Information Overloaded

I watched this video put out by Nokia on Web 2.0. They got it right! It is all about the connections!

Today I worked with two Grade 8 boys to create screencasts of mental math strategies they are learning in class. I thought I would work with two of them so I could create some experts and also see what the best way would be to introduce screencasting to the whole class.

We are hoping to put the videos on a wikispace so other students can use the how-to videos to review math concepts.  Our site will feature studetnts teaching students.

When they came in one student was already familiar with creating screencasts using Cam Studios. Both of them knew what screencasting was, and all that was needed was my 5 minute explanation and they were off to the races.

One boy discovered that his windows media player would not open his test file. So he found out that by importing the .avi file into Moviemaker, he could preview it and edit.

They took the remainder of the 50 minute class to write their script and set up smart notebook with items from the gallery, text, and different slides. Tomorrow they are going to record using the Smart Notebook Recorder.

What a great way to incorporate literacy into math class. The boys were using procedure writing to explain their math concepts. One realized the need for visuals. He was teaching his strategy using apple and bathtub photos.

I will post them once they are finished. I can’t wait to see how they will turn out!

I have recently been experimenting with screencasting (taking a video of your screen in order to instruct) and have come to some very startlingly frustrating conclusions:

1) I love Jing Project, but I hate the file output format. I don’t know what I am suppose to do with an .swf file. The whole point of a screencast is to instruct people, and if nobody has the player for swf, what good is screencasting in Jing?

2) There are very few free file converters out there that will convert .swf to a more user-friendly file format. I personally could not find one. If there is anyone out there that knows of one, please let me know

3) My new favorite screencasting program is Cam Studios. I tried it out and loved it. It’s not as pretty as Jing, but does the trick, and makes my movie an .avi file which is easily converted.

Sorry Jing, but until you change your output format, I’m not interested in using your software.