SCREENCASTS!
Screencasts are becoming popular now, more than ever in the education world! During the Covid-19 pandemic, educators have had to flip their teaching methods, and use distance learning to help educate students during these uncertain times. Screencasts have been one helpful method, that teachers have used to reach, teach, and communicate with students while they practice social distancing. There are many great screencast tools out there to use, try, and explore. Today I will focus on two specific screencasts applications that I have found to be exemplary!
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Screencast-O-matic
Screencast-o-matic is a great web tool that is available through chrome, Mac, and Windows. Some great features that I found useful were the screen size options, and the narration tool that allows you to share your screen and your webcam simultaneously. You are able to trim your final video to your preferences, and even resize the screen. By default the video will save as an MP4 file. You can also choose to save your video file in other formats as well. In addition, you are able to remove or show the cursor and add captions to your final video cut. Screencast-o-matic saves all of the videos that you create in your "history" folder found in the web application. You are able to access all of your video files that you publish in one spot. Here is an example video that I created using screencast-o-matic. In this example I am showing students how to use a popplet as a graphic organizer to start brainstorming ideas for a writing prompt. Check it out!
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Examples of when to use Screencast-o-matic:
- Pre-record a mini lesson and share on google classroom page or class website page
- Ask your students to record themselves working through a problem.
- Students can summarize what they learned for a specific subject, book, or essay question.
- Using google slides, teachers can narrate instruction with video recording and post for student to view
- Allow students to present a speech and record using screencast-o-matic.
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Screencastify
Screencastify was very user-friendly and is a great extension to add onto your google chrome. The download process was fast and simple. I watched the how to video and was able to use the application very quickly. You have the option to display your browser tab, desktop, or just your webcam. Just like screencast-o-matic, you have the availability to simultaneously share your screen and your webcam at the same time. I enjoyed using the annotation tools that were available such as the mouse spotlight, drawing pen tool, and click highlighting. These can come in handy when you need to grab your viewers attention to a specific place. However, with the free trial there is only a 5 minute video cap, but if you really love it, you can easily upgrade for a price. After your video is done recording, it will automatically save to your google drive. You have the capability to instantly share the google drive link, upload directly to youtube, or export as an MP4 file. Below is my example of a screencastify video recording showing students how to locate books in our online database by author. Check it out!
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Examples of when to use Screencastify:
- Teachers can give their students a document or website and ask them to record themselves reading it. This can increase fluency skills.
- Teachers can give students feedback to projects, essays, or assignments that they turn in.
- Teachers can record a mini lesson for a student when they are absent.
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Overall Thoughts!
Overall, between these screencast applications, I found screencastify to be more appealing for my needs. I use google chrome quite a bit when uploading assignments to my google classroom, and screencastify is an extension of google. The icon is easily available on my google chrome bar and I can easily click the record button when I am ready to go! The tool bar is my favorite accessory. I am able to highlight, mark, and explain lessons as I am recording and talking. This will help draw attention to where I need students to be focusing on. If you have a chance try it out and see for your self!
Hi! I also think Screencastify would be better for me! It sucks that there is a 5 minute video cap, but I do love how it automatically uploads into my Google Drive. It helps keep my screencasts in one place automatically, and it's easy for me just to share the Google Drive link with staff and students. By the way, I love the green in both your background layout and for your text! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Amy! I also like Screencastify. Our district purchased the extension for us with unlimited use. We started using it when we switched to distance learning. It was very helpful and useful. We created lessons and uploaded the videos to our Google Classroom.
ReplyDeleteMayra Blanco
I agree with your comment about Screencastify being a favorite - I loved that you could attach this tool as an extension onto Google chrome so that it is available at all times. This was a game changer during distance learning! I also liked the ideas that you shared about how to use screencast-o-matic and screencastify during distance learning, especially the idea about encouraging kids to use it to show how they work out a problem!
ReplyDeleteHi Amy,
ReplyDeleteI've never used Screencastify. I actually paid for a subscription on Screencast-o-matic. I will however look into it, simply because I love the idea of saving it straight on your google drive. Thank you for sharing.
I, too, prefer using Screencastify! My district is a Google district, so all students have a Google account and are expected to learn how to use all of the apps in G Suite. By me first using it, I will better be able to get them using it proficiently.
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, thanks for sharing examples of when to use screencast-o-matic and examples of when to use screencastify. I also prefer screencastify simply because it's an extension of Google Classroom and that's what our district's platform is.
ReplyDeleteI like that on your screencast you have a video at the bottom right of the screen with you speaking. This gives a little more personality to the video. This would be helpful when starting in the fall online, letting your students see what you actually look like.
ReplyDelete