Screen Captures for Teaching

by
Michael D. King
For Further Information on Instructional Screen Recording Visit: Tech N Tuit

Wikipedia defines screenshot as, "a screen capture, or screen dump is an image taken by the computer
to record the visible items displayed on the monitor or another visual output device. Usually this is a
digital image taken by the host operating system or software running on the computer device, but it can
also be a capture made by a camera or a device intercepting the video output of the computer.
Screenshots, screen dumps, or screen captures can be used to demonstrate a program, a particular
problem a user might be having or generally when computer output needs to be shown to others or
archived, or to simply show off what you do on your computer to others."

For teachers, screen capture software can be an extremely effective tool when introducing new
technology skills to students. Teachers, especially technology teachers, are often faced with the task of
teaching technology skills that take multiple learning sequences to learn certain software applications.
To reinforce the development of technology skills, teachers can make use of screen recording software
such as Camtasia Studio, Screencast-o-matic, Jing, Wink or CamStudio to develop video tutorials that
introduce technology skills needed to complete a particular task.

The video tutorials can be made readily available and accessed on demand by learners who require
additional support with using a particular technology. Technology tutorials may include simple tasks
such as how to login to a website to more complex task of using software applications. Instructional
recorded tutorials that demonstrate how to use an application can be created by the teacher in about
the same time it takes to teach the skill.

One use of screen recording software is the creation of animated learning material for a digitally
composed interactive lesson. Animations can be created with your favorite application such as using
avatars in a PowerPoint presentation and then recording the screen to capture the animation. Teachers
can also edit the recording by transferring the file to either you imovie or MovieMaker video software
editor and create additional voiceovers or lay down music tracks.

 Sample Animated Screen Capture Video Created in PowerPoint

There are many benefits of screen recording on computer teaching and training from WonderShare they
are listed as follows:

1. Fully reflect the subjectivity of students, and drive the entire class to complete the task and
explore more.

2. With the video tutorials recorded from screen, it breaks restriction of time and space in
learning. Usually, students listen to the teacher in the class, and then go to practice. If they
don't focus their minds, some operations or main points may be unable to grasp. And it is not
practical for teachers do repeat the course. Screen recording provides a convenient way to help
students to learn and explore, no matter in classes or in extra-curricular.

3. All levels of students are taken in consideration. There are some differences of learning
progress among Students. It is more conducive for different levels of students if there are
detailed video tutorials. Students who master fast and do some deep exploring while students
who master slowly can spend more time and opportunity to consolidate their learning.
 4. A big help for teachers. There will be more time for teachers to manage and guide students in
computer course learning. And there will be more time for Students to collaborate with peers,
and more opportunities for exchanges opinions with their teachers.

5. Screen recording documents can be done by both extra-curricular and in class. The screen
recording documents need to be prepared before such computer courses. If necessary, teachers
can install the screen recording software to help students deal with some unexpected problems
in class. On-site recording and distributing is a necessary complement for pre-class preparation
improvement.

6. In favor of post-production and application. The screen recording documents used in class can
be improved in accordance with the learning performance of students because of the post-
editing and publishing features of screen recorder like DemoCreator. So that teachers can make
better screen recording documents, and they can be used for other classes or for the next year.

Screencast-O-Matic
Screencast-O-Matic is a free and easy way to create a video recording of your screen (aka screencast)
and upload it for free hosting all from your browser with no install! Screencast-o-matic.com was
launched in May 2007 and is a website that allows technology teachers to create recordings of their
screen activity and audio. Technology teachers can then post their videos to their website through the
use of html widgets. To post an instructional video using Screencast software you can upload the
screencast video to School Tube and then copy the "embeddable player" code into a plug-in as shown
below. You can also directly hyperlink your presentation to your uploading website by using websites
like TeacherTube, SchoolTube, Vimeo, and Graspr.

Example Embeddable Player Code

Copy and Paste Embeddable Player Code into Plug in

Sample Embeddable Player Code for Widget Plug-in

<embedsrc="http://www.teachertube.com/embed/player.swf"width="470"height="275"bgcolor="und
efined"allowscriptaccess="always"allowfullscreen="true"flashvars="file=http://www.teachertube.com/
embedFLV.php?pg=video_10315&menu=false&frontcolor=ffffff&lightcolor=FF0000&logo=http://www.
teachertube.com/www3/images/greylogo.swf&skin=http://www.teachertube.com/embed/overlay.sw
f&volume=80&controlbar=over&displayclick=link&viral.link=http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.
php?video_id=10315&stretching=exactfit&plugins=viral-2&viral.callout=none&viral.onpause=false"/>

The screen cast website also allows a registered users to create screen casts and keep track of them in
"My Screencasts." Technology teachers can create a Channel and add favorite screen casts to them.
There is also a screen cast Request feature, which allows users to request for someone to do a
screencast on a particular topic. Once their screen casts are complete, the screen cast creator has the
options of viewing them on the Screencast-o-matic site or converting them to a QuikTime movie file
which can be saved on a hard drive and uploaded to a video hosting website like the ones referenced
above. You can also use ScreenCasting to record PowerPoint presentations.

Resource Links
 Things You Should Know When Recording Tutorial Demos
 Record Screen to Videos of All Formats
 DemoCreator 2.8: Edit Voice Narration for Your Screen Recording
 Screen recorder software in Computer Science Teaching