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Instructional Videos

Instructional Video tools allow users to create online how-to videos and explanations. Screenshots make individual copies of whatever a viewer has on screen. Screencasting video tapes user activity. Video and images can be edited and manipulated using the following free tools.

More information on editing can be found in the Video Editing page. Also, existing instructional videos and images can be found in Existing Multimedia. Videos can be created using free technology tools in combination with PowerPoint. Find more information about this at Creating Video with PowerPoint.

Remember that video use MUST be in compliance with Copyright, Fair Use, and Accessibility Guidelines.

Jing

With the ability to screen capture and screencast, Jing allows for a user to create tutorials or share screenshots. Following download, Jing allows a user to capture a window, pane, or region of the computer screen. After capture, a user can mark up the screenshot with basic text boxes, arrows, highlights, or rectangles to emphasize or explain the image. Screen captures can then be instantly shared by sending the screenshot to Screencast.com and embedding the URL in an email, chat box, or Web page.

Jing also allows a user to select a window or region of the computer screen and record up to five minutes of video. In a screencast, a user can point to a region of the screen with the mouse, scroll, flip through photos, click around in a website or application and Jing captures it all. While capturing a screencast, Jing can also record commentary as a user speaks into a microphone. In an effort to provide a straightforward narration, Jing caps recording time at five minutes. Once a user has finished recording, the screencast movie is ready to upload to Screencast.com, from which a user can share the link with others. (Jing can also be used with Snagit and Camtasia.)

What can I do with it?

Take a screen capture of a chart or diagram and add explanations with arrows, highlights, and text boxes to visually explain the image
Add narration as you record the steps of creating a document or enacting a feature of a program

Where is it? http://www.jingproject.com/

Screen Jelly

With no need to register or download, Screen Jelly enables a user to record screen activity with or without a voice recording. By pressing the red button on the home page, the Screen Jelly recorder will load and allow a user to capture three minutes of screen activity. Screen Jelly allows a user to quickly share websites, applications, software, or just something neat via email, Twitter, and Facebook.

What can I do with it?

If a student has a question and you can't meet face-to-face, ask them to make a brief recording of their step-by-step actions and their question so you can better assist them. You may want to submit your answer by using a recording as well.
When appropriate, ask students to post their own recordings on D2L for the whole class to view when providing information that is better presented in video, audio, still images, and dynamic text rather than plain text.

Where is it? http://www.screenjelly.com/

To View a Demo of Screen Jelly

Screentoaster

With the ability to capture a play-by-play of the computer screen, Screentoaster enables a user to create a tutorial suited for any specified need. With no download, Screentoaster becomes as simple as clicking the “Start Recording” button, displaying the program a user would like to capture, and simultaneously pressing “Alt + S.” With voice over and subtitle options, a user can narrate the screenshots during or following the recording. The ability to start, stop, and pause – all enabled by the “Alt + S” keys – allows a user to record the video at a preferred pace or to scrap the video and begin again.

What can I do with it?

Demonstrate the use of any program in a way that is visual and verbal
Rather than meeting face-to-face or attempting to piece together a manual-type email, an instructor can use Screentoaster to outline the procedure a student must follow to set up an Excel spreadsheet (or other document)
Demonstrate how to use a particular feature in a software program, such as Word's Captioning features.

Where is it? http://www.screentoaster.com/

For a Demo of How to Use Screentoaster

Wink

With the ability to capture screenshots, add buttons and titles, and annotate, Wink allows users to create tutorials and presentations. Users can also capture screenshots, mouse movements, and add explanatory elements or help documentation. Recording audio, screenshot captures, and Flash conversion are also enabled by Wink.