Screencasts

 Screencasts

A screencast is a digital recording of a computer screen where you can record lesson videos. Through the videos, a librarian can explain to the students how to use the school OPAC to search for books and other programs. A teacher can use a screencast program to record the introduction to a lesson or explain to the students how to solve a math problem. The best thing about a screencast is that once you record, the recording can be uploaded to any platform. For example, a teacher or librarian can upload their recordings to their google classroom. Students and teachers can access the recording any time they need to reference something they need a refresher in.

Screencastify- This program is a basic program to use, and it is easy to maneuver. The program offers drawing tools that you can use while you are recording. I use this program to record some of my lessons at the beginning of the week. It can be added as an extension to your computer, which makes it easier to record. The only downfall is that it only gives you 5 minutes per recording, and that is not enough time when you are trying to explain a lesson.

My Screencastify Link

Screencast-o-Matic- I really enjoyed using this program because it has many similarities to screencastify. At first, I did have some trouble understanding how to use the program, but it became easier to use after playing and experimenting with it. One thing I liked the most about the program is that it gave you 15 minutes per recording, which is sufficient time to record and explain a good lesson. 

My Screencast Link

TechSmith Capture (former Jing)- This screencast former name was Jing. It wasn't my favorite program to use because it took a while to get the program installed to the computer and once it was installed I didn't understand how to use it. It took me a few tries to understand how to make it record. I had to go to website and watch videos about the program. I also kept losing the dialogue box where it gives me option to record. Once I finished recording it didn't seem complicated but I wish it had fewer steps to get to the recording. 

My Jing Link

*Each program had it pros and cons. These programs can be used to record lessons for the classroom. Screencast are very handy at this moment in time with virtual teaching. The teacher/ librarian can record a lesson or a refresher on a lesson so students can go back and watch it if it is needed. As educators we know that not all our students are synchronous and they log into the class when they can. By posting screencasts about how to do an assignment or how to search for books in the OPAC will be very beneficial to the students.  Screencastify is a good program but the timing wasn't enough. When I was recording I ran out of time and had to re-record myself.  Overall, after using each program I decided that my favorite is screencast-o-matic because it was easy to use and it gave sufficient time to record a lesson.