Top Ten Reasons to Use Screencast-O-Matic

(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune)

Last month I had the opportunity to teach two sessions at the Flip'in Utah Conference on how to create tutorials in the flipped classroom using Screencast-O-Matic.  Here are my top ten reasons educators should use Screencast-O-Matic.

     

10. It's Easy

If creating screencasts scares you or makes you uncomfortable, this is the program for you. Screencast-O-Matic has made the screen casting process simple and easy to follow.  

9.  Dual Platformed

There are many great screencast programs out there, but a majority of them have been designed to work on either a Mac or a PC and rarely for both.  If you have access to the Internet, then you have have access to Screencast-O-Matic.

8.  Web-based

Screencast-O-Matic is a web-based product that doesn't require you to download the application.  As mentioned in #10, if you have access to the Internet then you have access to Screencast-O-Matic.  However, Screencast-O-Matic does require Java.  Before using Screencast-O-Matic, make sure Java is downloaded to the computer and up-to-date.

7.  Picture in Picture

Every time I teach Screencast-O-Matic teachers ask if there is way to record themselves talking to the camera while they are also recording what is happening on their computer screen.  The answer is YES. Screencast-O-Matic can access the webcam that is connected to the computer while also recording what you are doing on the screen. Once the screencast has been recorded you have the ability to adjust the size and location of the webcam video.

6.  Adjustable Recording Spaces

When creating screencasts you can decide how much of the computer screen to record.  Screencast-O-Matic offers predetermined sizes as well as the option to click and drag the screen to the size you desire.  You can also pause the recording at anytime, change the recording space's location and size, and then continue the recording.

5.  Sharing

Sharing screencasts in this program is easy.  Screencasts can be uploaded to Screencast-O-Matic, YouTube, or downloaded to the computer as a video file.

4.  Custom Links

Custom links are a way to create a web address alias that can point to any screencast that you have uploaded to Screencast-O-Matic.

3.  Channels

Screencast-O-Matic allows you to create channels to store your videos.  When you publish your screencasts to Screencast-O-Matic and YouTube you are given a link that is unique to that specific video.  Depending on how many videos you share, after time students may get confused as to what link goes to what video.  Creating a channel allows the link that you share with students to remain the same, and students have access to all videos within that channel.

2.  Captions

Teachers can create a screencast in Screencast-O-Matic and then add captions to the video.  This YouTube video will walk you through the steps for adding captions. 

Note: The video says to open and use Notepad.  You can use any word processing program, but you need to make sure that you save your file as a .txt file. Which can be done during the Save/Save As step

1.  It's Free!

      Everyone loves a good bargain, and what is better than free? Screencast-O-Matic provides an option for you to upgrade to the pro version which gives you more features, but many teachers have been happy and satisfied with the features that the free version offers.  

What To Do When Technology Tanks

"I can't log in."
"The screen froze."
"My Apple TV keeps dropping."
"It didn't save and I lost my work."

These are all frustrating things we deal with as we strive to integrate technology in the classroom. I like to call them "technology tanks". Technology tanks are inevitable and can spell disaster for your lesson and discourage many teachers from wanting to use technology.  However, these disasters can be averted, even when the technology tanks strike, if you have procedures set up in your classroom to help things run smoothly while you deal with an issue when it arrises.

Just like any lesson has the potential to go differently than you planned, so can your technology components.  The trick is knowing how to deal with it in a way where you classroom can continue on beyond the speed bump.  We can use these technology tanks as a learning experience so we know how to deal with the problem if it occurs again.  The key is not to panic and transition to a back up plan.  Here are a few helpful tips that may help ease anxiety about trying something new and dealing with technology tanks.

• Don't overdo it.  Rather than trying 3 new tools or strategies at once, choose one and focus on using it a few times until you feel comfortable.  Then, add something new.
• Don't be afraid to try using a new technology because something might go wrong.  
• Ask your Ed Tech to walk you through using the technology before hand, or ask them to be there as a support the first time you use it (they would love to help)!
• If it isn't working, turn it off, and back on again.  It doesn't always fix things, but a lot of times it does help.
• Work with your students to solve the problem (within reason).  Critical thinking skills are important, and often times someone in the room will have a suggestion that might work.  Student will appreciate the opportunity to show what they know.
• If all else fails, go to plan B.  Adjusting is part of being a good teacher and it's important for students to see those skills on display!

I also found this article about the pros and cons of teaching with technology from Edudemic interesting.

Kahoot!- A great way to create student engagement!

Whoever said learning can't be fun has obviously never seen Kahoot!  This amazing web-based interactive tool captivates learners through a game like experience. Kahoot! allows any web-enabled device to be used as a classroom response system.

How does it work? It's easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. The teacher create quizzes, discussions, or surveys. 

2. The teacher projects the quiz through the projector while the students join using the class code provided.

3. The teacher guides the students through the questions.  

Kahoot offers an engaging way to keep the students motivated throughout lessons and discussion by adding a little friendly game like competition. While answering the questions, the students are able to compete against each other to gain a spot on the leaderboard. They must answer the question correctly to earn points, but the faster they answer it, the more points they will receive. After each question, the main screen will show the leaderboard while their personal devices will show them how many points they are behind the person in front of them.

Kahoot is also a great way to guide instruction in all learning environments.  Between questions, the teacher can pause to discuss the answers in further detail or give an introduction to the upcoming question.  All the while, the students will stay actively engaged, because they do not want to miss answering the next question as quickly as possible.  

Visit https://getkahoot.com/  or check out this Kahoot! tutorial to learn more:

Technology Use and Driving

As kids are headed back to school this year, the roads will be busier with new and inexperienced drivers. Utah State Law provides guidelines for teenage drivers. Click here for Utah's Teen Drivers Guide.   These drivers are also likely to fall into the category of kids who have access to technology. In addition to basic diving rules, it is important to set expectations for responsible use of technology in car for kids and teenagers, whether they the driver or the passenger.  A few tips and reminders listed here, are a good place to start.

• Wear safety belt, follow driving and traffic laws and obey signs.
• No cell phone use while driving: this includes talking and texting.
• Limit cell phone use while riding as the passenger in a teenage driver's vehicle. This will limit the distraction to the new driver.
• Lower the volume on the radio and music. Be aware of emergency vehicles and limit distractions.
• Limit nighttime driving.  Utah Law states that teen drivers under 17, may not drive between Midnight and 5 a.m. (See exceptions)
• Parents: Be a good example while you are driving and your teenager will be more likely to follow your rules and expectations.

An example of a Parent/Teen Driving Agreement can be found here and is provided by the National Safety Council.  

Back to School "Blues?"

For a lot of us, Back to School means the highest of highs and for some of us, the lowest of lows. Fortunately, in my job as an ed tech, it is exciting to see the teachers and students get the opportunity to learn new things and technologies. This year is going to be particularly exciting with the teachers using Google Docs/Drive more for storing and collaborating information from their PLCs as well as BLT meetings. I feel that they are going to see just how easy and efficient using google docs is. Here are some tips and tricks I have learned along the way for my personal organization.

If you forget how to do any of these things, there are several places to look at quick video tutorials. Here are some I would recommend.

Creating a Folder in Google Drive
Sharing a Folder in Google Drive
Organizing Your Drive

Canvas Publish Feature

As we welcome back students to a new year of learning, we are moving forward with our use of Canvas at the secondary school level in Canyons District. Many of you took the time to join us for our first ever Canvas Cookout and got to practice with some of the fantastic features Canvas has to offer.

One of the newest and most useful features this year is "Draft State" which offers a publishing button . This addition in courses allows teachers to have more control over the creation and release of classroom content to students.

What does it look like? 
Inside the new Canvas courses, you will notice little gray "clouds" next to all items that can be activated with the publishing feature. As long as the cloud is gray, the content contained there can not been seen and is not accessible to students. To change this and publish the content, simply click on the cloud so that is turns green. Any items with a green cloud are actively published and can be used by students!

Green Clouds = Published 

What if I want to un-publish something? 
To un-publish, or make something inactive so students can't access it, simply click the green cloud so that it turns back to gray. *Please note: for assignments and quizzes, once a student has submitted something, it can't be un-published. 

Why is this helpful? 
The publish option is great because it allows you to develop and edit course content without students "watching." As a teacher, this gives you the ability to plan ahead and make adjustments to your course and allow students access only when you are ready.

If you have questions about Draft State and publishing in Canvas, please contact your Ed Tech for help.

Start the Year Right with Edmodo (Elementary)

The first day of school is almost here and you probably have a million questions for your students.  At the same time, they probably have a million things to share, and another million questions for you!

There's no way you can cover it all on the first day of school, but you can set up a save environment where kids can discuss and share online - Edmodo!

Edmodo is a free online "learning" networking site that allows teachers to create groups for their students to share in discussions, upload files, links, take polls, and even submit work or complete quizzes.  Since Edmodo is a website, you'll find it works well on MacBooks, Windows Machines, and Chromebooks.  There is also a free Edmodo app in the iTunes App Store.

Get the Edmodo app here!

Students can set up their Edmodo accounts very quickly online once the teacher has made a group and shared the "group code".  In minutes your class will be:

• answering discussion questions
• completing polls with live results
• uploading files, documents, and multimedia resources
• accessing links and assignments
• completing quizzes that are aligned to the common core

For help getting started and learning all the great features of Edmodo, check in with your EdTech or review one of the grade level specific Edmodo Getting Started Guides.

And for more creative ways to use Edmodo in your class, check out Richard Byrnes Blogpost - "15 Things You Can Do With Edmodo and How To Get Started"