Screencasting

What is it?

Screencasting is a digital video where it captures what is happening on a computer screen and may include narration. It helps to explain software featuresundefined and train in the use of them. It is very similar to the program that allows remote computer access for demonstrating an activity on classroom computers, only it is prerecorded instead of in real time. The term 'screencasting' was first recognized in 2004, but there was some early technology that was used as early as 1994. Originally the screencasts were very large files and had only limited editing capabilities. Now, however, the files are much smaller and editing is quite simple.

Short-How To

The process its self is pretty easy and fairly quick to do. All that is needed is a program such as Camtasia Studio and a microphone. Camtasia will let you create that screencast, edit and publish to your website. 

Tutorial:

Educational Uses

In the classroom there are several different uses for screencasting. One being that it would be great to use for students with disabilities. Students with downs syndrome for example may have a hard time reading instructions to perform certain tasks, but if they have a screencast that they can watch and learn from instead, they will much more likely to be able to perform the task themselves. Another way to use screencasting in the classroom would be to teach the students how to use a new program, say Excel for example, that they have never used before. This will help eliminate the teacher from having to try and be at 20 places at once. The screencast will show the steps right there in front of each student helping eliminate some of the confusion. Teachers can also have the students themselves create screencasts as group projects. For example, a teacher could have each group create a screencast that teaches a younger brother or sister or a grandparent how to do something that they don't know how to do, like how to create a picture on a program like paint or a video story from the program Picasa3.

Software Review

Camista Studio is a very popular choice for a screencasting program.

ScreenCam, Captivate, and Camstudio are also common screencasting programs for Window users.

For Mac users SnapzPro and ScreenFlow are commonly used.

Connections to a Classroom:

Digital Resources:

http://www.screencast.com/

Is a website that provides some basic information and help for screencasting. There is a short video on the homepage that explains what features the site has. They offer a free account with them that has limited bandwith and some storage capabilities for your screencasts created on their site. They also offer an advanced account with them that has an increased bandwith and storage capabilities.

http://www.bmyers.com/public/941.cfm?sd=30

Is a helpful website that gives the basic rundown of the process and how screencasting can be used. It provides a couple of examples of how to create screencasts and how they can be used. The site is created by Bill Myers, who is an author, director, and film maker.

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7012.pdf

Is a website that talks about the 7 things you should know about screencasting and has an example of how a college professor used screencasting for his class.

Weblinks to Ideas for the Classroom

Creating a Rainbow

Percents and Proportions

Measuring with a Ruler

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screencasting

http://www.bmyers.com/public/941.cfm?sd=30

http://www.screencast.com/

Google Images:screencasting

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