Record and Cast with These Screencasting Tools for Teachers

Synchronous or asynchronous? That is the question.

As schools move online, you may be considering whether to teach in real time or not. Given the access and privacy issues involved with requiring students to view video-conferenced lessons, providing asynchronous learning options is not only an equitable choice, but also one that pairs well with accessibility options such as providing closed captions.

One way to share information with students online is to create recorded video lessons. If you don’t want to record yourself in front of a board — or if you have slides, programs or other digital content to share — then screencasting via screen-recording tools is the way to go.

There are several options available for recording screencasts, from free in-browser extensions to more advanced programs such as those used by streamers for gaming or livecoding. Here are three options, all free or freemium, that can be used immediately.

Screencast-O-Matic

Screencast-O-Matic offers two-ish options for screencasting: a free version that works through their website and a paid version that can be downloaded for offline use. Schools can purchase team licenses at lower bulk costs.

The free version allows for 15 minutes of recorded video, as well as the option of recording a webcam. You can’t record computer audio, but if you turn up your speakers, some of that audio will filter through with a good microphone. View more information about what’s available for free here.

If you opt for the paid version, you’ll be able to record for as long as your hard drive space allows. Additionally, you’ll have a suite of editing tools to tweak your recording before it’s processed into a video. For example, an easy-to-use blurring tool allows you to blur out pop-ups from email notifications or lists of files if you’re creating a software demo that requires you to use a file picker.

Screencast-O-Matic makes it easy to present a lesson through PowerPoint or work through code in a notebook. If you have a touch-sensitive screen (or are connected to a SMART Board), your writing will be preserved in the recording as well.

Screencastify

Screencastify is a Chrome extension. While this might sound like it’s only useful for recording the web, it can record your desktop as well (much like Chrome’s “Cast” option).

Screencastify has both a free and a paid version. The free version is somewhat limited, but as it’s an extension, it can be toggled off and on easily. It also requires limited browser permissions and works with Chromebooks. View the list of features (as well as educational discounts) here.

For the free version, you can record five minutes of video. Videos can be sent directly to your Google Drive, which is useful if you already work within the Google ecosystem.

Of particular note for educators is Screencastify’s privacy policy. They’ve received certification from iKeepSafe in compliance with COPPA and FERPA. Given privacy concerns, this may make Screencastify an attractive option, particularly for student-led work.

Zoom

Zoom has been in the news for its video-conferencing capabilities — both for good and ill. But instead of using it for synchronous learning, you can use Zoom’s recording functionality to create recorded lessons.

If you create a room just for you, starting a conference and not sharing the info, you’ll be able to run it for an unlimited time frame (unlike with the 40-minute cap for free conferences with three or more people). During that time, you can record your session and create an ad hoc video lesson.

This recording can be of anything on your computer — coding notebooks, Google Slides, web tools, etc. But one neat feature takes advantage of touch-sensitive inputs like tablets or touchscreen computers: the whiteboard. If you need to create a quick concept map or explain something by hand, you can set up your mini-conference with a “whiteboard” and record that stream as a lesson.

Naturally, since this tool has a synchronous component, you could record a live lecture and provide students without access with high-bandwidth links to the recordings. That said, be mindful of sharing student information — keep the recordings free of any Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Finally, if none of these tools work for your needs, or if you’re wanting something just a bit different, here are a few more options:

• PowerPoint (if you’re just trying to share lessons through PowerPoint, you can record your slides and export to video if you’re patient)
• Apps (there are many apps available for screen recording, as seen on this list from Common Sense Education)
• Camtasia (if you have the budget, this screencasting tool is primo and full-featured)

About the blogger:

Jesika Brooks

Jesika Brooks is an editor and bookworm with a Master of Library and Information Science degree. She works in the field of higher education as an educational technology librarian, assisting with everything from setting up Learning Management Systems to teaching students how to use edtech tools. A lifelong learner herself, she has always been fascinated by the intersection of education and technology. She edits the Tech-Based Teaching blog (and always wants to hear from new voices!).