Screencasting

Why Screencast?

Have you ever needed to see a VISUAL of someone's directions to really understand? Have you ever wanted to pause someone who was speaking? If so, then screencasting is the perfect solution. You can provide instructions and visual examples for your students. Then, students have the opportunity to watch the directions, pause them, rewind, and even re-watch them, Imagine the possibilities of this awesome tool!

Screencasting Apps and Extensions

If you search the Web Store, you will find a variety of options for screencasting. Each app or extension likely has its own special features. The extension i use is TechSmith SnagIt, which is very user friendly. You can add it to your Chrome browser and start screencasting in no time.

Using TechSmith SnagIt

If you install SnagIt or another Chrome extension, it will appear beside the URL bar in a web page or app. Clicking on the icon (SnagIt looks like a blue box with a white S), opens the extension. It brings up a drop-down menu with a camera section and a video, or screencast section.

To create a screencast, select the video option SCREEN. You can choose to allow noise via your computer's microphone, or you can mute the microphone feature by clicking the microphone icon.

Once you have decided whether or not to use the microphone feature, you must choose what view you want for your screencast, When you click on the SCREEN option, SnagIt provides you with some screenshot options. Typically, I use the INTERNAL DISPLAY option, which you can see on the left below. This version allows visuals of the tabs, shelf, and toolbars.

After selecting the screen option, click on the SHARE button, and the recording will start. When you finish, click on the STOP button located in the lower right corner of your Chromebook (pictured below).

Once you choose STOP, TechSmith SnagIt will start syncing your captured video. Then, you can give your video a name, so you can find it later. SnagIt also creates a folder in your Google Drive, where all of your videos reside, making it quite simple to insert them into sites, blogs, or even slides.