16.+Screencast+Project


 * SCREENCAST** (30 points) 12/05

A lot of library instruction is repetitive. We give the same lessons over and over again. During the time of the lesson students may be absent or simply lost in their own thoughts. Sometimes the students will be needing help and the media center will be closed or the LMS is unavailable.

As a manager of the school library we need to expand our services beyond the bricks and mortar. Access and service should be 24/7 as much as possible. Screencasting will give you an easy way to add video content to the LMC Web site.

You can use any software you want to create your own screencast. I am recommending Jing for this project because
 * it is free
 * you can upload your finished product to Jing's server as a host for your product
 * it is easy
 * you are restricted to five minutes – which is the length any student would tolerate in the real world
 * it does provide an upgrade path if you want to be able to export your project to YouTube for a modest $14.95 per year

Here is a great article talking about screencasting and how it can be important to the school library program. Kroski, Ellyssa. "That's Infotainment: How to Create Your Own Screencasts." //School Library Journal.// 1 Feb. 2009. Web. 3 Aug. 2010. .

This article discusses a variety of screencast software applications that you may want to try instead of Jing. The article also discusses how a teacher uses the software in her classroom.
 * Kaechele, Michael."Screencasting to Collaborate or Show Off Student Work." //Free Technology for Teachers//. 17 Feb. 2010. Web. 3 Aug. 2010. l.

Download Jing (or whatever software you choose to use) to your computer [].
 * Have a plan. Map out where you are going to go in your presentation and rehearse it.
 * Eliminate background noise. The dog barking is very distracting and will detract from your performance and your grade.
 * Be sure to get a microphone in order to be heard well. Students trying to use a computer’s built-in microphone have not been able to produce a quality experience.
 * If you are using Jing, learn how to use the pencil tool to mark on the screen as you point out links, buttons, etc.
 * Keep in mind this is a moving project – staying a long time on a static screen even with voice over is dull and uninviting.
 * See if the software you are using has on-screen annotations. Sometimes text on the screen will drive home your point even more.

The process is the important thing in this project. Pick something that you have to tell students over and over as a librarian (How do I find the databases on the LMC Web site? Where do I find the passwords to the databases when I’m not at school? How do I find out if this book is available at another library in the district?) and create a screencast that lasts a minimum of four minutes and does not exceed five minutes. After finishing and uploading your project you will be given a link (it is automatically put on your computer’s clipboard) which you will post to Blackboard.
 * Project is 4-5 minutes long. None should be over 5 minutes. (20 points)
 * Narration is clear and not filled with a lot of pauses or “uhs” (5 points)
 * Project focuses on a significant topic and is not trivial (5 points)

Post the link to your screencast in the discussion forum. By all means look at each others' project and comment.

If you would like to read even more about screencasting, here are some additional links: “Screencasting.” //November Learning.// 6 Nov. 2008. Web. 6 June 2009. <[]>. Koval, Anna. “Screencasting 101.” //Screencasting 101//. 22 Nov. 2008. Web. 6 June 2009. <[]>. This is a wonderful PowerPoint by a dynamic school library media specialist.

Here is a great article about why libraries need to take great care in designing good online instruction. http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/practice/tutorials-matter.