Screencastify

 Screencastify has been one of my most used tools during virtual instruction. With screencastify, you can record videos of just your computer screen, just yourself, or have both your screen and a small window of yourself. With virtual learning seeming so impersonal at times, it is a nice feature for students who are accessing recorded lessons to see a familiar face. This tool can actually be added as a chrome extension and is extremely to access and navigate. It allows you to save videos and even has an option to upload directly to youtube or google classroom which many of us are using as our virtual classroom. 

When schools went to virtual learning in March of 2020, screencastify offered educators access to their services that normally would require a membership. Using their membership services, screencastify allows you to record video at extended lengths (normal free version is limited to 5 minutes) and you can edit the recorded video (unavailable in normal free version). The ability to cut out clips and insert new ones is a huge time saver if you are like me and have to re-do the video 40 times to get it just right. Instead of having to restart the entire video, you can just cut out the part that didn't sound right, re-do just that part, and insert the new clip into the video. 

I have used this in a few different applications. I have made instructional, or how-to videos for parents; things like accessing their child's daily schedule, google classroom, assignment list, etc. I have used screencastify for recording lessons for students how might have missed their scheduled "live session." I understand how difficult it is for some families to have their child attend live sessions. Many parents are back to work while their child is at home with the caretaker during the day being a grandparent, babysitter, or even older siblings in some situations. Recording lessons allows the student to access learning based on the families unique situation and needs. I have also made a how-to video for staff members! It is really an all around, great tool for education. In an earlier post, I discussed the Annotate Meet chrome extension that I read about in Richard Byrne's blog. I can't wait to use annotate meet during some of my screencasitfy recorded lessons!

Here is a link to screencastify, you can add it to chrome directly from their website!

https://www.screencastify.com/ 

Comments

  1. Benton StoneJanuary 21, 2021 at 8:47 PM

    This was an excellent explanation of what screencastify is useful for. I’m sure it has been a game changer durring these strange times of online learning.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jenny KellyJanuary 23, 2021 at 11:49 PM

    Thanks for sharing about Screencastify. Screencasting is definitely a must for virtual learning these days! Our school went with Screencast-o-matic which is a ridiculous name, but it seems to work well. Are you aware of any advantages or disadvantages of Screencastify over Screencast-o-matic? I think the free version allows longer than 5 minutes of recording, but other than that I'm not aware of the differences.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Evan McNairJanuary 24, 2021 at 12:27 PM

      I'm not aware of any either, however I have not tried using Screencast-o-matic.

      Delete

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