What is Screencasting?

According to Wikipedia, "a screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output, also known as a video screen capture, often containing audio narration" Screencasting. (2004, July 22). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screencast.


Why Use Them?

• Visual
• Auditory
• Kinesthetic (when using hybrid simulations constructed in Adobe Captivate)

Ways Screencasts Can Be Used With Students

• Tutorials/demonstrations
• How-Tos
• Digital Storytelling
• Narrated, web-based presentations (read:Powerpoint)

Screencasting Tools

Free

• CamStudio (Windows Only)
• Go View (Windows Only)
• Flowgram
• Jing Project
  • Also screen capture and mark up/annotate
• Screencast-O-Matic
• Screencastle
• Screenjelly
• Screentoaster
• Wink (Windows & Linux x86)
• Voicethread

Not-So-Free

• Adobe Captivate(Currently Windows Only)
• Techsmith Camtasia (Currently Windows Only)
• Screenflow (Mac) Personal Favorite on the Mac side
• ScreenRecord (Mac)
• iShowU(Mac)

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Microphones

I recommend USB mics whenever possible

• Samson CO1U
• Samson CO3U
• Snowball
• Snowflake

Examples

How-To Demos

• Adobe Captivate Demo
• Jing Demo
• Screenflow Demo

Lectures

• Plagiarism Lecture

Mathcasts

• Lovett Mathcasts

Best Practices

Preparation is key if you want your screencast to remain relevant for some time.

Pre-Planning Stage

• Write a script. This will help make sure you (and your students) know what the screencast will be about.
• Storyboard Your Screencast
  • Step-by-step helps make the process much more smooth
    • http://www.schoolhousevideo.org/Pages/Storyboard.pdf
    • Storyboard generator: http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/storyboard/
    • http://www.everythingesl.net/downloads/storyboard.pdf
• Prepare your web browser
  • Eliminate any unnecessary tool bars
  • Close out all tabs
• Find a quiet location. (OK--I realize that this doesn't exactly work with kids in a computer lab, but do your best)
• Find a decent microphone or headset/mic combo
• Walk through the steps of your screencast at least one time so you'll feel more prepared.

Recording Stage

• If you can get it in one take--awesome! If not, don't worry because it does get easier with practice.
• Be sure to review your screencast at least once to make sure you got the recording you wanted.

Post-Production Stage

• Save your screencast file
• Upload to a service that you can share your screencast with. Many of the sites offer free and low-cost hosting packages.www.screencast.com

www.screencast.com

www.edublogs.tv

www.teachertube.com

www.youtube.com

10 Fast Tips

1. Keep it short & concise.
2. Credit licensed media as you go.
3. Choose a generic file format. (Not all hosts accept Flash)
4. Offer iPod versions.
5. Consider using captioning to offer subtitles or translations.
6. Add your brand/logo to title slides.
7. Remember the 100 MB limit of most hosts.
8. Reduce file size by only recording an area of your desktop.
9. Post your screencasts on Facebook & other social sites.
10. Have fun

(Source: Kroski, E. (2009, February). That's Infotainment!. School Library Journal, 55(2), 40-42. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from Professional Development Collection database.)

Screencasting Sites & Resources

• Educause: 7 Things You Should Know About Screencasting
• Libcasting Screencasting & Libraries
• Screencast Academy
• Screencastr
• ScreencastCentral