Module 7: Teach Something

My First Screencast – The Web of Trust 

Using Screen-o-matic

On my Mac, I used Screen-o-matic to create the  screencast and used a USB Yeti microphone to record the audio.

I decided on a screencast that would be useful to show my learners how to add the Web of Trust browser extension, as I am not able to demonstrate this on Library PCs due to network restrictions.    The next step was to plan the verbal content and combine it with a sequence of events on the screen.  I wrote a brief script using the Apple Notes app as I could add to it at any time using  my iPhone, iPad or MacBook.  There were a couple of issues that arose as I tested the sequence. For example, the selected screen recording area wasn’t large enough to account for the 3-line hamburger menu icon which popped out passed the edge of the browser window.

Another issue came when I clicked on the box to show how to review the feedback, as some comments contained profanity and I didn’t know how to ‘blur’ the words.  I decided to give an explanation instead.

Overall I found Screen-o-matic easy to use and the menu at the bottom of the screen provided quick access to the Trash can, which I used quite a lot at the beginning.  It was easy to delete the recording and start again or to press Done to save the recording.

To upload the video to YouTube I selected the option for ‘unlisted‘ which gives anyone with the link access, but will prevent the video from appearing in YouTube’s search results (I’m not quite ready for public!).  I followed the instructions on page 31 of the JumpStart guide and copied the video URL, then pasted the link into the WordPress Visual editor.

How I will use screencasting in my teaching

• I am looking forward to creating how-to videos for my digital literacy learners. Screen-o-matic was so easy to use, and being web based I will be able to quickly create a screencast, ad hoc when needed.  In teaching digital literacy in mixed device sessions I will be able to create ‘how to’ videos for each device very quickly.

• My next project is to create interactive learning material with embedded videos to make the material more accessible to a wider range of learners.

Useful Resources

http://www.mediacore.com/blog/new-research-offers-advice-on-how-to-optimize-video-length-for-student-engagement

http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/screencasting/screencast-o-matic.html

https://tosdr.org/ – Terms of Service in an easy to read format