For this module, check out the lists of online applications I've put together. Act as a critic and evaluate at least four online applications across the different lists. Try the sites out. Put them through the ropes. Are they easy to use? Would your students be able use them? Write an evaluation for each of the site you check out. Also, explain how you could use the application in YOUR class. Note: If another person has evaluated one of the applications already, you can build off their evaluations. I'd like to have the whole list of links evaluated though. Each evaluation you write should be about 150 words in length.
Note: All of these sites are (or were) FREE. If you come across a site that is no longer FREE, don't review it. For this assignment, I want us to examine only those tools that are freely available to our classrooms! Also, be sure to put your name with your posts.
ScreenCasting (making a video of your computer activity): Jing -- Ron Yerger Review: I saw Jing previously and was impressed enough to move up to Camtasia to use for my vodcasting. The advantage with Jing is that it's free, although of course it's a bit limited in the length of videos you can create and the storage space you'll have. Basically this software allows you to take screen shots and make short videos of what's on your computer screen. You can then share this with others on your wiki if you like. A nice tool if you want students to be able to do a quick review or for absent students to catch up on a quick concept. It would be great for students to use also, creating their own vodcasts. However, it requires a download in order to use it, and I doubt that our student laptops would allow it. So if I was going to use this with a class, I would have to get my tech folks to download it on all the laptops first -- a process that can take up quite a bit of time. Nonetheless, if you're just into doing vodcasts, this would be a good program to start with.
This site allows you to record your computer screen activity for demonstration purposes. You may record anything on your screen, changing the size up to full screen. As I was getting ready to use this tool, I realized our desktop did not have a built-in microphone. I then had to switch to our laptop (and complete a java update). It was helpful to be able to open multiple windows – the one at Screencast-o-matic and the item I wanted to record. Once I adjusted my screen and checked the microphone, I was ready to do. I was surprised with the ease at which the recording took place and I quickly made a 4 minute video. Fifteen minutes is the limit for a free account. I believe this tool is easy enough for student use. I would most likely be the one using this tool at first to create demonstrations for the blog and wiki. But students could also use it to make tutorials for each other about items in our Web 2.0 world.
freescreencast.com
Reviewed by Laura Vogel
Tried opening several times and site could not load. Not sure if it's my computer, bad web address, or site shut down.
For my first experience using a screen-capturing program this one was a breeze. When you open the link, you are told to click on a record button. The program then prompts you to enter the resolution size of the screen that you want to record, it automatically came up with the full size screen by default. Once you get into the actual recorder there is a very simple user interface that appears on the top of the normal page and guides you through the process step by step. The entire process was very easy and I made a really good movie in the end. I embedded the movie that I made so you can see what the result looks like:
There are many different classroom uses that I could see out of making screenshot movies off of your desktop. My sample is an example that I thought of that shows a reconstruction of the geologic landform known of as Pangaea. Using Google Earth I recorded an animation of Pangaea coming together and then breaking apart. While this is quite easy to show right off of Google Earth, having it in video form will allow me to stay within my PowerPoint notes to show the movie. Another plus about having the movie file would be that I would not longer be required to have internet access to show the animation. This is a really simple and effective tool. Strongly recommended!
Screenr Reviewed by LGerrity I made an account and tried the Screenr app. It is a very easy way to create a podcast or tutorial for students. I created one (several times) to show my students how to access our online math textbook and resources for use outside of school. I had to try a few times because I talked too much then I got stage fright so I had to redo a few times. Since it is a 5 minute time allotment, it was easy enough to rerecord. I think next time I will have some notes ready when I record because I became sidetracked during the recording. I also moved my mouse way too much. I think that would distract the students. Finally, I would plan a spot in the video to ask the students to pause the video and get up to the point in instructions before proceeding to the next steps. I think I'd like to try this for our computer lessons. I typically have kids close the laptops while I show them on the SMARTboard what we are going to be doing that lesson. This is a way for them to get started right away, follow along with the task directions, but allowing them to move at their independent rate rather than too fast or too slow.
Educreations Reviewed by Bob Lawson Educreations is a screen-casting tool available on the pc and also the iPad. It allows students to record, draw, and add pictures in a presentation format. I
have used this program during a Unit where the students had to research the differences between a representative democracy and a direct democracy. The program is very straight forward to use, the student can load a photo, lock it and then if needed draw / write information on the picture, then record their explanation of the information. The only challenge my students had was trying record their presentation in one try, so after a class discussion it was determined that they should record a sentence or two then pause and get set to record the next few sentences.
Note: All of these sites are (or were) FREE. If you come across a site that is no longer FREE, don't review it. For this assignment, I want us to examine only those tools that are freely available to our classrooms! Also, be sure to put your name with your posts.
ScreenCasting (making a video of your computer activity):
Jing
-- Ron Yerger Review: I saw Jing previously and was impressed enough to move up to Camtasia to use for my vodcasting. The advantage with Jing is that it's free, although of course it's a bit limited in the length of videos you can create and the storage space you'll have. Basically this software allows you to take screen shots and make short videos of what's on your computer screen. You can then share this with others on your wiki if you like. A nice tool if you want students to be able to do a quick review or for absent students to catch up on a quick concept. It would be great for students to use also, creating their own vodcasts. However, it requires a download in order to use it, and I doubt that our student laptops would allow it. So if I was going to use this with a class, I would have to get my tech folks to download it on all the laptops first -- a process that can take up quite a bit of time. Nonetheless, if you're just into doing vodcasts, this would be a good program to start with.
Screencast-o-matic
Reviewed by P. Long
This site allows you to record your computer screen activity for demonstration purposes. You may record anything on your screen, changing the size up to full screen. As I was getting ready to use this tool, I realized our desktop did not have a built-in microphone. I then had to switch to our laptop (and complete a java update). It was helpful to be able to open multiple windows – the one at Screencast-o-matic and the item I wanted to record. Once I adjusted my screen and checked the microphone, I was ready to do. I was surprised with the ease at which the recording took place and I quickly made a 4 minute video. Fifteen minutes is the limit for a free account. I believe this tool is easy enough for student use. I would most likely be the one using this tool at first to create demonstrations for the blog and wiki. But students could also use it to make tutorials for each other about items in our Web 2.0 world.
freescreencast.com
Reviewed by Laura Vogel
Tried opening several times and site could not load. Not sure if it's my computer, bad web address, or site shut down.
ScreenCastle
Reviewed by Jason Shiffer
For my first experience using a screen-capturing program this one was a breeze. When you open the link, you are told to click on a record button. The program then prompts you to enter the resolution size of the screen that you want to record, it automatically came up with the full size screen by default. Once you get into the actual recorder there is a very simple user interface that appears on the top of the normal page and guides you through the process step by step. The entire process was very easy and I made a really good movie in the end. I embedded the movie that I made so you can see what the result looks like:
There are many different classroom uses that I could see out of making screenshot movies off of your desktop. My sample is an example that I thought of that shows a reconstruction of the geologic landform known of as Pangaea. Using Google Earth I recorded an animation of Pangaea coming together and then breaking apart. While this is quite easy to show right off of Google Earth, having it in video form will allow me to stay within my PowerPoint notes to show the movie. Another plus about having the movie file would be that I would not longer be required to have internet access to show the animation. This is a really simple and effective tool. Strongly recommended!
Screenr
Reviewed by LGerrity
I made an account and tried the Screenr app. It is a very easy way to create a podcast or tutorial for students. I created one (several times) to show my students how to access our online math textbook and resources for use outside of school. I had to try a few times because I talked too much then I got stage fright so I had to redo a few times. Since it is a 5 minute time allotment, it was easy enough to rerecord. I think next time I will have some notes ready when I record because I became sidetracked during the recording. I also moved my mouse way too much. I think that would distract the students. Finally, I would plan a spot in the video to ask the students to pause the video and get up to the point in instructions before proceeding to the next steps. I think I'd like to try this for our computer lessons. I typically have kids close the laptops while I show them on the SMARTboard what we are going to be doing that lesson. This is a way for them to get started right away, follow along with the task directions, but allowing them to move at their independent rate rather than too fast or too slow.
Bounce
Educreations
Reviewed by Bob Lawson
Educreations is a screen-casting tool available on the pc and also the iPad. It allows students to record, draw, and add pictures in a presentation format. I
have used this program during a Unit where the students had to research the differences between a representative democracy and a direct democracy. The program is very straight forward to use, the student can load a photo, lock it and then if needed draw / write information on the picture, then record their explanation of the information. The only challenge my students had was trying record their presentation in one try, so after a class discussion it was determined that they should record a sentence or two then pause and get set to record the next few sentences.