Screencasts and Instagram
This week, I sampled using Screencasts and Instagram for classroom purposes.
Screencasts
Screencasts allow users to record and display information on the computer screen. There are so many possibilities of using Screencasts in the classroom. Teachers can record themselves doing a lesson to share with students for a review. If students did not grasp a concept in class, they can watch the screencast video to review that concept. Screencasts can also be used as an alternative to homework. I have seen this being used in 'Flipped classrooms'. Students can watch the screencast on an upcoming topic in class, and they will be prepared to discuss the topic the following day. This is a great way to save and use class time in order to address misconceptions and personalize learning based on students' understanding of the topic. One of the most innovative ways that I've seen teachers use screencasts is by having students record themselves teaching lessons based on what they have learned in class. They use websites with manipulatives to teach place value and then show their parents what and how they've learned new topics. This could also be used for peer tutoring. What a great way to extend learning for all learners. I really like the idea of recording a Screencast on days when I have a substitute teacher! This is a wonderful way for teachers to reach their students, even when we are absent.
Screencast image using Jing:
Jing
I liked using Jing as a tool to capture images on my computer. I typically do a Print Screen, then copy it into Microsoft word, crop it and save. This involves many steps. Jing saved me a lot of time because I could do all of the previously mentioned steps in just one. All I had to do was click and drag on the part of the screen that I wanted to use. This combines the capturing and cropping into one step. Then the final step was saving it. Very simple! It literally took me a few seconds to capture the image above from my website! This would be great to highlight important parts of a website to students. Students can also capture specific images from a website using Jing and include it in a presentation, while crediting their source. This saves teachers a big headache when wondering if students will stumble on inappropriate images when students conduct Google searches. If students already find an image on a page they are currently on, they can simple 'Jing-capture' it. I like that Jing is like a hidden gem hiding at the top of my computer screen. It's small enough that it doesn't disrupt my web-browsing, yet visible to a point that I know it's there and can easily access it if needed.
Screencast-o-matic
Having doing Screencastify in the past and felt completely comfortable using it, I did not think I would find a screencast program better than it. Was I wrong! My partner teacher and I have used Screencastify at school to record videos for our students. We both loved that the videos can be loaded into our Google Drive folders. Upon exploring Screencast-o-matic, I found that I can load the videos into my Google Classrooms at the click of a button. How convenient! Similar to Screencastify, users can also upload videos to Youtube.
Another benefit of Screencast-o-matic is that users have the option of adding music to their background. Yes, it is a very limited selection, but it is still something! Students (and teachers😉) would love this option. One cool feature of Screencast-o-matic is that screencast videos can be grouped into 'Channels'. A teacher can create a channel for their classroom and upload all of the videos into that channel for students to have access to 24/7. This is great for students who are struggling on a certain learning concept. They can always go back to a certain video for review. Screencast creators have the option to include closed captioning on their video. This is a great way for users to support accessibility.
Screencast-o-matic over Native American Research
https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cF63cLYaA7
Instagram
I've been an Instagram user for years, but never thought of the benefits of using it in the classroom. Each class can come up with a unique hashtag to access all posts by students for that class, such as #mckeaguebooktalks. Students can create book talks for books that they would like to recommend to their peers. Teachers can use Instagram as a communication tool with parents where pictures and videos are posted of student activities and classwork. My one worry about Instagram is that students might stumble on inappropriate content or pages.
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckeaguelibrarian/
Image using Phonto to type text on the image:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpN-k6JgI3i/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Video (story) on book recommendations from a couple of my students:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpN7WjEgOCy/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Conclusion
Out of all the tools I explored today, Screencast-o-matic was my favorite and the one I definitely plan to use immediately. The fact that my students can view screencasts as a way to discover new concepts or review previous topics is a huge benefit. The fact that I don't have to worry about my students stumbling on inappropriate content is comforting to me. With Instagram, I am not sure how to avoid this. Screencast-o-matic syncs with Google Drive, Google Classroom and Youtube, which are all tools that I use in my class. There are so many ways that I'd use Screencast-o-matic in the classroom!
Screencasts
Screencasts allow users to record and display information on the computer screen. There are so many possibilities of using Screencasts in the classroom. Teachers can record themselves doing a lesson to share with students for a review. If students did not grasp a concept in class, they can watch the screencast video to review that concept. Screencasts can also be used as an alternative to homework. I have seen this being used in 'Flipped classrooms'. Students can watch the screencast on an upcoming topic in class, and they will be prepared to discuss the topic the following day. This is a great way to save and use class time in order to address misconceptions and personalize learning based on students' understanding of the topic. One of the most innovative ways that I've seen teachers use screencasts is by having students record themselves teaching lessons based on what they have learned in class. They use websites with manipulatives to teach place value and then show their parents what and how they've learned new topics. This could also be used for peer tutoring. What a great way to extend learning for all learners. I really like the idea of recording a Screencast on days when I have a substitute teacher! This is a wonderful way for teachers to reach their students, even when we are absent.
Screencast image using Jing:
Jing
I liked using Jing as a tool to capture images on my computer. I typically do a Print Screen, then copy it into Microsoft word, crop it and save. This involves many steps. Jing saved me a lot of time because I could do all of the previously mentioned steps in just one. All I had to do was click and drag on the part of the screen that I wanted to use. This combines the capturing and cropping into one step. Then the final step was saving it. Very simple! It literally took me a few seconds to capture the image above from my website! This would be great to highlight important parts of a website to students. Students can also capture specific images from a website using Jing and include it in a presentation, while crediting their source. This saves teachers a big headache when wondering if students will stumble on inappropriate images when students conduct Google searches. If students already find an image on a page they are currently on, they can simple 'Jing-capture' it. I like that Jing is like a hidden gem hiding at the top of my computer screen. It's small enough that it doesn't disrupt my web-browsing, yet visible to a point that I know it's there and can easily access it if needed.
Screencast-o-matic
Having doing Screencastify in the past and felt completely comfortable using it, I did not think I would find a screencast program better than it. Was I wrong! My partner teacher and I have used Screencastify at school to record videos for our students. We both loved that the videos can be loaded into our Google Drive folders. Upon exploring Screencast-o-matic, I found that I can load the videos into my Google Classrooms at the click of a button. How convenient! Similar to Screencastify, users can also upload videos to Youtube.
Another benefit of Screencast-o-matic is that users have the option of adding music to their background. Yes, it is a very limited selection, but it is still something! Students (and teachers😉) would love this option. One cool feature of Screencast-o-matic is that screencast videos can be grouped into 'Channels'. A teacher can create a channel for their classroom and upload all of the videos into that channel for students to have access to 24/7. This is great for students who are struggling on a certain learning concept. They can always go back to a certain video for review. Screencast creators have the option to include closed captioning on their video. This is a great way for users to support accessibility.
Screencast-o-matic over Native American Research
https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cF63cLYaA7
I've been an Instagram user for years, but never thought of the benefits of using it in the classroom. Each class can come up with a unique hashtag to access all posts by students for that class, such as #mckeaguebooktalks. Students can create book talks for books that they would like to recommend to their peers. Teachers can use Instagram as a communication tool with parents where pictures and videos are posted of student activities and classwork. My one worry about Instagram is that students might stumble on inappropriate content or pages.
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckeaguelibrarian/
Image using Phonto to type text on the image:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpN-k6JgI3i/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Video (story) on book recommendations from a couple of my students:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpN7WjEgOCy/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Conclusion
Out of all the tools I explored today, Screencast-o-matic was my favorite and the one I definitely plan to use immediately. The fact that my students can view screencasts as a way to discover new concepts or review previous topics is a huge benefit. The fact that I don't have to worry about my students stumbling on inappropriate content is comforting to me. With Instagram, I am not sure how to avoid this. Screencast-o-matic syncs with Google Drive, Google Classroom and Youtube, which are all tools that I use in my class. There are so many ways that I'd use Screencast-o-matic in the classroom!
I really loved Screencast-o-matic for teaching students step -by- step instructions on how to access a program or to create a project. It allows you to take a screen photo and then elaborate on it. Students would greatly benefit from it and it save you time on having to repeat yourself. The video can be link for students to have it available 24/7.
ReplyDelete* Bianey Guillen
I have always struggled with Screencast-o-matic. I don't know why... well, maybe it is a user error. After your review, I think I will need to give it a ninth chance. :)
ReplyDelete