Thing 12: Video Tools

The second-to-the-last Thing! You're almost there...we're only a few steps to the top of the Web 2.0 mountain! Woo hoo!

Thing 12: Video Tools

Have you ever tried to explain how to use a computer program, web tool, or software application to someone? It can be pretty frustrating, especially if you are not actually teaching them in person. Have you ever used an online tutorial when you were learning a new application? Screencasting is the perfect tool for these scenarios. Screencasting is a way to create short videos where you can record what's happening on your screen while you're narrating via microphone or webcam. And if you don't have a microphone or webcam, you could add subtitles AFTER you've recorded.

There are a lot of different ways you could go about recording your screen. If you're on a Coe-computer, we've loaded software called "CamStudio" into the Coe Specialty Apps folder in your program menu. CamStudio will capture everything on your screen, and record your voice, too if you've got a microphone plugged in.

For Thing 12, though, I'd like to show you an online tool called ScreenToaster. The advantage of a tool like ScreenToaster over CamStudio or even a camera behind your shoulder is that once you've recorded your screen capture, it's just another click of the button to have it available to anyone that needs to see it!

Here's the screencast I created using ScreenToaster: Lisa's Screencast. I have a Logitech webcam with built-in microphone attached to my computer. You could also use just a USB mic, or in the absence of both, you could add subtitles to your screencast after recording. (note: if you're having trouble seeing the screen in my screencast, you can enlarge it by clicking the little square in the lower-right hand side - directly under my lovely videoface)

Other options for screencasting tools include Jing (free, but requires a download) or Screen Jelly (no downloading requirements, but videos are limited to 3 minutes, and geared toward posting on Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites).

Discovery Exercise

• Look at ScreenToaster, Jing and Screen Jelly - pick which you'd like to use for this exercise.
• Create an account as necessary (ScreenToaster will require a new account, Screen Jelly will use your Twitter account or Facebook account).
• Create a screencast. It can be as simple as recording a few clicks in your favorite website, or perhaps you've discovered a new gadget in Blogger you'd like to share.
  
• Put a link to your screen cast in your next blog post. Can you imagine other uses for this in your class, department of discipline? Would you benefit from screencasts that might show you how to navigate Google Apps or my.coe.edu functions? Would you consider having your students create screencasts (perhaps of them working formulas in Excel or online calculators even?)