Screencasting

A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output, also known as a video screen capture, often containing audio narration. One of the problems with Google Slides is the lack of audio support. If you create a Google Slides presentation and then install the Screencastify extension, you can play the slideshow and narrate over the top of it and have a complete video!

Classroom uses for screencasting:

• Instructional videos

• Narrating slideshows

• Explaining student understanding

• Dubbing a video

• Giving a speech or performance

• Practicing fluency

• Providing feedback

• Ability to export as a MP4 or animated GIF.

Screencastify

Our favorite tool to use for screencasting is a Google extension called Screencastify. It allows you to record either a Chrome browser tab or you desktop. Once it is recorded, it saves to your Google Drive, in addition, you can upload it to YouTube. Users can also set their webcam to show the teacher in the lower right corner of your video (optional). Screencastify has both a free and a paid version. The free version allows you to do everything mentioned, but limits your videos to less than 10 minutes and limits you to 50 videos per month. It also adds a watermark to the video. The premium version is $24 per year and allows unlimited recording length, unlimited number of videos, no watermark, video editing (trimming), and a host of other options. The Topeka Public Schools has purchased the premium version for all staff to use. If have a TPS email account, then you have the premium version.