As part of my graduate studies for my Curriculum, Technology, & Education Reform program (now titled "Technology Specialist" program) at the University of Illinois, I have been able to work with Camtasia, a screen capture and video editing tool to aid in creating learning tutorials.
This technology has a free, 30-day trial for both PC and Mac with a myriad of useful annotation; animation; transition; and video, audio, and cursor effects tools. While my free trial is quickly coming to an end, this is the first technology I am considering purchasing due to its intuitive use and all-inclusive recording and editing tools.
This technology has a free, 30-day trial for both PC and Mac with a myriad of useful annotation; animation; transition; and video, audio, and cursor effects tools. While my free trial is quickly coming to an end, this is the first technology I am considering purchasing due to its intuitive use and all-inclusive recording and editing tools.
Ideally, I would love to request for my school district to purchase this technology for me ($99), so that I can continue to create helpful tutorials to aid staff in various technology pursuits in Google Classroom, eventually expanding into other desktop and online applications. The technology is not cheap, but the rewards will prove quite fruitful. Creating a video allows colleagues to view the tutorial anywhere, anytime and it does not require learners to attend a costly training, as the videos are designed to help those who need the assistance.
While I have only recorded and edited a video to specifically teach colleagues how to create an assignment in Google Classroom, I believe this screen capture tool will lend itself well to programs which do not have as much online presence as Google Classroom. In the case of CSTARS, SIS, or Blackboard, Camtasia may prove helpful in developing tutorials for these applications, which are more necessary and specific to the daily needs of our staff.
While I have only recorded and edited a video to specifically teach colleagues how to create an assignment in Google Classroom, I believe this screen capture tool will lend itself well to programs which do not have as much online presence as Google Classroom. In the case of CSTARS, SIS, or Blackboard, Camtasia may prove helpful in developing tutorials for these applications, which are more necessary and specific to the daily needs of our staff.
The application allows users to share the final video in multiple formats, differentiating for user needs, whether that means exporting to screencast.com, to Youtube, or saving as a .mp4 file on one's personal desktop. To give my targeted audience of learners varied viewing options, I have chosen to export the video to Youtube and share in our school's Google Community, as well as to upload the .mp4 file to our shared Google Drive Technology Resources folder. |
Overall, Camtasia has proven immensely helpful in creating a clear, concise video tutorial, but here are my recommendations for anyone who wishes to explore this technology further:
Happy recording and editing! Feel free to let me know of any screen capture and video editing tools, which you have found useful in creating instructional tutorials for your learners in the comment section below.
- Question: Is this a skill that will best meet your learners' needs in video format?
- Research: Are there already resources available which serve the same purpose? (If so, you do not need to waste time creating a video!)
- Plan: Think about the layout of your screen capture, and write a clear, concise script to follow as you record your screen capture. This will clarify instructions and minimize extraneous load on learners, as per Cognitive Load Theory.
- Consider: You have 30 days for your free trial, so make the most of it! Create videos, which will be instructionally valuable and which may serve as evidence to support a claim for your employer to invest the $99 for the full Camtasia application should you wish to continue using the technology.
Happy recording and editing! Feel free to let me know of any screen capture and video editing tools, which you have found useful in creating instructional tutorials for your learners in the comment section below.