Screencast

=Screencast =

Assignment
Screencasting is the production of audio and video files that demonstrate a process or product to others. Audio and video combined is often considered multi-media. Multimedia instruction, broadly defined, is a method of instruction that uses the computer to present information with text, graphics, audio and video.

Media engage the individual in the learning process. Using audio and video components enable the learner to listen and see the instruction. A primary advantage with using multimedia is the multiple learning modalities that are address with the media. One disadvantage of using multimedia is the equipment requirement. Learners may not have the computing equipment needed for the application to run.

Multimedia can be used for training, presentations, simulations, demonstrations, and online assistance. Multimedia works well with all kinds of content. Both very complex ideas, abstract concepts, and very simple information can be delivered this way.

Assignment Rubric:

media type="custom" key="5316149" or http://www.screencast.com/t/ZjAzM2QxO to watch on the Screencast site.

Project Process
I decided to use Xtranormal.com because it is a very easy, fun, and useful web 2.0 tool. I first discovered Xtranormal on the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) website (www.iste.org). It was being used to advertise the ISTE annual convention. I have seen other web 2.0 tools in the past that utilized customized avatars, but there was something very different about Xtranormal.

Xtranormal is Xtranormal Technologies, Inc. They hail from Canada, but the website is very elusive regarding the company’s origins. That said, the website is quite popular with both educators and mainstream users and there is a blog on the site where users can get quick answers regarding any questions they may have.

I created my Screencast on Xtranormal using Camtasia Studio 6 by TechSmith with a little help from Windows Movie Maker (beginning and ending credits). I began by creating a short film in Xtranormal to show the viewer what a short Xtranormal film can look like. My intention was to capture the viewers’ attention the way the ISTE film caught mine. I wanted the viewer to say, “Hey! How was that done?”

Project Reflection
Creating this Screencast was a very enjoyable, yet time consuming project. The up side is that once a Screencast is created, it can be used over and over again to many different populations of students and teachers.

The Xtranormal site is very user friendly and uses common sense when it comes to the creation of any film. My Screencast skims the surface regarding making a movie, but that is really all the user needs to get started creating something useful with the tool. Although my screencast is about ten minutes long, it covers all the main aspects of using Xtranormal.

This project itself was simple enough, but the editing process took many hours to complete. I found myself constantly tweaking here and there. The project is still not as “perfect” as I would like, but I feel that it gives the flavor of what I intended. I would like to work with Camtasia and Screencasting more to perfect this excellent tool. I plan to use it more in my current job and I hope to expand on it in my future career.

Project Citations
Xtranormal (February 2010). Retrieved from http://www.xtranormal.com/ Brightman, S., Scarborough Fair. Recorded on //La Luna// [CD] : Eastwest. (2000) Opening Animation (February 2010). Retrieved from http://www.animationfactory.com/en/

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