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Looking for specific help delivering work to students remotely?
This text is being added 21.3.20 as the world is being gripped by Covid-19. If you are needing to deliver work to your students remotely and are wondering how, exactly, you are going to do that, we have put together the online course 'Deliver Work To Your Students Remotely'. Screencasting is one vital skill you'll need. But you'll also need a system of live video conferencing, message chat, online unit creation and delivery and more. 'Deliver Work To Your Students Remotely' will prove to be incredibly valuable.
To scribble, or to not scribble ... that is the question!
When starting out creating maths screencasts you need to decide whether or not you will create screencasts based on freehand scribbling, i.e. featuring your handwriting, a la Kahn Academy videos. Your answer should not be an automatic yes because your decision greatly depends on the hardware you have access to.
Furthermore, if you are an iPad user, it is wise to not automatically assume your iPad is your best option from which to create scribbling screencasts. Your iPad may be your ideal screencasting tool, however, after reading the information on this page you may decide otherwise.
Furthermore, if you are an iPad user, it is wise to not automatically assume your iPad is your best option from which to create scribbling screencasts. Your iPad may be your ideal screencasting tool, however, after reading the information on this page you may decide otherwise.
Video: Screencasting hardware comparedThe video at right features a comparison of iPads, Mac computers, conventional PCs and Tablet PCs regarding five important aspects to creating scribbling screencasts.
Click this link to view the table featured in the video. |
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Creating scribbling screencasts using a Mac or
conventional PC computer
The table above indicates why it is more complex to create scribbling screencast videos from a Mac or conventional PC computer.
The two options most people consider for creating scribbling screencasts from a Mac or conventional PC are listed below. However, each of these raises the level of complexity and neither are, in our opinion, recommended for beginners.
Option One
Mirror your iPad to your computer. In recent years either Reflector or Airserver have been successfully been used by teachers to mirror their iPads. More recently another option has appeared - Lonely Screen.
Option Two
Connect a graphics tablet to your computer. (Ask your IT department - there may well be some unused graphics tablets sitting in a cupboard somewhere!)
As mentioned above, both these options require a more complicated setup. For beginners - i.e. for those working through this module - if you will be using a Mac or conventional PC then we recommend either of the following three options:
The two options most people consider for creating scribbling screencasts from a Mac or conventional PC are listed below. However, each of these raises the level of complexity and neither are, in our opinion, recommended for beginners.
Option One
Mirror your iPad to your computer. In recent years either Reflector or Airserver have been successfully been used by teachers to mirror their iPads. More recently another option has appeared - Lonely Screen.
Option Two
Connect a graphics tablet to your computer. (Ask your IT department - there may well be some unused graphics tablets sitting in a cupboard somewhere!)
As mentioned above, both these options require a more complicated setup. For beginners - i.e. for those working through this module - if you will be using a Mac or conventional PC then we recommend either of the following three options:
- Avoid initially creating freehand scribbling screencasts. Rather, create some screencasts which do not require freehand scribbling (see below).
- Use Powerpoint - cleverly, a la the demonstrations below. You might even be able to use your mouse for some annotations!
- Use OneNote. A tutorial is provided below.
Powerpoint - Arguably the best basis for creating scribbling screencasts
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Powerpoint is an ideal tool for all maths screencasters - those who edit their screencasts and those who record their screencasts in one take. Rather that trying the impossible - showing slides, scribbling, talking and recording it all live - set up all your slides in Powerpoint first - including all your scribbled annotations.
THEN record your one-take-without-mistakes screencast relatively stress-free! The set up takes longer but you’ll only need to record the video once so you’ll probably SAVE time Want to see how? Check out the video at right - it is gold. Note: This technique is just as applicable for those who edit their screencasts. |
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Powerpoint video Breakdown:
00:10 Using Powerpoint rather than Word for creating screencasts
00:15 If the content to be featured is already in Word, use a screen capture tool (e.g. Jing) to paste the relevant content into Powerpoint
How to create the annotations sequentially00:36 Rather than doing the annotations as you record, do all scribbling on the one slide before you start recording.
The reason you do all the annotations initially is that you need to ensure all your annotations will fit. Once all annotations are complete you will be looking at the final slide (you have one slide and it will be your final slide).
Next, duplicate this final slide to make the 2nd-last slide. Delete the final annotation from the 2nd-last slide. Duplicate the 2nd-last slide to make the 3rd-last slide. Delete the final annotation from the 3rd-last slide. Repeat this process until you arrive at the first slide containing the first annotation.
1:00 Scribbling in slideshow mode
2:07 (For Tablet PC’s and Office 365) The Draw feature
2:36 For those without the Draw option (activating the inking tool)
00:15 If the content to be featured is already in Word, use a screen capture tool (e.g. Jing) to paste the relevant content into Powerpoint
How to create the annotations sequentially00:36 Rather than doing the annotations as you record, do all scribbling on the one slide before you start recording.
The reason you do all the annotations initially is that you need to ensure all your annotations will fit. Once all annotations are complete you will be looking at the final slide (you have one slide and it will be your final slide).
Next, duplicate this final slide to make the 2nd-last slide. Delete the final annotation from the 2nd-last slide. Duplicate the 2nd-last slide to make the 3rd-last slide. Delete the final annotation from the 3rd-last slide. Repeat this process until you arrive at the first slide containing the first annotation.
1:00 Scribbling in slideshow mode
2:07 (For Tablet PC’s and Office 365) The Draw feature
2:36 For those without the Draw option (activating the inking tool)
Let's not forget OneNote!Neither Stuart nor I use OneNote. However, we are very aware that for some teachers OneNote provides a 'foundation for their teaching'. Having viewed some tutorials on the web I can see that OneNote clearly has some awesome features which can be utilised when recording screencasts. Check out the tutorial below. There's plenty more on YouTube.
Video Tutorial: Preparing screencasts with OneNote. |
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Non-scribbling screencasts are sometimes much better than
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Computer-based (non-editing) screencasting: Three options
Thus far we have dealt with the questions:
- "Does my face need to be in the video?"
- "Should I edit my screencasts or record them in one-take?", and
- "Should I create screencasts based on freehand scribbling or use other means?".
Loom
As you can see for this tutorial I put a dark tint through my hair, donned some glasses and spoke with an accent. Seriously, there's no point reinventing the wheel and this is a great tutorial.
As of late March 2020 Loom Pro is free for teachers (I suspect because of the Corona virus) . I recently had Loom recommended to me by a very credible source so check it out. |
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Screencast-O-maticScreencast-O-Matic comes in both a free and a pro version. The pro version allows for editing at a cost of $US15 p.a. In this tutorial, we are focusing on the free version.
Screencast-O-Matic (free version) - The upsides
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To be aware of
- Avoid using the web-based system. From my experience it is problematic. Rather, download the program as per any other program and run it from your computer.
- The pro version is awesome value as a screencast-with-editing tool. However, those who use the pro version extensively and then, years later, discover Camtasia (or equivalent) will regret not having used Camtasia from the start!
Quicktime - An ideal non-edit screencast tool for Mac!Watch the video at right.
The upsides
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Warning: When using Quicktime to record screencasts you absolutely must use Handbrake (or similar) to compress your video files.
I recorded a 1-minute, static, full-screen video with Screencastomatic. I did the same using Quicktime.
The solution ... Compress with Handbrake
The solution is to add handbrake to your workflow. Watch the Handbrake tutorial below - it is very easy to use.
I recorded a 1-minute, static, full-screen video with Screencastomatic. I did the same using Quicktime.
- The Screencastomatic 1-min video was 5.2MB
- The Quicktime 1-min video was 172 MB !!!
The solution ... Compress with Handbrake
The solution is to add handbrake to your workflow. Watch the Handbrake tutorial below - it is very easy to use.
A note about Snagit (another screencasting option)
If you have Jing, then you'll hear about Snagit from TechSmith who make both. Snagit is a more sophisticated screen-capture tool which also creates screencasts AND lets you remove some mistakes. Therefore, Snagit sounds like an excellent screencasting option. However, here's why, for most teachers, Snagit isn't a great option:
- Snagit costs $50+ and therefore Screencastomatic Pro is a much better option.
iPad-based screen-casting options
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There is a myriad of iPad screencasting options. Beware, however, that iPad screencasting apps are not true screencasting options because each app only allows you to record within the app. A true screencasting app will record the entire screen and you choose what program to use as a basis of your recording. iPad screencasting apps do not, for example, allow you to record a video which demonstrates how to change settings on the iPad or demonstrates different apps.
To record such a screencast you would need to mirror your iPad to a computer. Here is a list of commonly used iPad apps. Two of the most commonly used are ShowMe and Explain Everything. |
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Everybody needs to watch this 'Handbrake' tutorial !!
Compressing videos with HandbrakeMost of the videos you create will need to be compressed. I know, it sounds unnecessary and you are in overwhelm but compressing videos is super easy and very important for any videos over 30MB.
This may sound unnecessary and over-the-top however compressing videos is super easy and very important for any videos over 30MB. Watch the video! |
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NOTE: The handbrake interface has been updated since the video was recordedNo biggie (and the PC version is probably slightly different)
Just look for the:
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The big league - Screencasting programs that
allow you to edit!
For those wanting to edit, below is some background info. Again, we are not including tutorials on editing but are including the information below for those interested.
Camtasia
Camtasia, arguably the ultimate screencasting tool, is for both Mac and PC. It is easy to use and has awesome editing options. Around $250 with education license options. There is a free trial version but videos created with the trial come with a big fat watermark so the trial isn't great for recording. Info here.
Screenflow
If you are a Mac user, Screenflow is pretty much on a par with Camtasia but with a $100 price tag, therefore a fantastic option. (Camtasia for Mac used to cost the same as Screenflow, however recently the price was increased to match the PC version) Screenflow is also very user-friendly.
Screenflow home page here.
Screenflow tutorials here.
Adobe Captivate
Many schools already have this as part of a suite. Unfortunately, Captivate is ridiculously user-unfriendly. When a '200+ screencast expert' spends 3 hrs trying to get his head around Captivate - using the Adobe-provided tutorials - and makes zero progress, you know there are issues. You have been warned!
Screencast-O-Matic Pro
Already mentioned above. Ideal for those wanting very basic editing on a budget. Although Screencast-O-Matic Pro has many of the same editing options as Camtasia it is not in the same league (you get what you pay for). For those wanting to produce many videos over the coming years Camtasia is worth the extra price tag.
Camtasia
Camtasia, arguably the ultimate screencasting tool, is for both Mac and PC. It is easy to use and has awesome editing options. Around $250 with education license options. There is a free trial version but videos created with the trial come with a big fat watermark so the trial isn't great for recording. Info here.
Screenflow
If you are a Mac user, Screenflow is pretty much on a par with Camtasia but with a $100 price tag, therefore a fantastic option. (Camtasia for Mac used to cost the same as Screenflow, however recently the price was increased to match the PC version) Screenflow is also very user-friendly.
Screenflow home page here.
Screenflow tutorials here.
Adobe Captivate
Many schools already have this as part of a suite. Unfortunately, Captivate is ridiculously user-unfriendly. When a '200+ screencast expert' spends 3 hrs trying to get his head around Captivate - using the Adobe-provided tutorials - and makes zero progress, you know there are issues. You have been warned!
Screencast-O-Matic Pro
Already mentioned above. Ideal for those wanting very basic editing on a budget. Although Screencast-O-Matic Pro has many of the same editing options as Camtasia it is not in the same league (you get what you pay for). For those wanting to produce many videos over the coming years Camtasia is worth the extra price tag.
Create and Trial a Flipped Mathematics Unit
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The course 'Create and Trial a Flipped Mathematics Unit' is relevant for you if you are wanting to create whole units of work (with a layout a bit like this WINDSSM online workshop) - whether or not you are editing your videos. The course is especially relevant if you are wanting to explore the editing side of screencasts.
Choose a time when you have a window of opportunity to explore the course. If you are uncertain of the relevance of the course or you suspect you might already know much of the content, write a comment below or send through an email to [email protected] and we can help you to clarify the situation. Course information including participant feedback here. Course modules outline here. Example participant Implementation reports here. I sincerely hope you learned something from this information. Richard. |
See some examples of teacher-created online units below |
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