Screencast vs. Written Instructions - Classroom 2.02024-03-29T10:44:45Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:3597?commentId=649749%3AComment%3A10365&feed=yes&xn_auth=noWe can improve screencast vid…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-19:649749:Comment:197412007-05-19T04:21:21.205ZM. SESHAGIRIhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/seshagiri
We can improve screencast videos using audio commentary.<br />
Computer generated audio commentary can be used effectively<br />
to prepare standard videos with good audio commentary.<br />
In this regard, please read Task No.4 in http://one-task-at-a-time.tripod.com<br />
If anyone likes this idea, please share with us.<br />
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- Seshagiri
We can improve screencast videos using audio commentary.<br />
Computer generated audio commentary can be used effectively<br />
to prepare standard videos with good audio commentary.<br />
In this regard, please read Task No.4 in http://one-task-at-a-time.tripod.com<br />
If anyone likes this idea, please share with us.<br />
<br />
- Seshagiri I agree that written directio…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-02:649749:Comment:103692007-05-02T02:50:18.507ZElizabeth Davishttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/lizbdavis
I agree that written directions can be more useful at times, but I find that it takes me much less time to create a screencast, than a written document with screenshots. I also use screencasts to give directions to my 7th and 8th graders, so I don't have to stand up in front of them and explain what to do (they aren't great listeners). They are still resistant "just tell me what to do," but if I force them to use the screencasts they do find them helpful. I don't have any hearing impared…
I agree that written directions can be more useful at times, but I find that it takes me much less time to create a screencast, than a written document with screenshots. I also use screencasts to give directions to my 7th and 8th graders, so I don't have to stand up in front of them and explain what to do (they aren't great listeners). They are still resistant "just tell me what to do," but if I force them to use the screencasts they do find them helpful. I don't have any hearing impared students right now, so that isn't a factor for me this year.<br />
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I just started using <a href="http://shinywhitebox.com/home/home.html">IShowU</a> for my screencasting. Wow! This software is amazing. It is easy to use, cheap ($20), you can pause while you are working if someone walks in, you can use a USB microphone and it renders the video in seconds. I used to use SnapzPro and this is <u>way better for less money</u>. I can't remember who told me about this software - I heard about it here on Classroom 2.0 - but thanks! Unfortunately, for you PC users, I think it only works on a Mac. Something that hasn't come up…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-02:649749:Comment:103652007-05-02T02:20:49.500ZGlenn Moseshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/glennrmoses
Something that hasn't come up yet, but really needs to be considered is accessibility.<br />
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Screencasts are great. I use them frequently. It's important though, if you are going to use them, that you make sure that the information is accessible to users of different abilities. Without closed captioning, or a text alternative, screencasts are useless to users with hearing issues. Also, many screencast players are not friendly to users that cannot use a mouse. Try to start (or stop) a YouTube video…
Something that hasn't come up yet, but really needs to be considered is accessibility.<br />
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Screencasts are great. I use them frequently. It's important though, if you are going to use them, that you make sure that the information is accessible to users of different abilities. Without closed captioning, or a text alternative, screencasts are useless to users with hearing issues. Also, many screencast players are not friendly to users that cannot use a mouse. Try to start (or stop) a YouTube video using your tab key.<br />
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Compatibility also needs to be considered. Most screencasts play in Flash, which is great because it's on something like 95% of all machines. But, if you don't "embed" the screencast correctly in your web-site it may only work in Internet Explorer (or only in Firefox, or only in whatever browser). Embed is in quotes because the embed tag is dead, you have to use the "object" tag instead. Eventhough YouTube and Google Video both give the embed tag to use on your site, it's not correct and will not work across browsers, ask a Safari user.<br />
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Let's not forget about our students on dial-up. I know their numbers are dwindling, but if you want to make sure that all of your students have access to your content it's something to keep in the back of your mind. A text alternative gives your students access to your content, fast.<br />
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Having accessible text alternatives anytime you offer a screencast is the best way to go. It not only meets the needs of all of your students it allows them to pick they way which works best for them. That, to me, is a key component of Classroom 2.0. I don't think that the video…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-01:649749:Comment:100952007-05-01T20:57:23.021ZTina Bulleighhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/bulleigh
I don't think that the video way would help me much. As someone had mentioned it is probably cool for intro, but a step by step "visual guide" seems to be the best way to step me through something that I might want to know about, because it does allow you to go at your own pace. Working to help other teachers learn new software, it seems to be the most productive way that I have experienced.
I don't think that the video way would help me much. As someone had mentioned it is probably cool for intro, but a step by step "visual guide" seems to be the best way to step me through something that I might want to know about, because it does allow you to go at your own pace. Working to help other teachers learn new software, it seems to be the most productive way that I have experienced. This is timely for us here at…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-01:649749:Comment:100312007-05-01T15:48:38.379ZGina Bianchinihttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/gina
This is timely for us here at Ning. We've been introducing new releases every few weeks with a lot of new stuff in them. I've been writing emails and forum announcements, but I think something gets lost in the translation.<br />
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As many people here on this thread have said, there's really no substitute for playing around with something. It's the <i>getting</i> people to play around with something that I find a quick screencast or video might be really effective.<br />
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We'll see. We're working on a…
This is timely for us here at Ning. We've been introducing new releases every few weeks with a lot of new stuff in them. I've been writing emails and forum announcements, but I think something gets lost in the translation.<br />
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As many people here on this thread have said, there's really no substitute for playing around with something. It's the <i>getting</i> people to play around with something that I find a quick screencast or video might be really effective.<br />
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We'll see. We're working on a screencast now for the new features and improvements we're releasing tomorrow. The good news about the Internet is that you can do screencasts and written instructions relatively easily and fast. On the whole I prefer to lear…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-04-11:649749:Comment:43032007-04-11T11:07:00.130ZSusanTsairihttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/tsairi
On the whole I prefer to learn by doing, however I often read the help files, actually printing them out, as I simply don't like to read on the screen. If things are really difficult I will watch a video too, but it has to be self paced. I do think it is a case of learning styles, as I see my students choices vary.<br></br>As far as creating screen casts and print outs "Wink" Tutorial and Presentation creation software, will create a PDF from your screen cast, thus cutting out a lot of extra work.…
On the whole I prefer to learn by doing, however I often read the help files, actually printing them out, as I simply don't like to read on the screen. If things are really difficult I will watch a video too, but it has to be self paced. I do think it is a case of learning styles, as I see my students choices vary.<br/>As far as creating screen casts and print outs "Wink" Tutorial and Presentation creation software, will create a PDF from your screen cast, thus cutting out a lot of extra work. <a href="http://www.debugmode.com/wink/">http://www.debugmode.com/wink/</a> Not web 2.0 but still useful I don't know.
To me it tend…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-04-10:649749:Comment:38782007-04-10T01:10:34.393ZTom Woodwardhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/twwoodwar
I don't know.<br />
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To me it tends to be fear or no fear but that is often based on understanding some of the conceptual roots. I'm not sure it's intuitive to anyone, kids included, unless they put in serious time. Now if you've had a computer since birth and have used it fearlessly, it will appear you magically know it all but that knowledge has accrued.<br />
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I often get the "you just get it" comment but I didn't initially. I remember quite clearly floundering and getting horribly frustrated. I spent…
I don't know. <br />
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To me it tends to be fear or no fear but that is often based on understanding some of the conceptual roots. I'm not sure it's intuitive to anyone, kids included, unless they put in serious time. Now if you've had a computer since birth and have used it fearlessly, it will appear you magically know it all but that knowledge has accrued. <br />
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I often get the "you just get it" comment but I didn't initially. I remember quite clearly floundering and getting horribly frustrated. I spent years getting to the point I am at with technology and to pass it all of as intuitive is somewhat insulting to my effort/work and lets people who opted not to spend the time off a little too easy. The learning curve is steep but it gets easier. <br />
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I don't believe in immigrants and natives, no more than I'd believe you can't become fully literate if you learn to read when you are an adult. It's all a matter of effort, time and practice. I don't mind a fast paced int…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-04-10:649749:Comment:38722007-04-10T01:00:54.580ZTom Woodwardhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/twwoodwar
I don't mind a fast paced intro movie to cover the basics in three minutes or less and then I start using and usually rely on google to find help if I get stuck (but someone had to write those).<br />
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I have complaints about screencasts from the teachers who tend to need them the most (this is not an age thing, it's more of a mindset in my opinion). They always want text/graphic based directions so they can be printed out and then filed.<br />
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The more fear they have the more directions they will want…
I don't mind a fast paced intro movie to cover the basics in three minutes or less and then I start using and usually rely on google to find help if I get stuck (but someone had to write those). <br />
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I have complaints about screencasts from the teachers who tend to need them the most (this is not an age thing, it's more of a mindset in my opinion). They always want text/graphic based directions so they can be printed out and then filed. <br />
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The more fear they have the more directions they will want and video will not satisfy these teachers. I tend to end up doing both but making written directions with screenshots takes an inordinate amount of time compared to how often they are used. I'd keep that in mind, although it sounds pretty pessimistic. I enjoy your posts/replies ve…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-04-10:649749:Comment:38572007-04-10T00:46:30.720ZCary Harrodhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/charrod
I enjoy your posts/replies very much nlowell but no one stirs me up more than you do! (This is my second reply in one week; good for you!) I understand your frustration but I'm not sure it's "prissy-ness". The bottom line is that not everyone learns in the way you do; for many people, me included, technology is not intuitive or logical; it requires an unbelievable amount of time to navigate my way through the wonderful messiness of it all. Thankfully, the desire to gain a deeper understanding…
I enjoy your posts/replies very much nlowell but no one stirs me up more than you do! (This is my second reply in one week; good for you!) I understand your frustration but I'm not sure it's "prissy-ness". The bottom line is that not everyone learns in the way you do; for many people, me included, technology is not intuitive or logical; it requires an unbelievable amount of time to navigate my way through the wonderful messiness of it all. Thankfully, the desire to gain a deeper understanding of these technologies overrides the steep learning curve for me; but not all teachers feel this same gravitational pull towards technology. Convincing those who are tech saavy and/or open minded is a piece of cake; the true heroes of the Web 2.0 story will be those people who discover the key to helping the most resistant teachers understand the potential of these powerful tools. I am a huge fan of much of th…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-04-09:649749:Comment:38502007-04-09T23:36:29.061ZTeacher Khttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/EduGeek
I am a huge fan of much of the Moodle documentation. I use it, and the Moodle community, quite often. I have learned much from the online Moodle resources, but Moodle can be overwhelming at the beginning, and if you don't know where you want to start, it is easy to become overwhelmed by these things.<br />
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I can get very technical very quickly, but often when I am searching for answers to my Moodle questions I come across developers who get far more technical and cause me to feel like I am in over…
I am a huge fan of much of the Moodle documentation. I use it, and the Moodle community, quite often. I have learned much from the online Moodle resources, but Moodle can be overwhelming at the beginning, and if you don't know where you want to start, it is easy to become overwhelmed by these things.<br />
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I can get very technical very quickly, but often when I am searching for answers to my Moodle questions I come across developers who get far more technical and cause me to feel like I am in over my head. If I can feel out of my depth, I am not sure I feel comfortable sending my teachers out into the wild to search for their own answers. Most of them have told me quite explicitly that they would like their hands held, and I want to shelter them for a while until they understand the basics and start actually using Moodle. <br />
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I do feel that they should eventually be sent out to find the answers to their own questions, but I think that if I do that right now many of them will lose interest.