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Online Learning Toolkit

This toolkit was developed to provide resources and tools for librarians who are engaged in online learning efforts at their institution, whether in full course management systems or as stand-alone tools to incorporate into web pages or instruction sessio

Screencasts

Overview

What is screencasting? "A screencast is a digital movie in which the setting is partly or wholly a computer screen, and in which audio narration describes the on-screen action..." read more from John Udell, O'Reilly Digital Media Feature "What is Screencasting". Udell describes different situations in which you could use a screencast, including business and sports applications. This wiki focuses on educational purposes only.

Paid Screencasting Tools

  • AllCapture (balesio): Windows only. Captures in real time, add audio during recording or after completion. Can output to Flash, EXE, ASF, DVD, SVCD and VCD. Free trial available. http://www.allcapture.com/eng/index.php
  • Camtasia (TechSmith): Mac OS X and Windows. Screen recording tool comparable to Captivate. Create videos for almost any project setting, including YouTube, iPods, and blogs. Can narrate PowerPoints. Includes text captioning, audio narration, closed captioning, full motion recording, and assessment options. Offers a 30-day free trial. http://techsmith.com/camtasia.asp For some examples see: http://www.library.uiuc.edu/diglit/tutorial/orr/index.html (screen capture examples) and http://www.library.uiuc.edu/learn/videos/cite_source/cite_source.html (PowerPoint example)
  • Captivate (Adobe): Versatile tool used to record screen captures to create demonstrations and interactive problem-based training. Includes text captioning, audio narration, closed captioning, full motion recording, and assessment options. Offers a 30-day free trial. http://www.adobe.com/products/captivate/?sdid=CBCLB
  • HyperSnap6 (Hyperionics): "is the fastest and easiest way to take screen captures from Windows screen and text capture from places where system text copy is not possible. HyperSnap combines the power of a first-class screen capture application with an advanced image editing utility - wrapped into one easy-to-use tool. Now compatible with Windows 7." Free trial available. http://www.hyperionics.com/hsdx/index.asp
  • iShowU (shineywhitebox): Mac only. iShowU offers a wide-range of presets that allows you to record directly into Quicktime and up to 1080P in both NTSC and PAL formats. Also does audio and the file is ready to be published as soon as hit stop. Free demo available. http://www.shinywhitebox.com/ishowu-v1/
  • ScreenFlow (Telestream): Mac OS X. ScreenFlow captures the contents of your entire desktop at the same time as your video camera, microphone and computer's audio. Capturies DVD, video, audio and fast moving presentations. ScreenFlow lets you easily add zoom & pan effects, trim clips, add drop shadow & reflection, adjust audio levels etc. You can even combine existing media into your screencast. Free trial available. http://www.flip4mac.com/screenflow.htm
  • ScreenRecord (Mien Software): Mac only. ScreenRecord is a screen recording tool that allows the user to capture the screen as a Quicktime movie. It is useful for creating training CDs, visual tutorials, and much more. It can also be used as a monitoring device. Offers a free trial. http://www.miensoftware.com/screenrecord.html
  • Viewlet Builder6 (Qarbon): Mac, Windows, Linux. Produces Flash videos, which can include interactive components, such as quizzes, polls, callouts, and captions. Learning Management System integration (SCORM/AICC). Free trial available. http://www.qarbon.com/presentation-software/viewletbuilder/

Free Screencasting Tools

  • CamStudio: (GPL) Open source tool that allows screen recording, but doesn't have the editing ability as Captivate or Camtasia. "CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs)" http://www.camstudio.org/ Also: CamStudio Portable .. open source screen capture ... runs off an external thumb drive http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/camstudio_portable
  • HyperCam™ (Hyperionics): Windows only. "Video capture software that records AVI movies (screencam) directly from your monitor ... supports text annotations, sound, and screen notes."
  • Jing (TechSmith): Mac OS X and Windows. Captures and shares images and videos. Can also be used as a supplement to chat, discussion posts, blogs, tutorials and includes free hosting. JingPro version available for longer video captures. http://jingproject.com/
  • Screencast-O-Matic (Screencast-O-Matic): Windows, Mac, Linux. "The original online screen recorder for one-click recording from your browser with no install for FREE!" "Pro" version available. http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/
  • Wink (Debug Mode): Windows, Linux. Captures static screens which can be combined with audio to create a Flash movie. http://www.microimages.com/support/Wink.htm

References

  • Betty, P. (2008). Creation, management, and assessment of library screencasts: The Regis Libraries animated tutorials project. Journal of Library Administration, 48(3/4), 295–315. Retrieved June 12, 2011, from EBSCOhost.
  • Kroski, E. (2009). That's Infotainment!: How to Create Your Own Screencasts. School Library Journal, 55(2), 40-42. Retrieved June 12, 2011, from EBSCOhost.
  • Oud, J. (2009). Guidelines for effective online instruction using multimedia screencasts. Reference Services Review, 37(2), 164-77. doi: 10.1108/00907320910957206
  • Sugar, W., Brown, A., & Luterbach, K. (2010). Examining the Anatomy of a Screencast: Uncovering Common Elements and Instructional Strategies. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 11(3), 1-20. Retrieved June 12, 2011, from EBSCOhost.
  • Udell, J. (November 16, 2005). What is Screencasting? O'Reilly Digital Media. Retrieved June 11, 2011, from http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2005/11/16/what-is-screencasting.html