Screencasts for Learning & Teaching What is a Screencast? Screencasts are video recordings of the computer screen activity, often accompanied by audio narration. A screencast is used primarily as tool to deliver online lectures or presentations and demonstrate the use of computer applications.
The concept of automated lectures is particularly
beneficial in asynchronous teaching and learning as it provides the opportunity for students at a time and place that suits them best. Screencasts allow students to;
Study at their own pace – students can pause, rewind and replay video recordings until they are confident with the topic taught
Learn in a way that accommodates their preferred/different learning styles – The use of screencasts accompanied by text accommodates visual, audio and reading learning styles
Screencasts help instructors;
take advantage of the ‘flipped classroom’ concept – students study the lectures at home and bring the ‘home work’ to the classroom allowing more time and space to engage and interact with peers and instructors
build a repository of reusable objects that contributes to the growth of content for online delivery
eLearning @ TEES | Department for Learning Development | Teesside University
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Screencasts for Learning & Teaching Oct ‘14
Build the Brand and Enhance Student Experience Screencasts are particularly effective way of allowing instructors to introduce themselves to their students through a short video. It is best practice to interlay picture-in-picture webcam recordings between presentations or demonstrations at least for a few seconds. This helps student acknowledge and reinforce the ‘presence’ of a tutor and creates a sense trust towards the University brand. Screencasts can be used to deliver the following:
Lecture / Presentation PowerPoint slides with voice over provide the best representation of a traditional in-class lecture.
Demonstration or tutorials Often watching a demonstration helps us visualise and understand the process and the expected end result better. For example, screencast is a very effective tool to demonstrate the how to use software, complex programming, simulation, plotting graphs/charts, drawings and even character design for animation.
Math formula / Annotations Explain and write math derivatives/formulas easily using a stylus pen (on a touch screen) or a graphic tablet to create the effect of a personalised learning experience. Annotations could also be used within lectures to stress key points or notes.
Personalise Feedback As an addition to existing written feedback, screencast of students’ work with verbal feedback (sent/shared privately) will be valuable resource for students who require the extra assistance interpreting margin notes.
Frequently Asked Questions Explain or contextualise for example an assignment project brief and cut-down the time spent responding individual queries.
eLearning @ TEES | Department for Learning Development | Teesside University
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Screencasts for Learning & Teaching Oct ‘14
Screencast Tools & Software Having the right kit will help you focus on planning and creating a professional looking screencasts. Here are some of the basic equipment required for producing a screencast:
Desktop computer or laptop with Windows 8/7/Vista/XP or Mac OS X 10.6 or later, some programs require additional plug-ins
A good quality microphone (i.e. USB Microphone)
Built-in or external web cam
Screencast software (refer the list below)
Graphic tablet or stylus pen on a touch screen for text and illustrations
The Department for Learning Development have a screencast recording facility set-up in M7.01B (Middlesbrough Tower) equipped with a HD touch screen (with a stylus pen), document camera, condenser microphone and Camtasia Studio (video editor). Please contact the Departmental Administrator Jeanette Crosby at
[email protected] to book this facility.
The following lists the most popular free and commercial software for producing screencast:
Commercial
Free
Camtasia Studio* (for PC) &
CamStudio
Camtasia for MAC Very popular, easy to use and integrates
Open source screen recording software
well with PowerPoint.
Adobe Captivate
Jing
E-learning development software that
A popular free to download software for
also features screencast capabilities
PC and MAC but has a record time limit of 5 minutes
Microsoft PowerPoint
Screenr
‘Add-Ins’ available within PowerPoint to
Online or downloadable screen recording
create screencasts
tool with a record time limit of 5 minutes or pay subscription for HD/unlimited recording and additional features
eLearning @ TEES | Department for Learning Development | Teesside University
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Screencasts for Learning & Teaching Oct ‘14
Top Tips and Best Practices
❶
Plan Your Topic
❺
Script
List out the objectives for the lesson and
Script to avoid unnecessary “uhms” and long
decide the format it will be presented (i.e.
pauses. Try to avoid reading or heavily relying
PowerPoint presentation, tutorial,
on the script, add your own personality to the
demonstration).
presentation. Speak clearly on the microphone.
❷
Over-crowding
Keep the slide presentation simple, use a set
❻
Practice
template with the university logo and School
Familiarise yourself with the screencast
colours, ensure there is good contrast between
software, practice your piece before the actual
the background and font colour, use a sans-
recording.
serif font with a legible font size. Keep to a maximum of 4-5 bullet points on each slide.
❸
Engage
If required provide supplementary
❼
Record in Chunks
Record 3-4 slides at a time, as it would make the editing process easy. If possible record several takes and pick the best.
materials/activities like quizzes, hand-outs, images, working files or coding for students to engage before, after, or during a pause in the
❽
video.
Edit and customise the video to add a
Edit & Customise
professional finish, and if necessary add
❹
Keep It Short
transitions, visual elements, or text overlay.
Ideally, each video should not exceed 15 minutes.
eLearning @ TEES | Department for Learning Development | Teesside University
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Screencasts for Learning & Teaching Oct ‘14
Do’s & Don’ts The cardinal Do’s and Don’ts before you start recording.
❶
Desktop
❸
Space & light
Simple desktop background – change your
Find a quiet room to record – close windows
desktop background to something
and door to minimise noise and interruption.
simple/generic, avoid distracting images. Clear your desktop icons – place them in a
Ensure there is enough light in the room if you are using a webcam.
temporary folder. This is quite handy when you need to minimise your window or look for folders on your computer desktop.
❹
Resolution
Select the right resolution or recording area –
❷
Close or Turn Off
Close all unrelated applications and windows on your screen. Turn off all pop-ups, alerts and notifications (i.e. messages, meeting reminder) on your computer and on your mobile phone.
Before you start recording make sure that you have selected the right window on your computer screen.
❺
Think Ahead
Think ahead if your demonstration for example requires other applications open, visuals or images, screen ready for log in, table or data to be copied.
Please refer to the Recording Screencasts using PowerPoint How-to-guide to create your own screencast.
eLearning @ TEES | Department for Learning Development | Teesside University
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