Screencasting

Screencasting is a way to record your computer screen while you narrate, show content and/or conduct demonstrations that students can view asynchronously. Educators can create short video clips or tutorials to share with students, families or colleagues on how to complete an activity, perform a class process (like turning in an assignment), give feedback or use a software tool.

Examples of tools in this category include

What does this look like in my class?

Getting Started

The Ultimate Screencasting Guide for Teachers and Students

Why and when are you using these tools?

Easy to use tools help educators create these short “how-to” videos on the fly when it’s hard to explain a process through email or chat. Teachers can add a screencast to a digital worksheet to remind students how to answer a problem (like Kahn Academy’s math videos). With screencasting, educators can provide better and equitable access to material for those who need to hear the instructions multiple times: MLL, ELL, students with 504s, etc.

What are students doing?

Students can asynchronously watch video for instruction at point of need. Students can return to a video multiple times to get clarification on a process.

What are educators doing?

Creating short videos as needed by using simple screencast software (no editing required, hyper-link auto-created at end of video).

Defining where students/families struggle with process or instruction and breaking those ideas down into small, manageable chunks that can be screen recorded.

What digital resources do educators need to screencast?

A device connected to wifi that has a microphone. A device with a camera is helpful if the teacher needs to film away from the computer screen, ie to film a lab demo, to show his/her face, etc.