I end up creating a lot of tip sheets and tutorials for teachers and students.  Sometimes those require long explanations which are better solved using video but sometimes all I need is a 20 second clip or shorter.  For those shorter cases, I just use Snagit for Chrome to capture a quick video and turn it into an animated GIF.  I can place that GIF into a Google Doc or onto a site so that it helps whoever I created that tip sheet for.

I just created one to help students, and some teachers, see how they can change their privacy settings in YouTube for a video.  I used a screenshot to show the first step and then recorded a quick video of the remaining steps to turn into the GIF.  You can find the full directions at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GZK1F1i_zn9TcnwXNKaPpw0Pyn4QuLXwhC0L_7uT3i4/edit?usp=sharing

Step 1 (used a screenshot)

Step 2 (animated GIF for the various parts)

Hit one button in Snagit and it converts the video into an animated GIF.  The video has to be shorter than 20 seconds but that is the only requirement.  There are some other options out there for doing this but this is a very easy and quick way to get what you need.  You should install both the extension (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/techsmith-snagit-extensio/annopcfmbiofommjmcmcfmhklhgbhkce?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon) and the app (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/techsmith-snagit/fcnghgbgmemnlbckdipnmelbanpgneik?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon) into Chrome.  Just click on the extension
 and you will be given options on what you want to do next, select the “Video” option to record the video needed to make the GIF.

Select the part of your screen you want to record and then click “Share”.

Make sure it is less than 20 seconds and click “Stop sharing” when you are done.

The video will  sync up and the box in the lower right will turn blue when it is over.  You can click that box and select “Animated GIF” to create your GIF.  You can download your GIF or get a link to it.