SCREENCAST

Look, Listen and Learn

Presenter Media. (2013).
 Arrow Elevator Up Runner [Online Image].  


This week’s learning activities began as a three-step process that actually ended up being well over 100, exhausting, steps by the time I was completed everything. Specifically, I was first required to create either a podcast or screencast that I would need to embed into this page; secondly, ensure that I apply a Creative Commons License to this blog (see my Week 11 post); and finally, discuss  how using audio creation tools contributes to becoming a digital citizen.



EXPLORING PODCASTS - GREAT FOR THE AUDITORY LEARNER 

After exploring some podcast sites such as Audacity and Muziboo, I quickly realized that my visual learning style was uninterested in this type of audio creation tool. This is not to say that podcasts are not useful especially if you want to “push audio content from websites down to consumers of that content, who typically listen to it on their iPod (hence the "pod") or other audio player that supports mp3 at their convenience. The term podcasting is meant to rhyme with broadcasting and is a derivative of the iPod platform” (McIntyre, 2013). However, for me, it lacks that creative appeal that I learn best from in an online environment.


EXPLORING JING, SCREENCAST AND SNAGIT – NOW WE’RE TALKING! 

Crow, D. (2007, July 17). 
Jing Project version 1.2.3 [Online Image]. Link

It did not take me much time to discover the wonders of Jing  – a digital audio creation tool that gives you the ability to add a conversation to basic visual elements that are captured from your computer screen or mobile device. You can also decide to share your captured images and/or videos (under 5 minutes) with others through Jing’s partner – via Screencast.com. Within minutes I was creating images and mini-videos – it was that easy – well at least until I had to actually embed my Jing-Screencast videos into this blog.

The most time consuming tasks were trying to discover ways to embed Jing content into Screencast as well as how to view the needed clipboard on Windows 7 and 8. Screencast.com provides a quick way to getting the  HTML code from your Jing project by copying it to your computer’s clipboard.  Unfortunately, for me, my Windows 8 did not support this needed clipboard and thus, I had to spend more time on finding a free clipboard viewer that would allow this to happen. After some time I discovered, the user-friendly app, Karen’s Clipboard Viewer and was able to download it free from Windows7Theme.Net.

Ok, computer screen ready, presentation ready, now all that is left is to press record and you are on your way with making an audible screen video on any topic that you desire via Jing and screencast.com. My first take using Jing to create my video, “How to Embed a Twitter Feed Widget Into Blogger”, was more than comical and I quickly realized that an audio tool is just as difficult as a ‘live’ tool – where my nerves get the best of me.  Yet, with wanting to ensure that I maintain - that ever so important - positive digital footprint in mind – I went back to my Jing project and took several retakes before sharing it with you. This process took more than a day from the time I downloaded all the tools needed to actually using the HTML codes that allowed me to embed my screencast videos into Blogger. 

Being able to endure, and complete, all the learning activities this week had me wonder if I was the only one experiencing this and if there was a way that I could help others learn how to use screencast tools – this is where I had that delayed light bulb moment in my life - using software animated demonstrations, also known as screencasts, creates opportunities for learning in formal and informal environments (Palaigeorgiou & Despotakis, 2010) by allowing you to create and share your knowledge with others. 


Presenter Media. (2013). 
Custom Clap Board Insert [Online Image Customize]. 
Keeping with my learning theme, since my week 1 post, sharing is the key to learning. I decided to venture back to my computer screen to challenge myself in making my second screencast tutorial video - reasonably named, “How to Create a Blog Page and Embed a Screencast Video into Blogger”.  This should have been an easy activity since I knew how to use Jing – right? – NOT! -  “OMG!”, was the constant ‘nice’ facial expression that you would have found if you saw me during this task. Discussing the processes involved in my screencast tutorial was time consuming and as I mentioned above, Jing limits its user to a five-minute audio project. Well sure enough there are tools ‘out there’ that allow you to create longer screencasts. Luckily, I did not have to explore for a very long before I came across Jing’s companion - Snagit. 


Similar to Jing, Snagit allows you to share your voice in an audio file but for a longer time (not sure how long yet, but more than Jing’s 5 minute cap). The only disadvantage that some of you might find is that you will have to pay a fee for the app; however, for first timers you can download Snagit’s free trial for 15 days. In addition, it has an automatic embed code button unlike the one that you will have to customize in Jing – only if I knew this from the beginning - <sigh>.  
 
Here’s to hoping that my screencast videos help you to look, listen and, most importantly, learn. 

CREATE A BLOG PAGE AND EMBED A SCREENCAST VIDEO INTO BLOGGER

 



IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAY – IT’S HOW YOU SAY IT 
 

(1939-46).
 "Be careful what you say" [Online Image]. Link

To ensure that we maintain the appropriate role of a digital citizenship we must use our interactions with others in a meaningful and productive way. The exploration of audio creative tools gives us the capability to share our voice and knowledge with others that live in our digital society. This powerful tool should not be taken for granted since it can influence others in acting responsible with all the digital tools that dominant our cyber-world. What you say is just as important as what you write – there is no different. In essence, adhering to the rules of netiquette, is just as, or maybe even more important, when using screencasting or podcasting tools.  These tools allow you to voice your opinion and as such you should conduct yourself appropriately.  Ironically, it is not what you do – but, what you say with audio tools that will indicate how others perceive you. 





“Digital Literacy includes the ability to read and interpret media, to reproduce data and images through digital manipulation, and to evaluate and apply new knowledge gained from digital environments” 
(Jones-Kavalier & Flannigan, 2006)


Creative tools such as Jing, can influence your digital literacy skills by allowing you the chance to explore, create and evaluate its effectiveness in the technology world. Having the ability to explore and critically analyze other resources and then use these sources to create something that you, and others, will use and evaluate is critical to performing tasks effectively in a digital environment. Ultimately, your success in using any digital tools to influence your digital literacy relies on having the ability to: structure, adapt to, use and, assess the vast knowledge that the digital world offers. Only then can you be reassured that what you are saying is what you are doing; and what you are doing is ensuring that you become a model digital citizen. 

REFERENCES 
Jones-Kavalier, B.R., & Flannigan, S. L (2006, January 1). Connecting the digital dots: Literacy of the 21st century. Retrieved from EDUCAUSE Review Online at http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/connecting-digital-dots-literacy-21st-century 

McIntyre, C. (2013). What is a podcast? Retrieved from Podcast Alley at http://www.podcastalley.com/what_is_a_podcast.php 

Palaigeorgiou, G., & Despotakis, T. (2010). Known and unknown weaknesses in software animated demonstrations (Screencasts): A study in self-paced learning settings. Journal of Information Technology Education , 9, 81-98. Retrieved from http://jite.informingscience.org/documents/Vol9/JITEv9p081-098Palaigeorgiou787.pdf

1 comment:

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)