I learned about a cool, new (to me) tool at my state library conference last weekend. It's called Screencast-o-Matic, and it's FREE!
You can create an account, but you don't have to. You can pay $15 a year, but you don't have to. Here is the video I created, just to show you how it works.
This video is a preview, not a tutorial, really. I can see lots of possibilities for creating videos for students and colleagues, explaining how to do things on the computer, like search for a book, or download an ebook.
Oh, yeah, and one more cool thing. I got to meet Shannon Miller from the Van Meter Library Voice at the Mackin booth. So fun!
Back to our topic, have any of you used Screencast-O-Matic (or a similar tool) before? Do you have any more great ideas for videos you'd like to make? What kind of videos could students make, to show their understanding of search strategies or database use?
I can't wait to try this! I got inspired at our local conference a few weeks ago, but haven't slowed down enough to think of something I want to capture. I'm thinking a self-checkout tutorial for the beginning of the year, book fair wish lists and online shopping navigation, over view of PebbleGo and World Book, maybe just a simple tour of the resources of our website.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, that is the great thing about this...it is so quick and easy, not a big production at all! And so many possibilities!
DeleteCari
I've used Screen-cast-o-matic with my sixth graders. They created screencast informercials about our databases. It was pretty awesome! They also used the screencast function of Quicktime. They loved using both.
ReplyDeleteAnnie,
DeleteI love the idea of students creating informercials!
Cari
I have used a similar program called screenr and I love it. I used it to show kids how to use voicethread in their library centers. It is great for explaining all those online resources. I love the idea of explaining self checkout, this is my first year as a media specialist and my kids had never done self checkout before.
ReplyDeleteChris,
DeleteI have not tried self chekout yet. What do you do with Voice Thread? I haven't tried that either. I LOVE new ideas!
Thanks so much for your comment!
Cari