Tools – Screencasting and Infographics

Screencasting

In recent years, screencasting has changed the landscape of teaching and learning. Teachers can record videos of themselves or their computer screens as they cover topics. Screencasting and video production have been made much easier. Just about anybody can do it…including your students! Of course, there are different levels of sophistication, but a basic video rooted in the instructor’s teaching expertise should get the job done.

These tools can neutralize time. Time can be more effectively managed for both the instructor and the students.  Kevin Kelly in this 2011 video suggested that the web of the future will be as different as today’s web is different from TV. What are the implications for us as teachers? One of his six verbs is “screening” … and it seems we see screens more and more in our lives.

Unless you have your own screencasting software (like Camtasia), I am recommending you use Screencast-O-Matic – a free web-based product for screencasting.  Here is a short guide to using Screencast-O-Matic (though the look and feel has changed some in the past couple of years).

For more on the pedagogical aspects of online video, see Tony Bates article.
Mike Wesch has been creating videos for his class for years.  In this video, he explains how to make super simple videos with your smartphone:

Infographics

Videos are not the only visual tool that you and students can use.  Infographics are visual images that represent information or data.The link below gives you 12 different options for creating infographics.  I have used Piktochart to create infographics and found it pretty user friendly.

The 12 best infographic makers for creating an infographic from scratch