Introduction+to+screencasts

I**ntroduction to screencasts [RB]** - 5 mins
 * what is a screencast?
 * what value they might have for the IB
 * what we would like the group to do for us.

**Definitions of screencasts**

From Wikipedia: 'A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output, also known as a video screen capture, often containing audio narration'.

From 'What is screencasting' by Jon Udel (2005) 'A screencast is a digital movie in which the setting is partly or wholly a computer screen, and in which audio narration describes the on-screen action.'

From Larry Ferlazzo 'The Best Tools for Making Screencasts', 'Screencasts are audio-narrated “tours” of what you see on your computer screen (they don’t have to narrated, but it works much better if they are).'

**A screencast in action** This is a screencast about a screencast - a tutorial from 'Teacher Training Videos' about using the ScreenToaster screencasting software. The 'Doing a recording' is a useful summary of key aspects of the screencasting process.

**What value might screencasts have for the IB?**

Screencasts can be used for many different purposes but their main value comes when you need to **showcase** the features of something on-screen, or **demonstrate** the steps involved in doing something on-screen.

Screencasts can take the form of quick and sketchy **outlines** for a process or long and complex demonstrations or **tutorials**.

Anyone can put one together, but there are also professionally produced screencasts that integrate different design software applications into very impressive online presentations.

Screencasts are popular on the web because they are quick, accessible and intuitive ways to get information across. Like all teachers, IB teachers are usually short of time and would value having key information presented in a **quick and accessible** format. There are likely to be areas of curriculum support across the programmes therefore that would benefit from screencast support resources.

However, screencasts would only be truly valuable to the IB and to its educator community if they were used **appropriately** (i.e. only in the areas where they added real value). Screencasts should also be **high quality**, both in their production and design and in the content they contain. Poor quality or inaccurate screencasts could have a negative effect on how the IB is viewed or might cause confusion or misunderstandings amongst viewers. And we need screencasts to support the **values** of the IB, for example in accordance with our language policy.

To ensure that screencasts are use appropriately and developed properly, we need to:
 * identify how this technology could be of most use to the IB and its educators and students
 * establish the likely demand for screencasts within the organisation
 * make the case for developing screencasting capability within the organisation
 * develop an agreed development and production process for screencasts.