Badiner Bytes and Tech Tidbits: September 2025

Creating Video Magic with

There are video editors, but many require subscriptions (educators can't afford that) or downloaded software (many schools are Chromebook-based or can't install software). Google Vids to the rescue! Vids is baked into Google Drive for all users! Educators & students can create easy clips, slideshows, or become the next Oscar-winning director! Jump into video creation and editing with a simple-to-use FREE tool!

Intro to Google Vids:

Free video creation and editing tool available to all Workspace for Education Schools
Easy to use, even for students
Stored in Google Drive for easy organization
Web-based…no software to install
Can be done on PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks

Here’s a good Video Tutorial Playlist: Google Vids Tutorial Series

Getting Started with Vids

Let’s get started! Here are the basics.

Getting Started:

Head over to your Google Drive.

Click on the “New” button and choose “Google Vids”.

You will have the option of choosing how to start:

Record yourself, your screen, or both
Upload videos you have already recorded
Use one of the pre-made templates
Convert a Slide Deck you already created
Start from scratch
with a blank Vid

Layout Explained:

Video preview:

This is where you can view your video to see how it looks and what needs editing.

Timeline:

This is the place you will work. You will add and edit content here. You can jump around and focus on any one section as well as zoom in or out with the slider on the right.

Uploading or adding elements: Here is where you will pull resources, add shapes and text, and change how your video looks.

You can click and drag or double-click any element, and it is added to your scene.

Explore the screen and get ready to create!

Check Out the Cool Tools!

Let’s check out what all those tools can do!

Tools on the right side of the screen:

	This allows you to record yourself using the webcam, record the screen, or record both.
	This opens up a text box on the right that you can use to create a script to read while recording your video.
	This is where you go to upload already recorded videos or images. They can come from your computer, your Google Drive, or even Google Photos.
	You can find images and videos here that are free to use from Google.
	Use this to add a text box to your video.
	Add shapes to your creation with this.
	Changed your mind and want to use a pre-created template (or change the template you already chose)? This is the tool for that!

Tools at the top of the screen:

This allows you to change the color of different elements in your video. It also

lets you set fonts in templates.

This is how you can set the background of your video. It can be solid or

gradient.

This is how you choose which transition you add (if you want) between

scenes.

Tool at the bottom of the screen:

Show Timing

This allows you to see when objects show up in your video.

When pressed, the elements are stacked and show on the

timeline when they will show up in the video.

Explore all the cool tools and start creating!

Using Pre-Made Templates

Why recreate the wheel? Use those awesome templates! They have images, shapes, transitions, animations, audio, and more already created. You can edit these in any way you want to make them perfect for your use.

Templates:

When you first click on the Google Vids button in Drive you are greeted with the options for starting your Vid. You can choose “Templates” and use one of the already created works!

Scroll through the templates and choose one. I would suggest selecting “Insert all scenes”. Then you can pick and choose which you really want. Deleting the ones you do not want is easy!

You can adjust the colors and font to the right.

You will see each different scene in the timeline below.

You can change or add a new template at any time by clicking the “Template” button on the bottom right.

Explore all the current templates. There are some cool starting blocks to use!

Start from a Blank Vid

Feeling creative? Create your own masterpiece by starting with a blank Vid.

Blank Vids:

When clicking on Google Vids in Drive, choose “Bank Vid” to start from scratch.

You can choose what to add from the right side.

Make the Vid what you want using the tools!

Adding Scenes

Scenes are how clips are organized. Each scene is a separate section of the video. Think of cutaways or individual video clips. You can have as few or as many scenes as you wish. This makes recording video easy, as you can include many different video clips.

Scenes:

After you have edited your first scene (the default one that is created with any new video), all you need to do is click the “+” in the bottom right to add a new scene.

This adds a new piece (scene) to your timeline.

You can now add a transition between the scenes to create an animation between scenes. Just click the icon between your scenes on the timeline and preview/choose the transition you like.

To clip a scene (cut out pieces) click on the scene where you want to cut. Click “Scene” at the top, then choose “Split scene at playhead”.

To reorder scenes, click and drag any scene left or right.

Create as many scenes as you need to make your story come to life!

Importing Slide Decks

Do you have a cool Slide Deck you want to use as your template? Import it and have all the hard work done!

Importing Slide Decks:

When clicking Google Vids in Drive choose “Convert Slides”.

Locate and choose a slide deck you have created. Then click “Select”.

Choose the slides you want to include. You can “Select all slides” to include the entire slide deck or manually click on the individual slides you want. Then click “Import”.

You will now have each slide set as a scene. You can drag and drop to reorder if you want.

Assign transitions and your video is ready to go! If you want a slide to last longer or shorter on the screen, just drag the end of the scene. The number of seconds the scene will last will appear above your mouse as you move

You can now make those Slide Decks come to life as a video!

Adding Audio to your Vid

Videos need audio. Add any audio (recorded, songs, or any audio clip you have) to your Vid! You will need your audio on your device or be prepared to record it on the fly. This can be a recording you made or a voice-over you are going to add.

Recording Audio into your Vid:

To do a voiceover, click the “Record” button on the top right and choose “Audio”.

Choose whether you want this to be attached to the current scene (the scene you have selected in the timeline) or if you want it to stretch over many scenes. Click “Record” and stop it when you are done. Heads-up: If you are choosing “Current Scene” the recording will auto-stop at the end of the time of the scene you selected.

Click “Preview” then the play button to hear your recording. Click “Insert” to add this to your video.

Uploading Audio into your Vid:

If you want to upload already created audio into your video, click the “Uploads” button on the far right and change the media type to Audio.

Search for your audio you want and it will be added to your timeline. You can now drag this audio to where you want it and trim it if needed by dragging the end like you did with the scenes.

You can now add audio to your video creation!

Publishing

You have completed your masterpiece. You are now ready to share it with the world!

Publishing to Google Drive:

To publish this video to your Google Drive, click “File” and choose “Export to Drive”.

Your upload will be located in a folder named “Vids Exports”. You can organize this folder anywhere in your Drive and all videos will be exported here.