Screencasts

Screencasts are a tool used by many students, professors, and teachers to present narrated information. A screencast is a digital video that records the actions on the user’s computer screen, while the user is narrating, therefore the presenter’s voice is recorded in addition to the information on the computer desktop. I’ve explored using Screencast-o-matic, Screenr, Snag-it through TechSmith, and Jing to create screencasts. Read and learn:

Screencast-o-matic

Screencast-o-matic was extremely user friendly. I created an account, I then logged in, and Screencast-o-matic provided a quick tutoring video as to how to manage the site and create a screencast. I upgraded my account so that I could have unlimited recording time. It turned out to be as simple as following these quick and easy steps:

       1.    Open up the site, Microsoft word doc, PowerPoint presentation, or the information you want to create a screencast about  

       2. Have Screencast-o-matic open and click the red button (the record button) in order to access the screen features

       3.    Place recording frame around the information you will create screencast by clicking and dragging the recording frame to fit your information or if you want the whole desktop screen- you can do  that too

       4.    Click the record button, the screen will display a quick count “3, 2, 1” and after the 1 appears begin narrating and your screencast begins to take life

When you are done, save screencast, provide a title and Screencast-o-matic will provide a URL link and an embedded code for sharing, or option to save as MP4. I usually save mine on Screen-cast-o-matic and then I upload them to YouTube. I then share the Screencast-o-matic link or the YouTube link. The following screencast I created using Screencast-o-matic:

Screencast teaching students how to search the online catalog

http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c2l1jUe08A

Screenr

I tried creating a screencast using Screenr, but unfortunately I couldn’t. I logged in into Screenr and I quickly read the main page. I thought, “Oh wow! This is going to be a piece of cake, as its directions seemed very simple.” Screenr provided a one minute tutoring video. I learned that Screenr is compatible with Mac and Pc.  Its directions were:

       1.     Click record button

       2.     Put recording frame where you needed

       3.     Choose Mic and click record

       4.     When finished click done

       5.     Add message and publish- either to an iPhone, Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter

It turns out that without the newest version of Java Script Screenr will not function. I tried several times to upload Java to my laptop and I just couldn’t. I’m a very determined person, therefore I struggled uploading Java for about 2 ½ hours, until I decided to share my experience with all of you and maybe someone can explain to me how to upload Java correctly. Since I couldn’t access Screenr, I used Screencast-o-matic and created the following screencast:

Screencast problems uploading Java for Screenr

http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/co1ZiNfrce

Jing

Like I mentioned before, I am a very determined person, and since I couldn’t use Screenr, I investigated Jing and learned a few things. After a while of doing research on it, I uploaded Jing and I quickly created a capture and a screencast using the video option on Snag-it through TechSmith, which Jing routed me to, when I needed more recording time. I noticed that Jing allowed only five minutes of recording time. I tried creating my screencast twice, but I couldn’t do it on five minutes, therefore I upgraded my account to unlimited recording time, and it was how I was able to record my screencast using Snag it. The capture on Jing is like a screenshot and I learned that it is similar to Skitch. Jing and Skitch, both have comment boxes, bubbles, arrows, numbers, and tools to change font and color. These tools are used to add comments and/or arrows of information you would like others to know on your capture. Using Jing to create a capture was extremely easy. All I did was to look for the yellow sun shape found somewhere along the top of my computer screen after I had uploaded it for free.

Steps on how to use Jing

 1.    Click on create capture (first ray shape)  

2.     Place/ click/ drag frame where you needed

3.     Let go and the capture is captured

4.     Decide if you just want it as a capture (screenshot) and save it

5.     Or if you want to add comment boxes, arrows, or numbers to show your thoughts

I apologize for my mistake "cpature" should have been spelled as "capture."

The following is the link to my Jing Capture or view the screenshot below.

Jing Capture URL

http://screencast.com/t/yYwWdN618P4

Snag-it through TechSmith

Now to use the video capture option on Snag-it through TechSmith, I uploaded the tool first. It is similar to Jing. Jing has a yellow sun shape that’s found at the top of your computer screen, Snag-it does the same, but it’s a black small square with a red recording button in the center top. It is also found at the top of the computer screen next to Jing.

Steps on how to record video/screencast using Snag-it

      1.     Click on Snag-it square

      2.     Click red recording button

      3.     Place/ click/ drag frame where you needed

      4.     Let go frame and the screen will display a quick count “3, 2, 1” and after the 1 appears- begin narrating and recording your video as a screencast

      5.     Move your cursor to explain any important details in your presentation

When you are done, click finish recording and Snag-it will allow you to save to Screencast.com, Camtasia Studio, YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, and to TechSmith Relay. I saved mine to YouTube, but the uploading took about five minutes.

The following is my YouTube link to a screencast I created using Snag-it through TechSmith:

TechSmith Snag-it Screencast on how to create a comic strip

Now that I’ve experienced creating screencasts and captures using Screencast-o-matic, Jing, and Snag-it Video through TechSmith, I believe I will continue to use Screencast-o-matic since it saves time saving screencasts, it is simple to use, and I’m very familiar with it. Snag-it was simple to use but videos’ saving time take too long, while Screencast-o-matic is quicker. I do have to mention that the video (image quality) of Snag-it is better than Screencast-o-matic. Unfortunately I can’t say much about Screenr since I was not able to access it to create a screencast, but just the thought that I couldn’t upload Java since it requires it, it had me pretty frustrated. Although, I think it is as simple to use as Screencast-o-matic based on what I read, but I will not know for sure until I experience using it. While I created my capture with Jing, I learned that it was challenging adding the comment boxes, arrows, and numbers as I had to click quite a few times on the tools. I found out that since I clicked two or three times it would add the comment box two or three times. I had to delete them. I learned that it takes a while for icons to load up to the capture. I did not like that- time consuming. Jing could be used to create videos or screencasts lasting less than five minutes. Overall, I will continue to use Skitch to create screenshots rather than Jing and I will continue to use Screencast-o-matic to create any future screencasts.