Developing educational screencasts: practical tips and pedagogical issues Damien Raftery Teaching and Learning Centre Institute of Technology Carlow eLearning Development Officer

Developing educational screencasts What is a screencast? –Potential uses –Examples and exemplars –Word of caution Screen capture process Screen capture software –Recording with Screenr.com –Publishing References

What is a screencast? A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen activity, often containing audio narration –Budgett et al (2007) … a “look over my shoulder” effect similar to one-on-one instruction … access whenever and wherever it is convenient –Educause Learning Initiative (2006)

… appeals to different learning styles … more approachable than glitzy packaged instructional videos –Kanter B (2008) Podcasting is Dead. Long Live Video! –Cann A J (2007) Builds on existing teaching expertise What is a screencast?

Potential uses introducing a module providing guidelines or giving an overview reviewing a difficult concept previewing a forthcoming lecture, reviewing or summarising a previous lecture supporting an activity or project revising for a test answering frequently asked questions

Software example using Jing

Potential uses demonstrating a software or website feature (particularly useful for software that students have limited access to) illustrating the steps to solve a problem explaining a technical diagram or picture correcting or giving feedback –Raftery D (2010) handwriting a solution using a tablet with voice-overs (mathcasts) –Bonnington et al (2007), Budgett et al (2007), Fahlberg et al (2007)

Mathcast example using Screenr

Some examples Screenr.com –downloaded MP4downloaded MP4 – Jing & screencast.com – Adobe Captivate –

Exemplars –a blog with short screencasts explaining new internet applications and services, useful to see some good screencasts and Molly McDonald explains how she makes a screencast ( –Russell Stannard's website is a collection of screencasts to help teachers incorporate technology into their teaching. It demonstrates the usefulness of screencasts, and has a series of screencasts on using Camtasia –a website of a professional screencast creation company, including examples, a blog and a short screencast overview of the company approach to creating screencasts ( –website of provider of educational materials on using technology. Many of their courses comprise of a series of screencasts and it provides an opportunity to review some high quality screencasts. –Raftery D (2010)

Word of caution Watching a screencast can be passive Need to think about –where your students will use the screencast? computer lab v. online (Articulate example)Articulate example –how your students will use the screencast? –what your students will do before watching? whilst watching? after watching? Need to be SHORT, also –student-focused rather than teacher-focused –pedagogically-led rather than technology-led

Screen capture process - Raftery D (2010) Prepare Plan carefully Create a storyboard (optional) Keep short (split if necessary) Decide when to record audio Create a script (optional) Incorporate cues to encourage active learning Capture Use computer, screen capture software and microphone Record important part of the screen at low resolution Chunk and minimise cognitive overload Record and review a rough run-through Produce Edit video Edit narration (or record audio at this point) Add captions, highlights and other elements Add pauses with instructions Add interactivity and quizzes Publish Create final files in desired format and quality (e.g. MP4) Upload to VLE, blog or webpage See also Mount N & Chambers C (2008) and Oud J (2009)

Screen capture software Screenr.comJingAdobe Captivate FreeFree (commercial upgrade) Commercial 5 mins maximum Unlimited No editingNo editing (can bring into Camtasia to edit) Powerful editing suite including interactions and quiz MP4SWF (commercial also MP4) SWF Unbranded MP4Branded (commercial not) Record from browser (no software to install, integrates with Twitter) Install Easy YouTube uploadNo YouTube upload (commercial can) Difficult YouTube upload Learn in 5 minutes!Learn in 15 minutes!Learn in 6 hours! Also Techsmith’s Camtasia and many more

The Rapid E-Learning Blog How to Use This Free Screencasting Tool for E-LearningHow to Use This Free Screencasting Tool for E-Learning –overview of using screenr with tips How to Create Screencasts You Can Be Proud OfHow to Create Screencasts You Can Be Proud Of –full of useful tips on creating screencasts –links to 100 eLearning tutorials created using Screenr

Screenr.com Go to –create a twitter account Go to –watch the 1-minute tour –record a 15 second screencast –upload (using your Twitter account) –embed your screencast in Blackboard

Jing and screencast.com Alternative free tool –install Jing (download or files in H:\elearn\Jing) –create a screencast.com account

Publishing sharing your screencast Upload to screenr.com or screencast.com (or upload to YouTube) –link to or embed from Blackboard Or upload MP4 or SWF file into Blackboard Embedding in BlackboardBlackboard

References Bonnington C P, Oates G, Parnell S, Paterson J and Stratton W (2007) ‘A report on the use of tablet technology and screen recording software in tertiary mathematics courses’ 6th Southern Hemisphere Conference on Mathematics and Statistics Teaching and Learning Budgett S, Cumming J and Miller C (2007) ‘The role of Screencasting in statistics courses’ Paper presented at the International Statistical Institute conference (Lisbon) Cann A J (2007) Podcasting is Dead. Long Live Video! Costello E (2008) “Developing Educational Resources Using Camtasia Studio” NDLR workshop presentation Educause Learning Initiative (2006) “Screencasting and education” Fahlberg T, Fahlberg-Stojanovska L and MacNeil G (2007) “Whiteboard math movies” Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications 26(1) Kanter B (2008) “Screencasting Primer” Mount, N. & Chambers, C. (2008). Podcasting and practicals. In G. Salmon & P. Edirisingha (Eds.), Podcasting for Learning in Universities. (pp ). Berkshire: Open University Press. Oud, J. (2009). Guidelines for effective online instruction using multimedia screencasts. Reference Services Review, 37(2), Peterson E (2007) “Incorporating Screencasts in Online Teaching” Raftery, D. (2010) ‘Developing educational screencasts – a practitioner’s perspective’ in Donnelly, R., Harvey, J., and O’Rourke, K., eds., Critical Design and Effective Tools for E- Learning in Higher Education: Theory into Practice, Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. [In progress] The Rapid E-Learning Blog,