Screencast
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
Contents |
Overview
A screencast is a video of activity on a computer screen, usually with accompanying narration. Watching a screencast is like watching the computer screen as someone works at it, and listening to them describe their work.
Screencasting software is used to capture activities on a computer screen and an accompanying voice recording. The combined video and audio can be played back on other computers, or, in some cases, an mp3 player or iPod. One of the most common ways to share a screencast is to store it somewhere that others can access it (e.g. on an Internet server), or on a CD. Screencasts can be stored and viewed as streaming video.
Screencasting Software
These are a few of the many free and commercially available software products for creating screencasts:
Windows OS:
- Camtasia - TechSmith
- Captivate - Adobe (formerly Macromedia)
- Windows Media Encoder - Microsoft - free; limited editing capability
- ViewletCam - Qarbon
- TurboDemo- balesio
- Wink - DebugMode - free; no audio
- CamStudio - free
Mac OS:
- TurboDemo- balesio
- SnapzProX - Ambrosia Software
Linux OS:
- Wink - DebugMode - free; no audio
- TurboDemo- balesio
Screencasting Software Reviews
Screencasting to help your mom - reviews by Amit Agarwal at Digital Inspiration
Screencasting with Macs - by Leland Scott
More on Screencasting with Macs - by Nick Santilli
Camstudio & Wink - by George's Freeware
Uses of Screencasting in School Environment
Screencasts are typically fairly quick and easy to produce, which makes them valuable as a teaching tool.
A screencast is a particularly excellent tool for teaching students, faculty, and administration how to use a piece of software, because of the ability to see the screen and hear a narration simultaneously. It is a digital demonstration, and it can be available for viewing at any time. A media specialist might use a screencast to demonstrate how to:
- search the Internet using a particular search engine, and evaluate the results
- find webpages using subject directories
- search for content in library vendor databases
- use virtual reference like www.lii.org or www.ipl.org
- search the library OPAC for print and other media resources
- access and use the library wiki or blog
- use a particular softwareapplication (e.g. Audacity, Microsoft Word, MS Excel, MS Access, etc.)
- connect to and use email
- traverse the library website
Library or classroom teachers might also use screencasts to record a lecture with an accompanying Powerpoint presentation, or other video.
Sample Screencasts
A screencast about screencasts; Tips from TechSmith
Student Feedback by Will Richardson
Featured screencasts from TechSmith
My Account in Alkek Library Catalog - User video for library software
Boolean operators in searching PsycINFO database - UCSD
Remaining Questions
Are there any copyright issues in creating a screencast which demonstrates how to use a commercially available product?
Links
What is Screencasting? A comprehensive look at screencasting, including uses, tools, and tips, by John Udell, lead analyst for the InfoWorld Test Center. O'Reilly Digital Media website.
Podcasts and Screencasts from about.com
http://www.screencast.com/ Software from TechSmith to help with distribution and control of rights of screencasts
Will Richardson's Screencast Links Scroll down to SCREENCASTING
