Screencasts & Multimedia Instruction Workgroup

This workgroup is forming to discuss various ways to construct screencasts and how best to share them amongst the Sakai community. Software, scripts, and standards will be some of the topics discussed.

Workgroup leads:

Tina Silverstein, tsilverstein@acoe.org
Jeff Ziegler, ziegler@umich.edu

Others Interested in this topic:

 Jon Hays, jonmhays@media.berkeley.edu

• Create a script and/or storyboard to work from
• Do a few trial runs before you begin recording
• Reset the stage after rehearsing (make sure all steps that you performed during rehearsal are undone)
• Record audio separately (don't try to capture screen recording and do narration at the same time)
• Edit out umms, uhhs, lip smacks, etc using audio editing built-in to the recording software or use Audacity
• Use a USB microphone
• Record audio in a quiet location where you won't be interrupted
• Record narrations for each screen as separate audio files
• Know that you will probably need to record each piece of narration a few times until you get it 'just right'
• Before you start recording turn off screensaver and close all programs that you will not be using during the recording process
• If possible, clean-up clutter on your computer desktop (screen) to minimize unnecessary and distracting elements appearing in the recording
• Choose a cursor that will be easily visible to viewers of the screencast
• Keep it short (a few minutes at the most)
• Break longer scripts into smaller pieces to make shorter movies
• Speak slowly and enunciate
• Minimize use of effects like pans and zooms
• Decide on active or passive voice for the narration and be consistent throughout the movie and from movie to movie
• Factor in toolbars, etc on viewer's screen when choosing recording dimensions
• Factor in scrollbars and buttons that may appear below the content you are recording when choosing recording dimensions