Making Learning Videos Yourself

Tools to Record Video:

Screencast-o-matic: is a screencast recording tool which you can access free of charge in the browser app. You may choose to use the built-in video hosting, or you can export the video to another hosting solution (like Youtube or Drive). A screencast is a recording of whatever is on your screen, such as Powerpoint slides or a website, and Screencast-o-matic also includes a capture of your webcam so you can have a "talking head" in the corner of your video capture. Because it captures your screen, you can install a whiteboarding app to record you "drawing" on your desktop or tablet top.

Youtube: Youtube offers a built-in recording application that you can use to record right from your phone to the app, or stream live recordings directly into the app. It also hosts your videos and offers some light editing features. Youtube is part of Google Apps for Education, or the Google Suite.

AZ Screen Recorder for Android: The AZ Screenrecorder works on Android devices from the Google Play Store, allowing you to capture the screen on a tablet or using the Google browser or operating system.

iMovie for Apple: This recorder is similar to the AZ Screen Recorder, but for Apple devices. This is particularly useful for screencapturing whiteboarding applications on the newer Apple iPads with the Apple Pencil (for drawing or writing by hand).

Camtasia: If you are willing to invest a little, the simplest and most robust recording tool good for both screencapture and webcam recordings is probably Camtasia from Techsmith. Part of the Camtasia interface is the ability to add interactive quiz components on certain devices. They have a free or lite version, as well, that you can use to snip screenshots and recordings.

Windows Movie Maker: If you have a Windows device (such as a PC), Windows Movie Maker is typically free in the Microsoft suite. It allows you the ability to record and edit simple video, including some fun transitions and animations between scenes.

Animoto: This is a free, educational video recording software that comes with several, ready-made templates you can use to get started making your own learning videos.

Vyond: Formerly Go Animate, Vyond is an animation or doodle application that allows you to make simple animations using built-in, ready-made animating tools to design your film either as a whiteboarding doodle, "paper slide" using digital objects, or animated cartoons.

Voicethread: Going off script here for a moment, Voicethread is a far bigger tool than just a recording medium. You can use Voicethread to host an asyncrhnous discussion around a centralized learning object (such as a video) in which all your learners can contribute a video, audio, or text-based comment to the discussion.

Webcam Embedded Software: If you have a built-in webcam on your laptop or Macbook, then chances are that webcam came with specific drivers and software somewhere on your hard drive that you can launch and use to record video. Try doing a programs and applications search in your Start menu or applications viewer for "webcam" or "camera" and see if you can find your built-in device's software.

Smart Phone: Lastly, I will just add that smartphones make marvelous videos. To record simple paper slides or hand-drawn illustrations, I prop my phone up on two yardsticks so that the camera lens is pointed between the sticks. The yardsticks are suspended on two stacks of books about 2 feet high on either side of the tabletop. On the table beneath the lens is blue or green paper (to diffuse the light from the camera). Then I start drawing with a Sharpie and/or sliding paper slides onto the page while I record straight from my phone. I also point my phone at myself on a tripod or tabletop to record simple "talking heads" or scenes.