Objects of Interest

A blog about Social Learning, Instructional Design, Curriculum Development and Trends in Online Learning.

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Screencasting: A 21st Century Teaching Tool

Screencasts are a great tool for teachers and students. What is a screencast?

According to Wikipedia, A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output, also known as a video screen capture, often containing audio narration. The term screencast compares with the related term screenshot; whereas screenshot is a picture of a computer screen, a screencast is essentially a movie of the changes over time that a user sees on a computer screen, enhanced with audio narration.

http://mashable.com/2008/02/21/screencasting-video-tutorials/

Screencasting is great way for teachers to create demonstration tutorials in any subject area, using any computer application. The software allows you to record a movie of what you are doing on a computer. Along with your movie, you can record voice-over audio to provide a series of instructions.

What can you use Screencasting for in the classroom?

Students in math class can generate tutorials on how to solve problems.
Students in Social Studies can create tours through the National Archives or any museum.
Science students can be guided through simulation exercises.
Teachers can demonstrate step-by-step instructions on how to get started with any software application.

Screencasts provide students with lessons they can watch at their convenience, as often as they choose, to review class material or to help understand concepts they find difficult. Students can stop and start presentations, giving them control over how a lesson unfolds, which can help accommodate different learning styles and speeds. Even presentations that last an hour or more can be recorded as reasonably sized files. Screencasts can also add a new dimension to embedded learning. Instead of simply consult- ing a reference book to learn or refresh your memory about a basic concept needed for work on a larger project, you might access a library of screencasts and watch the one that addresses the concept at hand.