Screencastify is a district purchased Chrome extension that allows you to do the following to help create dynamic online lessons:
record video with your webcam OR record what’s happening on your screen.
record a specific web browser tab, the entire web browser or your computer’s desktop.
all videos upload directly to Google Drive to allow you to easily share your videos to Google classroom or link in a Google Doc created lesson.
First time using this tool? Check out the video tutorials below.
Show your personality
Make your videos short and to the point
Embed your webcam in Screencastify to create a more personal touch
Have a script outline to refer to
Don't worry about making it perfect
Have a visual for what you are talking about. For example, highlight the section you are talking about with your curse, or have a visual example displayed.
A great way to use Screencastify is to screencast an overview or directions of the lesson. Think about how you set up a lesson during in person instruction. First, you state the learning target and what your students will be learning during that lesson. You also might show success criteria or an exemplar of how students will demonstrate their understanding. It is very important to provide your students a screencast of directions or a lesson overview during online learning. Think about face to face teaching. Would you just hand your students an assignment without providing some information and guidance to complete it? Of course not. It is the same with online learning. Examples of lesson overview and directions can be found in the sample lessons section of this site.
Another great way to use Screencastify is to create tech tool tutorials. Due to the demand of distance learning, you might be introducing new tech tools that students will need to use to demonstrate their learning, explain their thinking, or take part in an online discussion. I have created tech tools tutorials for teachers on this site, so feel free to use them with your kids, or recreate your own.
Showing student exemplars is a high impact instructional strategy not only during face to face instruction, but online instruction as well. A great way to use Screencastify is to create a video going over all of the included parts that make this artifact an exemplar.
Have your students create videos to demonstrate their learning. Students can create videos of Google Slides presentations, learning tutorials for their classmates, or explaining their thinking of how they solved a math problem.
