Classroom instruction and information courtesy of Burlington Help Desk
As a member of the Help Desk, you will be making tutorials to help students and teachers learn how to use new technology tools. The tutorials you create will be published to the Help Desk blog. In addition to written instructions with annotated screenshots, you will be required to create at least 4 screencasts throughout the semester (this is subject to change based on the other work you are assigned).
Before you start making your screencast, I would like you to conduct research about what exactly screencasting is and what you need to do in order to create the best screencast possible. After conducting your research, I would like you to write a post on YOUR blog (in weekly reflections) summarizing what you have learned. In your summary be sure to include the following: 1. What is a screencast? 2. What types of tools (hardware and software) are needed to create a screencast? 3. What constitutes a high quality screencast? 4. What will you do to ensure your screencast will be of the highest quality? This should be specific and detailed. You are essentially creating the grading criteria (rubric) for screencasting. 5. Find a high quality screencast which demonstrates the use of a web tool or application that BHS students and/or teachers would use. Embed the screencast into your post. Explain what makes your selection high quality. Citations: Include links to the sources you use in your post. Cite the creator of the sample screencast you use in your post. To get you started, I’ve included a link that you should visit to begin your research. Warning: there is A LOT of information about screencasting provided in this resource. Your job is to decipher through the material and determine what is most important and relevant to your audience (students and teachers). You may conduct additional research on screencasts, but this is a great place to start. Here is the link: Screencasting resource |
Now that you know what screencasting is and what qualifies as a high quality screencast, you will create your own. Your goal is to create a screencast demonstrating the use of a technology tool that you believe teachers and/or students should learn. In the screencast, be sure to explain why it would be beneficial for students and/or teachers to use the particular application or tool you are demonstrating. I am not requiring it, but you are STRONGLY encouraged to write a script or an outline before recording your screencast. In doing so, you will ensure your message is communicated clearly with your audience.
Guidelines: The Screencasting rubric can be found here When evaluating your screencast, I will be looking for the following: 1. An introduction (who you are) 2. What you are going to be demonstrating 3. How learning this tool, tip, or trick and watching your screencast will benefit students & teachers 4. Step by step instructions on how to use the tool with appropriate narration 5. A conclusion which encourages viewers to visit Help Desk (for BHS community members) and to follow us online (subscribe to our blog, YouTube channel, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) 6. Overall quality: ● easy to follow instructions ● clear and articulate ● professional and confident ● appropriate vocabulary ● voice (volume, rate, intonation) ● technical jargon defined (when necessary) Examples: Below is an example screencast created by Mira Mehdi from Burlington High School that the would consider an “A.” Augmented reality screencast Here is a screencast that Ms. Scheffer from Burlington High Schoolcreated about Google Classroom and Google forms. Google Classroom Google Forms |
“TURING IN” YOUR SCREENCAST:
Post your screencast on your INDIVIDUAL blog. Please post it under the Weekly Reflection section. Future screencasts may be posted in the area of your blog that makes the most sense. For example, if you are doing a series of screencasts on Dropbox, you may want to create a Dropbox category in your blog and post the tutorials in that category. Please see me if you have questions about where your screencast should be posted. Also remember to embed the video. Do not simply include a link or the URL. Finally, remember to use appropriate tags to generate interest in your screencast and build traffic to your blog.
Post your screencast on your INDIVIDUAL blog. Please post it under the Weekly Reflection section. Future screencasts may be posted in the area of your blog that makes the most sense. For example, if you are doing a series of screencasts on Dropbox, you may want to create a Dropbox category in your blog and post the tutorials in that category. Please see me if you have questions about where your screencast should be posted. Also remember to embed the video. Do not simply include a link or the URL. Finally, remember to use appropriate tags to generate interest in your screencast and build traffic to your blog.