Best+Practices+and+Features+Important+for+Online+and+Blended+Work

Below are some examples and best practices for using screencasts in blended and online learning. The notes and links will support our discussion during the workshop.

**Using Screencasts for PD**
Producing a Screencast-based Support Site or Workshop

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty... offering technology training workshops. Anyone who's ever attended software training has at some point experienced what we call "my-time-is-being-wasted" syndrome. This happens when an individual who is either more or less experienced than you asks a question and your forward progress is paused while the instructor addresses it. This usually happens repeatedly throughout a session. In addition to this phenomenon, you typically progress at the instructor's predetermined rate instead of your own.
 * Introduction to our model of technology instruction.**

This was the norm when you only had one instructor and a blackboard or overhead projector, but technology now allows us to individualize instruction to a fairly high degree. Our main tool for this? No, it's not cloning... It's screen recording! Let's take a look at how we do this (long story, short: we bring the instruction to each individual's computer rather than lead everyone from the front of the room).

Short Presentation (view at your leisure) We'll take a few minutes now to talk about the process of creating this type of workshop.
 * [|Using Pre-Recorded Video to Support Professional Development - Pt. 1]
 * [|Using Pre-Recorded Video to Support Professional Development - Pt. 2>]
 * Example Document 1 - http://wiki.cal.msu.edu/groups/support/wiki/a8655/Word_2007_Level_1.html
 * Example Document 2 - http://wiki.cal.msu.edu/groups/support/wiki/e90b0/Video_in_the_Classroom.html
 * http://streaming.msu.edu/storemedia/download/schopie1/instruction/imovieHD/imovie_hd.mp4
 * This workshop!

Benefits:
 * More people, less instructors
 * Participants have access to materials well after workshop
 * People can move at their own pace
 * Learning __seems__ to be better...

Ideas for Using Screencasts in your Blended and Online Courses
>> >> (and for those interested... //Parts [|One] and [|Two]//)
 * Orientation video
 * Use a powerpoint or Prezi
 * Use your syllabus pulled up on the screen
 * Tutorials for Building Technical Skills
 * Example screencasts used in one of Brandon's courses: //Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets [|Part Three]//
 * Using this method with content other than software training (we'll explain what context this video was presented in): [|Lecture recording]
 * Screencast on [|Using the Phoenix Online Image Editor]
 * help tutorials for blackboard and others
 * Slideshows to lecture or introduce new content
 * Reversal of instruction time -- Videos watched at home, open up class time for hand-on work
 * Here is a professor that is using Camtasia Studio to ‘flip’ courses on iOS and Android development: iOS:

[]

Android: []

The main idea of the flipped class is that the students what the videos (lecture replacement) on their own time and use class time for labs, homework, and interactive activities.

Here is the same ‘flipped’ concept applied to a high school astronomy course:

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http://vodcasting.ning.com/

>>
 * Visual feedback: more effective for students, instructor
 * http://seanzdenek.com/?p=1359 - great example of feedback and describing a successful assignment.
 * Use it as a co-instructor
 * Students teaching other students
 * As a part of class students develop modules for other students
 * Students teaching teachers
 * students helping to make tech support for teachers
 * Learning Technology class where students get credit for creating tutorials about how to do various things
 * Videos for missed classes, absent students or absent teachers
 * http://www.techsmith.com/community/education/inspired/Absent_video/

Other Techsmith Resources
 * http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/interview/jkent.asp
 * Kids Teaching Kids - http://www.techsmith.com/community/education/real-users/mathtrain.asp
 * [|See TechSmith's Education Community for more ideas!]

Features and Best Practices When Using Screencasts for PD or Student Online Work
This is a bit of a "hodge podge" of suggestions and features that are important when using screencasts in online and PD environments. We'll talk through these during the workshop and add information to them based on our discussions.

**1. Speech-to-Text & Captions**
Web accessibility policies and guidelines require that all rich media be accessible to those with disabilities. For screencasts this means having a transcript of your voice recording (e.g. for hearing impaired) and accurate description of what's happening on the screen (e.g. for visually impaired). Usually we can get by with a descriptive narration when we are teaching someone how to do a technical task by really describing the actions that we're doing as we're working through something.

Example of captioning and using screencast as a feedback tool - http://seanzdenek.com/?p=1359 @ minute 4:30 we see a captioned clip and then an audio captioned clip

**2. Providing Searchable Content**
Including captions with our videos allows us to make them easier to navigate.

**3. Dynamic Presentation Style**

 * In classroom have the "Herd" mentality
 * We do, however, have more opportunities to be dynamic and creative.
 * Watch a video of Steve Jobs to see a dynamic presentation: http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1103pijanbdvaaj/event/index.html

4. Length of Modules

 * The general wisdom is that on the web fewer people will stick with a video the longer it is...
 * From a blogger: "It’s all about quality. Don’t make shorter videos. Make BETTER videos. Hold my attention! Earn those minutes!"
 * Average length of a view on a YouTube video? 4.3 minutes ([|source: Information Week])
 * [|Article: Web-Based Distance Learning Technology: The Impacts of Web Module Length and Format]

5. Callouts, Pan/Zoom
Callouts allow us to bring attention to a certain part of our screencast. They are quite useful when teaching others how to use software/tools and when using screencasts as a tool for student feedback.

6. Quizzing

 * Break up the presentation
 * Quizzes can "reset" their attention, allowing you to pack more time into your video.
 * Quizzes can also help us to better provide adaptive learning experiences for our students.
 * Help gauge participant understanding.

7. Producing for Various Environments
Students and professionals are constantly using a variety of electronic devices. Studies on learning show that the more access people have to the knowledge you want them to learn, the better they learn it. By producing and offering your screencasts for various environments you can easily provide options that will work on their computer, their phone, iPod, etc.