Slidedeck to support a hands-on professional development workshop for academics on screencasting

1. Damien Raftery
eLearning Development Officer
@damienraftery

2. Developing educational screencasts
What is a screencast?
– Potential uses
– Examples and exemplars
– Word of caution and example use
Screen capture process
Screen capture software
– Recording options
– Publishing
References

3. 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)

4. … 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?
* Debunked by Donald Clark, David Didau, Cathy Moore
(The Guardian slide, broader learning myths)
preferences

5. 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

6. Software example

7. 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)

8. Mathcast example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6YHZqEtjBM

10. Where your students will use the screencast?
computer lab v. online

11. Kay, R. H. (2012). Exploring the use of video podcasts in education: A comprehensive review
of the literature. Computers in Human Behavior, 28, 820-831.
Kay, R. and Kletskin, I. (2012). Evaluating the use of problem-based video podcasts to teach
mathematics in higher education. Computers & Education, 59, 619-627.
[Example Problem-based video podcast link]
Problem-based video podcast link

12. Example: rethinking a computer lab
Videos replace demonstrations of lecturer
– accommodates students with different speeds
of comprehension
– lecturer spends more time with weaker
students without having to restrict the
progression of the stronger students
O’Loughlin (2009)
Videos replace lab classes?
– videos with exercise files available online
– students submit homework for grading
Nicholson & Nicholson (2010)

13. 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)

14. Pedagogical framework for screencasting
Robert Talbert
• Keep it Simple:
Focus on one idea at a time
• Keep it Short:
Keep videos to a length 5-6 minutes max.
to maximize attention
• Keep it Real:
Model the decision making and problem solving
processes of expert learners
• Keep it Good:
Be intentional about planning the video.
Strive to produce the best video and audio quality possible
http://wiki.ubc.ca/Documentation:Design_Principles_for_Multimedia

15. MS PowerPoint
INSERT > SLIDE SHOW >

16. Screencast-o-matic
http://screencast-o-matic.com

17. Screen capture software
PowerPoint PowerPoint Mix Screencast-o-matic
Free
(record screen; saves within
slide, can save as video)
Free
(record screen; saves within slide,
can save as video)
Free
(PRO commercial upgrade)
No limit No limit 15 mins maximum
No editing No editing No editing
(PRO includes powerful editing)
MP4 MP4 MP4
Unbranded MP4 Unbranded MP4 Branded
(PRO not)
Included Install PC Record from browser
(install once)
Learn in 5 minutes! Learn in 10 minutes! Learn in 10 minutes!
+ Record Slide Show + Webcam, Quiz, … +PRO: editing, music, …
Also Articulate Replay (part of Articulate Studio),
Chrome’s Screencastify, Techsmith’s Jing, SnagIt & Camtasia and many more

18. Aside: Recording on a tablet
Overview from Dr Frances Boylan DIT
Example recorded using iPad with stylus
(be careful with audio quality)
http://explaineverything.com/

19. Create a screencast
Task #1
– go to screencast-o-matic & create account
– record a short test screencast
– download MP4 file
– upload MP4 to HEA Media Hosting or YouTube
– embed your screencast in Blackboard
Task #2
– Open PowerPoint. Go to Insert tab. Select Screen
Recording to record test screencast. Save as MP4.
(see how to video)
– Go to Slide Show tab. Select Record Slide Show.
(see how to video)

20. Publishing: sharing your screencast
Host online, link to/embed in Blackboard
HEAnet Media Hosting (screencast overview)
"Users can upload their original videos using an easy-to-use upload
form. The videos are transcoded into formats suitable for streaming
and podcasting. Once transcoded the videos can then be
embedded in a user's website, or viewed using unique URL."
Log in to http://media.heanet.ie/ with your IT Carlow credentials
YouTube: Public or unlisted
Unlisted: only people who know the link to the video can view it. An
unlisted video will not appear in any of YouTube's public spaces
(such as search results, your channel, or the Browse page).
Hosted by Screencast-o-matic/Jing/…
Also Vimeo. Google Drive? OneDrive? ??

21. Tip
Use a image
at beginning

22. Track students use of video
EDPuzzle (free): add questions to a YouTube video, crop the length, add audio
comments, track individual student’s progress, give feedback – example (without login)
Overview video (3mins)

23. Getting students to watch pre-class videos
TLC Staff Hub > Blackboard Support > Assessments

24. 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
http://www.bonnington.org/publications/TabletLectureRecording.pdf
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!
www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/journal/vol10/beej-10-C1.pdf
Educause Learning Initiative (2006) “Screencasting and education”
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/255213
Fahlberg T, Fahlberg-Stojanovska L and MacNeil G (2007) “Whiteboard math movies”
Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications 26(1)
Kanter B (2008) “Screencasting Primer” http://screencastingprimer.wikispaces.com/primer
Mount, N. & Chambers, C. (2008). Podcasting and practicals. In G. Salmon & P. Edirisingha
(Eds.), Podcasting for Learning in Universities. (pp. 43-56). Berkshire: Open University
Press.
Oud, J. (2009). Guidelines for effective online instruction using multimedia screencasts.
Reference Services Review, 37(2), 164-177.
Nicholson, J. and Nicholson, D. B. (2010). ’A stream runs through IT: using streaming video to
teach information technology’. Campus-Wide Information Systems 27(1). pp.17-24.
O’Loughlin, B. (2009) ‘An investigation into the use of short screen recordings as a means of
instruction in a practical computer module’ EdTech 2009 National College of Ireland, 21-
22nd May [NDLR screencast resources]
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.
Seery, M. (2010) ‘Podcasting and screencasting for supporting lectures’ Blog post and handout
Talbert, R. blog http://rtalbert.org/blog/