Week 4: Overview

Creating a Screencast

What's a screencast?

Screencasts are recordings of activity on your computer screen (or mobile device) - usually screencasts are accompanied by explanatory audio.

Screencasts are created to demonstrate, to explain, to share an example(s). You can create a screencast using images pre-captured or created to highlight an idea (or event, feature, website or process.

Features of a "good" screencast

• has a focus or clear objective
• is short - usually 3-5 min in length
• is clear - images are in focus and appropriate size/scale
• audio is clear, without annoying "hisses"
• plays in any web browser and on different platforms
• includes a text version readable by a screenreader (accessibility issue)

Equipment required for a screencast

• a computer or mobile device
• a screencast recording tool (see below for ideas)
• a way to record audio (headset with microphone, good quality built-in mic)
• a place to store the recording so it can be linked on the website (e.g., Youtube)

Free tools to create screencasts

• check out the screencasting tools in the FLO Harvest Wiki: follow the links to "more tools" and browse the media-related ideas.