Screencasting Tips & Tricks

Gavin Brockis

• Cost• Formats & delivery• Production skills

Barriers

Opportunities

• Access & Engagement• Re-usability• Consistency

1.Map your Workflow 

2.Design for Context

3.Keep it Short (and sweet)

4.USB Microphones = Simple + Consistent 

5.Use the Pause...

6.Save time and look good with a Template

7.Organize your Archive

1. Map your Workflow

• Learning Objectives • Target device / channel

• Audience - beginner or expert?

What constraints will these place on format and design?

2. Design for Context

3. Keep it Short (and sweet)

Compact & bijou          Death by screencast

(longer resources can often be divided up)

vs

4. USB Microphones

• self-sufficient        - no soundcard required• consistent sound 

        - on different systems• plug & play

        - easy to configure• good sound quality 

        - if used correctly

good mic technique pays dividends !

5. Use the Pause...

Shelly Blake-Plock using Jing for feedback

6. Template - look good + save time

• Standardize for team / institution

• Define shared settings & materials

• Avoid duplication of tasks

6. Template – ESU template

7. Organize your Archive

• Archive your master screencasts

• Archive projects for future use & re-use• Self-contained archives for collaborators

• Tagging and Metadata• Audio tagging (slate) is a

quick way to record production details and contributors

Results of good practice:

• Concise, well planned screencasts

• Format, size & length suited to • users• content • target device(s) and context

• Action is fluid and easy to follow. 

• Audio is good quality, natural and clear

• Consistency in quality, look & feel

• Archive enables future use & re-use