The Last Task:
Screencasting
Screencasting search tips
Screencasting with Julie (sans musique)
Screencasting with Julie (avec musique)
Friday night, just before nine, Julie and I finished our screencast and entered the realm of almost all done, uploading, choosing a thumbnail, embedding links. We had decided several weeks ago that we would do this last project together and it's a good thing, too, because I know I couldn't have finished it without her.
We in Middle School are just coming off of report cards, so we've been pouring all our extra minutes into evaluation and comment writing; screencasting was on the back burner for awhile, but I am glad to say, it's done.
I have three screencasts posted here. The first is a search tip about how to narrow image searches. The second and third are the same, a "What NOT to Do" of slide presentations, but one has music added. The screencast itself is not complicated, but the preparation for speaking live during the screencast is time-consuming. In addition, any editing you undertake in iMovie is another huge investment of time. I was up until 3:30 a.m. adding the music to "The Presentation Puzzle" and there are still many hours I could put in to make it better. Screencasting is the perfectionist's bane because "good enough" has to do.
I have posted all of them on my future class webpage and I plan to do more with Julie and on my own. But, I'm not that convinced by these types of tutorials get used a lot, except, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, by students who are absent. I suppose there's always the flipped classroom argument as well, and I know Julie has had a lot of success because even when a couple of students watch and learn, they can be a big help in class to the kids who didn't take the time.
Unfortunately, I don't think most of us like watching tutorials when we have a task that needs to get done. I tend to flounder around and try to figure it out as I go, rather than watch someone demonstrate how to do it. Or, I only watch enough of the tutorial to get my bearings. Maybe it's only me.
Right now, I can do the same types of things I do on the screencast live, in my class, and answer questions students have. I think I am more dynamic, students are more engaged, and they can practice what I'm teaching while the lesson is going on.
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Don't forget to check out what the other Biches did!
Karen Lovett
Ms Julie Forbes
I learned a lot from you Search narrowing tips.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you say about "just playing around" form of figuring things out, because I am like that myself- mostly because I am easily bored.
But, I do like the idea of using screencast for teaching how to do something specific that really doesn't have to do with the content. I, too, am not sure I would use it to teach a lesson. But I do like the idea to use it to demonstrate a technique.
You make great tutorials, but the way!!!!
Like Karen, I see what you mean about most of us not wanting to take the time to watch a tutorial when we have a task and a time crunch. That is usually the case! How many of us say to ourselves, "I have a free moment. Let me play around with Google!" However, I think a tutorial lasting under three minutes (as yours is) is PERFECT. It's a quick way to learn just one thing. Yours gets right to the point and is beautifully explained. I only have one question: can you filter for cuteness? :-))
ReplyDeleteOne more comment: I loved working on the presentation screencast with you and love the new version! But I am dismayed to learn that you were up until 3:30 AM.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for our next project!