Screencasting

Screencasting

Armel Boudreau, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Definitions and background

The specific term ‘screencasting’ was coined by Jon Udell in 2004 (Sugar, Brown & Luterbach, 2010). In its most basic form, a screencast captures the actions performed on a user’s computer screen, generally accompanied with voiceover narration, and transforms it into a single movie file (Yee & Hargis, 2010). In a screencast, the instructor records the screen activities, movements and mouse clicks necessary to complete a specific task (Sugar, Brown & Luterbach, 2010). Given the fact that screencasts are usually narrated during the recording process, they aim to reach the individualized needs of students through a multimedia demonstration that accommodates different teaching and learning styles (Trail and Hadley, 2010). Screencasts are a familiar tool used on the Internet for a wide range of training and instruction (Shafer, 2010). One common use of screencasting is to provide a step by step explanation and demonstration of tutorials of software packages. (Lee, Pradhan & Dalgarno, 2008). Another widely adopted use of screencasts is in recording the didactic components of instruction or lectures and making them available to students in various digital formats (Guerrero, Baumgartel, Zobott, 2013). Finally, Palaigeorgiou and Despotakis (2010) assert that screencasts also provide an alternative note-taking option to students as well as a platform for learning exercises and questionnaires.

Links

Screencasting: How to start, tools and guidelines

The Centre for Teaching Excellence: Screencasts

How to make an educational screencast (Mac)

The best screencasting software for teachers

Screencasting to engage learning]