Information and communication technology (ICT) has become an integral part of our lives, transforming every sector of our society, including education. It seems that digital devices have become indispensable to teachers and students alike, which makes learning more comfortable and engaging.
One educational tool that the education sector is increasingly taking advantage of is screencasting technology. What is a screencast? How can screencasting transform learning? We answer these questions and more in the simplest way possible.
What Is Screencasting?
Screencasting technology allows you to make a video recording of your computer screen using video capture software. Most of the time, the screencast includes audio narration, making it perfect for creating how-to videos. This example of screencasting is posted on YouTube:
The word “screencast” first surfaced in 2005, when columnist Jon Udell used it in an InfoWorld article. Back then, Udell described screencasting as a method that “highlights a product feature, offers a tip, or teaches a technique.”
His latter use case—teaches a technique— is how screencasting can and has transformed learning. Educators have since used screencasts to teach more than techniques. They use educational screencasts as instructional activities, learning resources, and support materials.
5 Ways Screencasting Can Transform Learning
While some people may associate screencasting with videos promoting a software or sharing technical tips, teachers see it as an educational tool that brings lessons closer to their students. Below are some of the ways screencasting can transform learning.
1. Deliver Lessons through a Student-Friendly Medium
Video has become one of the most preferred content types, with 27.2% of people watching 10 hours of videos per week. Needless to say, students are drawn to videos. They are more likely to learn from watching a video than listening to a lecture.
In fact, how many of us have sought answers from YouTube when we wanted to learn how to do something? So instead of getting discouraged, teachers can take advantage of this interest in videos by delivering lessons through screencasting.
2. Students Can Learn at Their Own Pace
Each student learns at a different speed. Some may grasp a lesson immediately, while others may need to review it a couple of times before gaining complete understanding. Creating educational screencasts allows students to rewatch lessons, ensuring they learn at their own pace and are not pressured to proceed to the next lesson without comprehending prior ones.
3. Teachers Don’t Have to Explain a Procedure Multiple Times
Learning takes time, and students may repeatedly ask the same questions throughout the semester or school year. Instead of answering these questions again and again, why not create an educational screencast that shows how a procedure is done?
For example, students don’t have to contact their teachers every time they forget how to access their learning portals. Learners would only need to look for the specific video explaining the step-by-step process in Google Classroom or other platforms and rewatch it. This method can save both teachers and students a lot of time.
4. Student Absence Doesn’t Have to Disrupt Learning
Absences cannot be avoided, and students would need to catch up on missed lessons and activities. Aside from that, teachers would have to allocate time to help the students with their missed lessons and check their outputs.
With screencasting, students who missed classes can watch lesson videos at home. Some teachers create a screencast to summarize an entire school day, which could include class activities, notes, discussions, and other relevant details that occurred that day. Absent students can watch the video so they can easily catch up.
5. Students Learn by Example
It could be difficult to explain a technical concept to students, even if a teacher has screenshots of every step or aspect on a screen projector. A screencast video allows students to learn a specific concept by watching how it is done.
For instance, students with no technical background may find it challenging to grasp the concept of networking just by listening to a lecture. While some slideshows might help, screencasting can take the lesson a notch higher by showing students a video recording of how a computer network is actually set up.
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Screencasting is one of the most transformational technologies used in the education sector today. It helps students and teachers meet halfway when it comes to learning and imparting knowledge. Screencasting technology allows teachers to become digital educators, a much-needed shift in response to a highly digitalized generation of learners.
