How to Use AI to Create Videos for Class
How to Use AI to Create Videos for Class
And 10 ways to use these videos in your lessons.
Creating a video with AI is now as simple as typing a few words.
AI is getting better, faster - the video below was created with a simple sentence, " ". You can also generate more specific videos by using an image and a descriptive sentence.
If you're anything like me, I immediately started thinking of ways to use this in class.
They’re still short, and with no sound, so this does present a challenge - but they’re so fun to make and use, and so engaging for students!
So today I want to share how to easily create AI videos, and share some ideas on how to use them in your lessons.
How to Create AI Videos for Lessons
Thanks to the power of AI, it’s pretty straightforward.
First, an example of what’s possible:
Here’s an example of a music video that one Twitter/X user made, along with making a text-to-song video (that we talked about how to do in a previous article).
Video by @Arata_Fukoe
There are several AI companies that offer AI video creation, but today we’ll be using Kling AI. Once you arrive, choose the middle option ‘AI Video’ (although it’s fun to explore the other options).
In the AI Videos section, you’re met with a screen like this:
You can select ‘Text to Video’ or ‘Image to Video’ to create your own short clip. Let’s look at text to video first. Start with something simple, and type ‘superhero running to school’ in the prompt box. Let it think for a couple of minutes and you end up with:
You can then click on the download button at the bottom left corner to save. There are also a lot of other options in the left sidebar, but I’ll leave you to play around with those - most are self-explanatory, or you’ll quickly discover what they do as you experiment!
One of these is worth mentioning, and that’s the ‘Image to Video’. In this one, you still have to type a description, but you add a picture or photo to give the AI a starting point. Here’s an example of the same prompt with a photo from a recent trip to Scotland:
Important to know: you’re given 66 free credits each day on Kling, and each video creation costs 10 credits.
Top Tips for Prompting
Be specific
Use precise descriptions: e.g., "a young woman in a red dress walking confidently down a busy city street."
Set the scene
Describe the setting in detail: e.g., "an old, dimly lit library with tall wooden bookshelves."
Include actions and emotions
Add emotional cues and actions: e.g., "a child excitedly opens a brightly wrapped gift."
Use sequencing
Break complex scenes into steps: e.g., "a man enters a coffee shop" followed by "he orders a cappuccino."
Give example styles
Mention the style you want: e.g., "a minimalist, flat-design animation."
Highlight key elements
Focus on essential details: e.g., "a blue car speeding down a highway."
AI Video Activities for the Language Classroom
Now you know how to make videos, how do you use them in your lessons?
Given that AI tools like Sora and Kling only produce very short videos without audio, this limitation can actually be turned into an advantage by encouraging conciseness and creativity.
Here’s how you can adapt the previously mentioned activities to fit within the constraints of short video clips:
1. Micro-Narratives
Have students create very short story that fits within the time limit of the video. This forces them to focus on essential details and practice concise storytelling. This works better if you can link together more than one video.
2. Snapshot Dialogues
Ask students to write brief dialogues that match the clip. This works well for practicing everyday conversations or key phrases. Again, great to do if your vids focus on characters, and you can link together several videos. You could use these short videos as conversation starters or for role-play activities in class.
3. Quick Cultural Snapshots
Students create videos that highlight a single aspect of their culture or compare one element (like a common greeting or a traditional food) with its English-speaking counterpart.
Each student or group can focus on one aspect, and the class can watch multiple clips to get a fuller picture.
4. Condensed Vocabulary Visuals
Focus on creating videos that illustrate just one vocabulary word or phrase. Students can work on understanding and explaining the context or usage of that word.
Compile these short videos into a class video dictionary, where each student contributes a word.
5. Theme or Emotion in a Flash
Have students choose a theme or emotion and depict it in a very short clip. This helps them focus on visual storytelling and key descriptive language.
Use these videos as prompts for further discussion or writing activities.
6. Mini-Advertisements
Students create brief advertisements for a product or service, practicing persuasive language and summarizing key points in a very short time frame.
Run a class competition to see which mini-ad most effectively communicates its message.
7. Short Summaries
After reading an article or watching a longer video, students create a short clip summarizing the main points. This can also be used to synthesize information from a lesson.
These short summaries can serve as review material or as part of a portfolio of student work.
8. Snapshot Exploration Projects
Instead of a long, continuous project, students create a series of short videos, each focusing on a different aspect of a topic. This modular approach allows for in-depth exploration without the need for long video production.
9. Instant Visual Prompts
Provide students with short, AI-generated video clips as prompts, and have them write or discuss what they see. These quick visual stimuli can spark creativity and spontaneous language use.
Use the clips to generate quick discussions or brainstorming sessions.
10. Bite-Sized Multimedia Presentations
For research or presentation projects, students can create a series of short videos, each focusing on a different aspect of their topic. This allows them to organize their ideas into manageable, focused segments.
Combine these short videos into a cohesive presentation, using transitions and commentary to link the segments together.
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