Screencasts in the classroom

Our school just purchased a site license for Screencastify and I couldn’t be more excited about the applications for both teachers and students alike. For me, flipping a classroom is at the top of the list.

But there are many other benefits as well with screencasting.

Benefits

1. Staff and students can use (with our site license; free versions are available for all as well);
2. Easy to create screencasts or videos;
3. Can share videos to Google Drive, YouTube, and Google Classroom;
4. Can export videos and import them into Premiere, iMovie, or other video editing applications;
5. Can edit & annotate within the program;
6. Only need a laptop with a webcam and an Internet connection;
7. Can embed the webcam into the video or record without it;
8. Have your videos available 24/7;
9. Students can watch, rewind, fast forward, re-watch again and again unit they understand the concept.

Uses in the Classroom (Teachers)

1. Answer student questions;
2. Demo how to use applications;
3. Record lectures;
4. Give verbal feedback to students;
5. Record lesson plans for substitute teachers;
6. Add explanations to your slideshows;
7. Build a library or knowledge base of important skills;
8. Assess oral fluency;
9. Record your class;
10. Record your classes for students who are absent;
11. GREAT to help you flip your class;
12. Create review lessons;
13. Create virtual tours in Google Maps;
14. Create lessons to help fill in those gaps;
15. Give students another option for assignments (show their learning in a different way).

Student Uses

1. Rehearse presentations;
2. Speed up the video and watch at 1.5x or 2.0x (save time);
3. Use when you’re leading an activity or a sport;
4. Ask your teacher a question;
5. Submit a video when you’re given a choice on a format (written, oral, video);
6. Demonstrate your learning orally.

Tips for Recording Screencasts

My first attempt at a screencast took 1 hour longer than I anticipated and dozens of extra takes.

1. Plan ahead (I had to create a script for my 1st screencast);
2. Rehearse;
3. Record in quiet;
4. Relax – you can take as many takes as you want;
5. Always remember you can edit out pauses or other mistakes;
6. Check the background – that gets recorded too!;
7. Respect copyrights;
8. Look at the camera;
9. Review and edit before posting;
10. Be efficient with your time – @6 minutes is ideal;
11. Smile.

Video Tutorial

Alternatives to Screencastify

1. QuickTime
2. Screencast-O-Matic
3. Snagit