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Station 4

Key #4 - Select a screencasting tool to record instructional videos.

Do you sometimes feel like you need to clone yourself? If so, consider recording a screencast to save you time and effort.

Learn about some great screencasting tools and how you can use them in the classroom and on campus.

Ways Teachers Can Use Screencasting

There are many ways teachers can utilize screencasting in the classroom. Check out a few below:

Flip your classroom – Create content videos for your students
Demonstrate how to complete homework
Create training videos for staff or students
Explain to your sub what the students are to do for the day
Introduce material if you are out; your sub can show it
Make screencasts of your student’s presentations in order to showcase them
Create screencasts for parents about a big upcoming student project

Ways Students Can Use Screencasting

Likewise, there are many ways students can utilize screencasting in the classroom. For example:

Show understanding of taught material
Teach others how to do something
Show off work
Illustrate concepts or solve problems
Create voice-over images or screencasts that tell a story

Step 1 - Meet the Problem & Task

Problem

"What tool(s) are you using to create your flipped learning videos? I'm not quite sure how to get started! Can you help me?" asked Sharon in the teacher's lounge. You had run into each other and were excitedly sharing about some feedback you'd received from a student. "Well," you start out, "it depends on what you have available to make it. There are many choices you can take advantage. You also need to keep them short (3-5 minutes), an engaging. I like to drop the answer to a question in the middle of the video, then ask students what it was at the end. Why don't you come around and I'll show you?

Task

Try out some different screencasting tools you can use. Take an existing video you have created, or one that's already available online, and setup an assessment for it using your tool of choice.

Background Info & Tools

A host of screencasting tools are available. For example, a framework you could model for students:

1-Pick out five photos that are about a particular event, a situation, or topic.

2-Write three to four sentences about each of those photos. (Sample storyboard | ACMI Generator)

3-Combine sentences and photos into a digital story.

Chromebook Friendly Tools

Windows Tools

Free Tools
Apowersoft Free Online Recorder (Free for limited use)
CaptureCast (Free unlimited) in Chrome browser
Ezvid for Windows (Free unlimited) - Tutorial - RECOMMENDED
Nimbus Screencast (Free unlimited) in Chrome browser- RECOMMENDED
Screencast-o-matic (Free 15 min recording or $18 for pro version annually...Chrome version in beta)
Screencastify (Free with watermark and 10 min limit or $20 unlimited sans watermark) in Chrome browser- RECOMMENDED
TinyTake for Windows (unlimited recording)

Purchase Required

SnagIt ($29.95)
Camtasia Studio ($179.90) if you need higher end video capture and editing.

Note: Windows 10 has built-in screen recording.

Digital Whiteboards

Web-Based Whiteboards

iOS-Based Whiteboards

iOS/Android:

Reflector 3 app + one of the solutions shown below.

Explain Everything Interactive Whiteboard. This is my must-have app on iOS devices. There is so much you can do with the app, yet it has a deceptively simple starting point for those unfamiliar. You can find tons of tutorials online. This app is available for Chromebooks, too. A different version of Explain Everything, known as the Collaborative Whiteboard, offers hosting for videos at a price.
Touchcast. This free app makes green screen, flipped learning, video newsletters so easy. While it may be initially complex because of all the options, I have no doubt a short session and time spent watching others use it will get you ready to create flipped learning for your students. It is well worth learning all the bells and whistles in this app. Ample tutorials are available.
Educreations. This free app has long been on the preferred list for teachers and students. Not only is it easy (view tutorial), but it solves the problem that many educators don’t want to deal with in their particular district: where to host the video created. Educreations will host content, of course, offering additional features at a price.

For Android only, try AZScreenRecorder

Check out these Green Screen Resources in case you want to jazz up your flipped videos.

Step 2 - Create

Create ONE of the following (unless your team wants to try more):

Screencast of a paper slide sharing a key concept
Use a digital whiteboard then create a screencast explaining a concept

Step 3 - Turn In Your Project Creation

Ready to share your creation?

Open the padlet and add the link to your creation

When Complete, Move On to the Next Station

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