Digital Technology – Screencasts

Screencasts are something new to me. I wasn’t’ certain what they were at first, but I had an idea based on their name. A screencast is a video recording of your computer screen where you can include audio. It is can be used as a teaching tool or a way to share information and ideas. I spent some time looking at two different web applications that create screencasts. I used Screencast-o-matic.com and Jing, which can be accessed through https://www.techsmith.com/jing-tool.html. As I was playing around with the two webapps, I tried to keep in mind how I can use them as a learning tool in the classroom. I also focused on the pros and cons of each of the programs and determined which I prefer to use.

Both Screencast-o-matic and Jing have free downloads.  With Screencast-o-matic, you do not have to download it, but I chose to so that I could compare it with Jing. I found Screencast-o-matic to be easier to download, but the free plan limits the number of screencasts you can create.  I had a little harder time with Jing, dealing with all the pop-ups and advertisements, trying to get me to download additional products. It was a little frustrating but the program itself was similar to Screencast-o-matic. They both were fairly simple and easy to navigate. The buttons were clear so there was no confusion on what performed which function. 

Both Screencast-o-matic and Jing offer video tutorials to help you with creating and saving images and screencasts. Screencast-o-matic had several videos for specific guidance such as Recorder and Video Introductions, Video Editing, Tips and Tricks, and many more. Jing has a basic tutorial video when you first log in, but the company’s website, www.techsmith.com, offers tutorials for everything you can imagine you would need to know under the support tab. I think that Jing has a better selection of tutorials than Screencast-o-matic, but I find Screencast-o-matic to be easier for me to use, so less tutorials are needed.

Screencast-o-matic offers additional plans which charge a monthly fee depending on the features you would like. Some of the additional features include more editing options, stock videos and images that you can incorporate into your own screencasts, and the ability to work collaboratively with others through video hosting. You can also create a channel or a way to group screencasts together based on a particular subject and share the link so others can access them.

With Jing, you can capture screen images or videos and share them with others.  However, the makers of Jing announced that soon Adobe Flash Player will no longer be able to be used with it and they are creating other screen recorder tools to meet users needs. Screencast.com is the new free webapp they have created along with others that can be purchased for a fee such as Snagit and Camtasia, which offer additional features. Some of the additional features include the ability to take separate images and combine them into one, the ability to organize images and share them with others, as well as additional editing tools and stock images available for use.

I found Screencast-o-matic to be user friendly. It was easy to figure things out and find what function I was looking for without any issues. However, it only allows you a handful of free screencasts before you have to pay to upgrade to a different plan. On the bright side, the screencasts you can create can be recorded for up to fifteen minutes.  With Jing, you can create more screencasts, but they can only be up to five minutes. I like having the option to make longer screencasts. I created a screencast using Screencast-o-matic.  I chose to share the instructions and demonstrate for students, in a 6^th grade Social Studies class, how to use Microsoft Word to create a web. It's well over five minutes. There is no way I could have used Jing for this. You are welcome to see the screencast for yourself. It is below.

The screencast I created with Jing is about a website, www.littlealchemy.com. It’s a fun, interactive game that students can play to help them understand elements, mixing them, and chemical reactions. It’s around four minutes. Jing worked fine for this one, but I do not feel it allows enough time in general. If I am trying to explain a process or give instructions for a lesson, more than likely, I would not be able to cover everything in five minutes or less. The screencast is below.

Between the two webapps, I personally prefer Screencast-o-matic. Both programs have their pros and cons, but I feel more comfortable using it. I like that you have more time to create screencasts. I also like how you can create a channel and share the link with others. This would be a great way to share resources and information with both staff and students. I can see using it to record instructions so that students who have been absent can see what they missed or be able to access the link from home and stay caught up with their schoolwork while they are out. Also, the instructions recorded can be accessed by all students so those who need a reminder or are not sure what they need to do can see it and get the information they need. Students can also use the program to demonstrate the process they use to complete an activity or show how they located specific information and share it with others.

As a librarian, screencasts can be created to demonstrate how to use the online catalog or databases, how to create a PowerPoint or a Prezi, or how to use some other webapp or resource. The cost to upgrade the plan to the next level is less than $2.00 a month, or $15.00 a year. I think that it’s worth the purchase for what the program offers and all the ways you can use it in education.