Screencast-O-Matic and Power Point (Pecha Kucha Style)

Should Screencasts Be Used in Every Classroom?

RETA continues their webinar series tonight at 6:00 PM with an essential topic, Copyright for Educators I. This webinar will help educators understand fair use and copyright in the digital age, and is a must for anyone who uses video and audio in the classroom. Remember, you can view the archived version of all the webinars at any time by visiting RETA’s webinar page and clicking on the ARCHIVED tab.

Under our Professional Development category to the right, you will see a number of screencasts that were created to help the SCS staff acclimate to our new Vista operating system and Microsoft Office 2007. This is an interesting scenario because it mimics a typical classroom environment where the differentiation of instruction is needed. For many, the transition will be virtually unnoticeable; just like in a classroom, prior knowledge and the ability to synthesize new information will help many users adapt quickly.

However, there will be many users that will be frustrated by the change. Some people just do not handle change well. Some will disagree with the decision to change. Some users are likely to be far behind because they did not use our previous tools, Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003. For some, keeping attendance, reporting grades and checking email (to whatever degree) was enough to get by.

This sounds more and more like a classroom, doesn’t it? Therefore, we should ask, “How can we use screencasts to meet the need for diversity in learning?”

Screencasts can be used by an instructor to present a lesson. Some examples might be to demonstrate a skill, deliver necessary data (information, facts, etc.), organize and synthesize concepts, and to “capture” instruction that can be viewed “On-demand” by users. Screencasts are engaging because each student can determine how they will best use the content and at what pace they can use it.

The screencast at the right (Intro to Word 2007), for example, can be as basic or as intense as a viewer wants it to be. A knowledgeable user may choose to have the audio playing in the background while they open their own Microsoft Office 2007 and take the tour. A user who has never seen Microsoft Word 2007 may watch the video several times to learn about the program. There will be some who will make a conscious decision not to watch the screencast and, while it is disappointing, it’s a personal choice.

However, the simple fact is that many learners will use a screencast to their best advantage. There are audio and visual cues that create a broader appeal to multiple intelligences, and it is the type of active learning that typically engages students.

The screencasts were made using Screencast-O-Matic, a free web-based program that allows you to capture images on your computer screen and turn it into a video. The possibilities are endless … you can open a program like Excel and show students how to chart data. You could also show them how to set up formulas or how to use the graphing features. Think of all the other programs that could be used to create a lesson that combines video and audio!

But Screencast-O-Matic is not limited to teacher use. By now, many of you have probably thought of dozens of ways that Screencast-O-Matic could be used by students to demonstrate their learning. Personally, I rather watch a bunch of screencasts than read a pile of messy papers. Which assignment do you think your students would like more … writing or creating a video?

There are many different types of screencasts available, and the one that is most familiar is Power Point. At right, you will see the file for SCS Tech Plan. When it downloads, you need to start the slide show by either clicking SLIDE SHOW > VIEW SHOW (Power Point 2003) or SLIDE SHOW > FROM BEGINNING (Power Point 2007). Power Point is another tool that allows you to combine audio and video, either for teacher instruction or student performances.

This particular for of Power Point was done using the principles of Pecha Kucha. Pecha Kucha is a Japanese term that describes conversation (“chit-chat”) and forces a presenter to get the point across in exactly 20 frames (20 seconds each frame). That means that a Pecha Kucha presentation lasts exactly 6:40 (six minutes, 40 seconds), certainly within the attention span of many children and most adults.

The slides should be programmed to change automatically every 20 seconds. The audio can be pre-recorded (best for archiving the lesson) or it can be presented with live audio. Live audio is risky because there is always the temptation to talk too long or to even pause the presentation. The plain truth is that if you need more than 20 slides, then your topic is not refined enough! Pecha Kucha is designed to make you get to the point.

Pecha Kucha is ideal as an instruction tool. Your lesson plan would include seven minutes of instruction, three minutes for questions and explanation, and then plenty of time for an assignment and a share. Better still, the lesson can be preserved online for review and for absentees. Think about the applications for presentations by students! WOW! Your students will love the challenge!

Using a screencast for lessons or assignments always involves taking some risks. Screencast-O-Matic is great because it really couldn’t be easier and the most sophisticated tool you need is a microphone. Power Point is a little more complicated because creating twenty slide designs can be time consuming. There are other tools such as Garage Band, QuickTime, iMovie, Windows Encoder, Real Producer and more that can be used to capture, edit and present screencasts. Like everything else in life, trial and error is a part of the learning process, and we should not deprive our students of these opportunities because we are scared that something may not work exactly as we planned.

Whatever directions you and your students take, the rewards will be quite satisfying.