Screencasting is a very useful tool if you want to show someone how to do something. The great thing about screencasting is they can see what you're doing in real-time and follow along if they choose to at a time that is most convenient for them. I am a visual learner and love to watch someone do something rather than just hear about them doing it. I have had some experience using screencasting in my library and look forward to doing much more in this unprecedented time n history!
Screencastify
I was introduced to Screencastify by a member of my staff and never really thought about looking into anything else. This was a quick, easy tool that allowed me to convey short videos to my staff when it was convenient for them. I did not find a very steep learning curve when using this product.
Pros:
- I love that it has a Google extension. We are not a Google district but my previous campus was. I am very pro-Google as many people within teaching and outside of teaching are familiar with many of its products.
- There is a free version that is very easy to use. It allows multiple recording options such as choosing to record one tab specific, your entire desktop or using your webcam.
- It is very user friendly. I didn't have to play around with it much before I was able to navigate the program with ease.
Cons:
- The free version only allows up to 5 minutes of video. This can leave you feeling like you need to beat the clock and rush your video.
- If you choose to pay for it, it is a yearly subscription rather than a one time fee.
This is a Screencastify I created to show a PD opportunity I gave to the teachers. It goes over the digital resources we have on campus for a refresher to old staff and a much-needed overview for the new staff members.
I had never heard of Snagit before but I did watch their introduction video housed on their main paid and liked what I saw. I really liked being able to customize a video to my needs and adding arrows, numbers, and text boxes to highlight any specific instructions in the video.
Pros:
- If you decide to pay for the membership, it is a one time fee that can be installed on two machines of your choosing.
- It is compatible with Mac and Windows users.
- It allows for many sharing options.
Cons:
- The free version is very limited in what it has to offer when compared to their introductory video.
- It took me a bit more time to understand how to use to program and I have to Google some questions.
This is a Snagit video I took to show teachers how to get to the new campus tool since we are now working from a distance.
My choice
To me, it depends on what you are wanting it for. If you don't plan on using it often or have a need that exceeds the 5 minutes, I would say Screencastify would be great. If you are wanting something with more options and don't mind paying, I would choose Snagit because it offers more options to the user.
My personal preference would be Screencasity simply because I think it's more user friendly and it was easier for me to figure out how to embed the link. It is also tied to Google which is a huge plus for me.
I enjoyed your screen cast. Providing a tutorial for your teachers is a wonderful way to communicate with your staff! I am a visual person so having access to a video right there to review is very beneficial--especially now since we are having to do everything online.
ReplyDeleteYour Screencastify was great! It is a great tool to use for quick professional development. I too found that Screencastify was a great tool but feel its 5 min. time limit isn't enough. I preferred Screen-o-matic due to this. I am also a visual learner and find screencasts great for learners like us!
ReplyDeleteI also really enjoyed Screencastify as well, it has come in quite handy with the new teaching circumstance of distance learning. While Zoom has become the number one digital resources to video record, chats, used for distance learning, teleconferencing, and many other uses. I really like the "record" feature that allows sharing screens and records to be used as lessons. I really enjoyed learning about all these screencasts that have been beneficial to us in these difficult times.
ReplyDeleteGreat information!!! Thanks for your wonderful informative blog.
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