My most common use is it to create a quick video to show how to utilize various applications or the Web. As a techie educator I have begun utilizing Screencasting often with adults and students. The methods of technology professional development used by many school districts are expensive and mostly inefficient. With Screencasting districts can create online professional development where learners can participate when they need it, when they have the time, and can do it at their own pace. The best part of that is they can go back and review the entire or just part of the Screencast as a refresher when they need it. I also have used it for student evaluations – think about being able to give a student a math problem to work out on your interactive white board and they have to work it out and record their voices explaining the steps. Or while your students are creating a video documentary one of the team members records what the team did step by step and records the learning conversations occurring throughout. (Can you say high-level thinking?)
The term Screencasting was used first in 2004 although there were similar screen recording tools available before then. With the new growth of popularity software is becoming more available and several are free. Some of my favorites include Camtasia Studio ($299, Windows only), ScreenFlow ($99, Mac only), Jing (free, Mac & Windows), ScreenToaster (free, web-based), or ScreenCastle (free, web-based). Things to look for while evaluating should include ease of use, available features, ability to download, store and access the screencasts you create.
Here are some screencasts created at Camp Plug & Play 4.0:
So next time mom calls asking how she can see your video on Facebook or your colleague needs to see the steps (again) to see how many sick days she has left, just create and send a little video. They’ll be able to pull it up whenever they need it and hopefully next time they call, they’ll be asking you over for dinner.
There are a few spaces left in Camp Plug & Play's "Screencasting: Tutorials 2.0" June 14-18, 2010. Email info@azk12.org.
Amanda Hughens has been in education for 16 years and teaches in the Litchfield District.
There are only a few drawbacks to being a computer nerd and the biggest issue is that everyone from your boss to your friends to your colleagues has questions about how to add something to their web page or how to submit an online absence request. (It’s like being the only friend with a pickup truck when someone is moving). This is why I have fallen head over hills in love with Screencasting! Screencasting is actually quite simple; it’s a recording of what is happening on your monitor. With most applications today you can jazz it up to create a dynamic video with added audio and other media files. 