Screencast-O-Matic

Web Based ToolsAssignment #3

Screencast-O-Matic

Tool Description:

Screencast-O-Matic is an online screen capture tool. It allows you to record what is happening on your computer screen with just one click. It is great because it records your mouse cursor as you navigate your computer.

It’s free!

www.screencast-o-matic.com

Screencast-O-MaticImplications for the Classroom:

This tool would be of great benefit to students in an online environment. Teachers can record how to use new tools, navigate webpages, or give instructions, and students can watch how it was done. Also records your voice, so auditory instructions can be given at the same time. This is hugely beneficial for students who have no real face-to-face time with their teacher and can’t ask real-time questions. Great instructional tool.

This would also be a great tool to use in traditional classrooms. It would be a great instructional tool paired with verbal instructions. Could also be be given as a review of instructions for those who need to hear or see it a second time.

Students could use this tool for digital story telling, narrating projects, or to solve math problems given by the teacher. It would be another way for students to show their work, and explain how they came up with the answer.

Teachers can create a “channel” on the website, where students can record their screencasts directly and they will be organized chronologically. This makes “handing in” screencast projects very simple.

Screencast-O-Matic

Pros: Basic version is free, SO easy to use, provides a visual component to instructions, complicated instructions may be better explained, and great for an online classroom.

Cons: Must keep screencast engaging, students may have short attention spans for screencasts, students using screencast may want to keep rerecording until it’s “perfect” - time consuming. Connection speed must be good, and Java download may be required.

Screencast-O-Matic

Concluding Opinion:

I would definitely try to implement this tool into my classroom. I think it has great potential to be used creatively by students, and effectively by teachers. It is so easy to use, and provides a great quality end-product. I would recommend this tool to all teachers, and think of it as a necessity of online classrooms.

www.screencast-o-matic.com