction is THE. BEST. They look at me like I’m a wizard!
I have also received parent feedback specifically mentioning the effects and how the students love it. One parent was very curious about how I did it!
Every teacher needs to do what they can to show how they are different. Show off your strengths! For some it’s music. For others, it’s crafty rewards. For me, it’s technology and finding ways to wow them with it!
How to Start Using Manycam in the Online Classroom
The first step to start using Manycam in the online classroom is to DOWNLOAD IT!
There is a free version of Manycam that allows you to use images within your camera feed. These can be great for digital props. My students LOVE when I put an apple or other food on my screen then pretend to eat it (as demonstrated in my intro video)! Always a crowd-pleaser.
After playing with the free version and figuring out how to use it, I very quickly decided to purchase the studio lifetime version! I chose to go ahead and invest in this because I wanted to use the green screen (chromakey) feature. This is still my favorite feature!
I also did not want the Manycam logo to be displayed in my classroom. I felt that this would be distracting and unprofessional-looking.
For me, I feel that the best way to start using a technology tool is to just play with it! What I like about this, is that as you explore all of the features you start to see what will work for you and get your own ideas for your own classroom.
After you have played with it and want to know more, check out some videos on Youtube! I have posted a couple of Manycam videos (linked above) and plan on posting more.
If you want more one-on-one help, I LOVE to help other teachers learn how to use Manycam to be more efficient and exciting. I have video chatted with other teachers to help them get started as well as learn specific tricks using Manycam. If you are interested in this, shoot me an email at meagan@purposefulmommy.com.
How to Apply to VIPKid
If you haven’t actually applied to VIPKid and are just exploring what it is, I would love to give you more information!
Email me at meagan@purposefulmommy.com to ask any questions that you have about the company or about Manycam!
If you are interested in applying and want me to be your mentor, you can do that through any of my VIPKid links on my page! Such as HERE! Please make sure to email me to let me know so that I can help you get hired.
You can also use my code: MEAGA0028 in your application (this can be added anytime before you do your demo lesson).
