Creating Online Tutorials 

with Screencasting

Beth Carpenter, OWLSStef Morrill, SCLS

What is Screencasting?

Screen•cast \skrēn  kast\ n a movie that captures the display from a computer screen along with someone talking about what’s being shown. This might take the form of a formal narrated Powerpoint presentation, a software demo, or an informal walk-through of a particular concept.*

* Definition from http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page6885.cfm

A movie....

...that captures the display from a computer screen.....

...along with someone talking about what's being shown.

A formal narrated Powerpoint presentation...

a software demo...

or an informal walk-through of a particular concept...

Why Screencasting?

People have different learning styles

People learn at different speeds

People learn at different times and in different places

People look different places for help

People are busy

People want their privacy

People want a human touch

Examples

Camtasia Settings for YouTube Best Results

Using Truncation (Library Instruction)

Placing a Hold... So Easy, But Can a Caveman Do It?

InfoSoup

• 7 screencasts hosted on blip.tv • online catalog help• linked & embedded in help pages in opac• embedded in blog posts and member

library web sites

4,373 views

http://infosoup.blip.tv/

How?

You will need... • computer• microphone or headset• screencasting tool• a host 

Excellent getting started article at http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page6885.cfm

Screencasting Tools • Camtasia $• Jing • ScreenCastle • ScreenToaster  • + lots of other options (see Wikipedia list)

Time for Demos!

Hosts • Screencast.com • YouTube• Blip.TV• Vimeo• Viddler

Tips

Tip #1 

plan, but don't script

Tip #2 

control your mouse

Tip #3 

record your screen actions first - add audio later

Tip #4 

embrace imperfection

Tip #5 

be enthusiastic,share your passion!

Tip #6 

be brief

Tip #7 

consider adding captions

Tip #8 

save your outtakes

 

 

Questions?

 

 

 Beth Carpenter, OWLS

bcarpent@mail.owls.lib.wi.us

 Stef Morrill, SCLS

smorrill@scls.lib.wi.us

All photos used under the Creative Commons license. Photo credits:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/1425117940/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87777282@N00/87075666/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bastard_admin/1095001183/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalleboo/2215469666/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iiiii/3078375045/