Screencasting--Access to Lectures 24/7

Screencasting may be a new term to some, but it is likely what teachers have wanted for many years....student access to lectures 24/7.

OERI Resources:
Screencast-o-Matic Intro 
Wordle Book Report
Go Pro Info


What is it? As screencast is a video and audio recording of your computer screen.  I make many screencast videos of my screen when I create tutorials showing the steps of how to use various websites.  Free screencasting software does limit the amount of videos or the length of videos.  Once you start creating screencasts then you may find that it is worth the money to purchase the software!

What does it mean for teachers?  Often teachers wish they could capture a lecture, put it in a video and make it accessable to students to view again.  That is what a screencast is.  Picture this:  A teacher uses screencasting software (which many are free), they pull up a PowerPoint presentation, push record on the screencast and lecture as they move through the presentation.  At the end, they push stop and they are prompted to save the video.  Then the teacher uploads the video to their website, notify their students and voila......Lecture 24/7. 

What do you need?  If your computer does not have a built in microphone then you will need a microphone head set.  You will need to download some screencasting software. (products are listed below)  Other than that, just some time and great ideas will allow you to provide some great learning opportunities for your students. 

Screencasting:

• Jing:  This is my favorite and the one I use most.  It only allows you to make a 5 minute video.  So far that has worked for me.  If I need more than 5 minutes, I break my "lecture" into topics and make more than one video.  Jing also allows you capture a still image off your screen.  You can also edit your images text and images to your video. I have a YouTube account and upload my videos directly into YouTube, mark them as unlisted and post the link on my website.  If you pay for Jing then you can make longer videos.
• Screencast-o-matic;  Free version and purchase version.  The free version does give you 15 minutes of video.   Pro is $15 a year....not bad!  You can upload straight to YouTube.  You don't have to create an account, but I suggest you do so you can store your videos. I haven't used this, but I think I will download it and give it a shot.  If you try it, let me know what you think by commenting below.
• Camtasia:  This is probably the best and most popular, but it is a paid software.  You can get a free trial.  It has a one time cost of $299. 

Class Uses:

• If you have a document camera connected to your computer, you can capture your computer screen showing the images from your document camera.
• If you have a webcam you can capture yourself talking as a small square in the bottom of the screen as you go through your presentation.
• Play a YouTube video and capture the screen, pause the video while you lecture, resume the video.
• This would work great in connection with a whiteboard application like Educreations.

Resources:

• Jing:  YouTube video on how to use Jing (this is a Screencast!)
• Screencast-o-matic:  Youtube video on how to use (notice he has a webcam shot of himself in the corner)
• Missouri S & T--information paper on Screencasting