Now, hear me out. I actually think screencasting is one of the greatest tools ever! I screencast on a regular basis for my students. In Language Arts during our grammar unit I screencast their homework so they can check their answers each night or even do it with the video if they are stuck. I recognize the benefits of a flipped classroom model, and I have used screencasts MANY times when I have a sub. In fact, that is probably my favorite time to use screencasting, it ensures that what I need to be taught, actually gets taught.
What I hate about screencasting has nothing to do with the benefits of the process and has everything to do with how much I hate listening to my recorded voice. You've been there right?!?! I have recurring nightmares of standing around the answering machine as a child, "Hi, you've reached the Olinger residence, sorry we can't take your call but leave us a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible." First, of all, it takes like 15 takes to get through that simple sentence without screwing something up. And then comes the worst part: you listen to it to make sure it sounds okay. Honestly, does anyone besides T-Swift like their recorded voice? How many times in my life have I uttered the words, "I don't sound like that"? Screencasting is the answering machine nightmare x1000.
The only thing I am grateful for is that sometimes I have students come back to me and say, "Ms. Olinger, I watched the verbs video last night, who was talking?" I always let out a big exhale there, whew, they don't think it sounds like me either.
Seriously, this is the point in which I question whether my vanity will overtake my teaching! :) Not, really… but okay, kind of. You can see now, why I love leaving screencasts for subs. I can record it, save it to my website and never have to be an ear-witness to the disaster that is my recorded voice! :)
Dramatic??? Absolutely.
Truth??? 100 Percent.
I used the screencast tool Snag-It to capture a screencast for this assignment. I really liked the fact that it is just an add-on to Google Chrome and I loved, loved, LOVED the fact that the video goes directly into your Google Drive. I disliked the time it took to sync, I thought it was a little slow. However, that could be a reflection of the fact that I am sitting on my deck doing this (notice the wind chimes in the background of my video) and the wifi speed is a little slower out here. I noticed that this tool needs written permission for students under 13, and I think that is okay because one of the things I am struggling with is why you would have kids screencast. I would love to hear some ideas about that as I have only used screencasting for myself and as a teaching aid. Any ideas?
So, without further ado, I have provided for you my most recent screencast. It is to be used during our final bike project of the year in Social Studies. The kids need to transfer an image of a map into a google presentation and then outline the route they plan to bike. It is actually a pretty challenging multi-step process that we end up re-explainaing about fifteen million times within the span of the project. I plan to teach this process, re-teach a few times, and then direct students to this video on my website when I am sick of answering the same questions. Can I get an Amen?
Also, as a forewarning, I definitely had some technical glitches in this video, but, not being able to bear to record and listen once again, I have left it in. The kids need a reminder that. despite evidence to the contrary, their Social Studies teacher is not perfect! :)
Enjoy!
AMEN!
ReplyDeleteYou need to get some more followers! I love reading your blog! More people need to see your posts. I love your thought process and analysis of the tools and what you would use them for.
I agree that this might be more of a teacher tool rather than a student tool. I will keep checking other teachers blogs to see if anyone has a good use of this for their students, but most of what I have read from teachers are the benefits of using it to explain procedures to their students, so they have access--whenever, wherever they are.
I'm right there with Gina - you have a great writing style.
ReplyDeleteI think your example of the verbs video gives us the opportunity to have on-demand videos for this or that. It turns the learning over to the kids which is great.
Good luck getting where you need to go on your bike with your wind chimes!
Awesome! This will be so useful next year! Very nice and thorough directions. And you were living on the edge with barely ANY battery power left. Glad it didn't quit on your in the middle! :)
ReplyDeleteThis was awesome Stacey. I learned a lot about screenshots on chrome books! I also agree with you about how your own recorded voice sounds but I LOVE the idea about using it for subs. NEVER thought of this before, but you're absolutely right in that you can make sure that what needs to be taught, gets taught! Love the crows cawing in the background :)
ReplyDeleteAllow me to disagree and say that your recorded voice is beautiful, clear, articulate and oh so calming (maybe the wind chimes contributed a little). Don't be insecure, girl. But yes, I do hate mine, as well, and hate that I jumble words all over the place. Screencasting is not my favorite tool, and I've hardly used it. However, I think that with a bit more practice, I'll be willing to utilize it more in my classroom (especially with subs -- great idea). I am going to go figure out how to get SnagIt as an add on, because whatever I was doing before was not working with Chrome.
ReplyDelete