Introduction:
Screencat-o-matic (SOM) is a screen capture tool that records activity on your computer making it available for playback purposes. In addition to recording on screen activity, the SOM can also record audio as well as video from the users webcam. Thus, allowing the instructor or student to record audio and video instructions to supplement the onscreen activity.
Beneficial Features as an Assessment Tool:
SOM videos can be saved in a variety of formats including, MP4, AVI, FLV, animated GIF or published to the SOM website and YouTube. SOM is widely available with downloads for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. When recording, the cursor is highlighted as it moves, making the point of interest readily observable. It is an extremely easy program and during testing I went from downloading the program onto my computer to making my first screencast in under 10 minutes. It is not necessary to install the program for functionality, although I did and am hopeful that I will be using it readily for my future course design. Finally, the SOM has the flexibility to select which region of the screen you are interested in recording, this gives maximum resolution and clarity to your videos.
Challenges as an Assessment Tool:
SOM is a free site, however it does limit recording time to 15 minutes and includes a proprietary watermark. A professional paid upgrade is available that will remove the watermark and recording time limitations, as well as enhancing the available options. An additional challenge of SOM is that students would need a microphone to create audio voice over recordings. However, it seems like the majority of newer computers have built in microphones so this should not be a problem. Finally, creating a supplementary webcam video is possible but in the free version it is only done simultaneously with the screen activity recording, creating a need for excellent multitasking and peripheral vision skills. Again, the free version does not have editing options, so a well planned out script and a few practice runs will significantly cut down on the time needed for making professional screencasts.
Educational Application:
SOM is an excellent tool for designing web 2.0 tutorials. If students for example are new to using wikis then the teacher is able to use the SOM to set up a wiki and students are able to follow the process. I have created a quick tutorial video to demonstrate tutorial making (TutorialVideo). For assessment purposes, the SOM could be used by students to design tutorials for their classmates or to exhibit their knowledge through a quick presentation format.
Example Learning Objective:
A potential learning objective would be: explain one basic neurobiological aspect of the brain exhibiting a proficient degree of understanding. I have created a quick video demonstrating the feasibility of such an assessment (Synapse Video).
Resources:
cnet Review
Education World Review
7 Things you should know about screencast-o-matic
Screencat-o-matic (SOM) is a screen capture tool that records activity on your computer making it available for playback purposes. In addition to recording on screen activity, the SOM can also record audio as well as video from the users webcam. Thus, allowing the instructor or student to record audio and video instructions to supplement the onscreen activity.
Beneficial Features as an Assessment Tool:
SOM videos can be saved in a variety of formats including, MP4, AVI, FLV, animated GIF or published to the SOM website and YouTube. SOM is widely available with downloads for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. When recording, the cursor is highlighted as it moves, making the point of interest readily observable. It is an extremely easy program and during testing I went from downloading the program onto my computer to making my first screencast in under 10 minutes. It is not necessary to install the program for functionality, although I did and am hopeful that I will be using it readily for my future course design. Finally, the SOM has the flexibility to select which region of the screen you are interested in recording, this gives maximum resolution and clarity to your videos.
Challenges as an Assessment Tool:
SOM is a free site, however it does limit recording time to 15 minutes and includes a proprietary watermark. A professional paid upgrade is available that will remove the watermark and recording time limitations, as well as enhancing the available options. An additional challenge of SOM is that students would need a microphone to create audio voice over recordings. However, it seems like the majority of newer computers have built in microphones so this should not be a problem. Finally, creating a supplementary webcam video is possible but in the free version it is only done simultaneously with the screen activity recording, creating a need for excellent multitasking and peripheral vision skills. Again, the free version does not have editing options, so a well planned out script and a few practice runs will significantly cut down on the time needed for making professional screencasts.
Educational Application:
SOM is an excellent tool for designing web 2.0 tutorials. If students for example are new to using wikis then the teacher is able to use the SOM to set up a wiki and students are able to follow the process. I have created a quick tutorial video to demonstrate tutorial making (TutorialVideo). For assessment purposes, the SOM could be used by students to design tutorials for their classmates or to exhibit their knowledge through a quick presentation format.
Example Learning Objective:
A potential learning objective would be: explain one basic neurobiological aspect of the brain exhibiting a proficient degree of understanding. I have created a quick video demonstrating the feasibility of such an assessment (Synapse Video).
Resources:
cnet Review
Education World Review
7 Things you should know about screencast-o-matic