Module 8: Artifact #1 & #2 - Screencast videos for "How to: Punnett Square" and "How to: Pedigree"
Hello Class,
For my first artifact, or artifacts, I decided to talk about the two screencast videos I created for this class to use in Biology. I wasn't sure if they counted as two separate artifacts so I will talk about both of them here cause I learned a lot about making these videos in between them. A couple of years ago I went to a professional development class about "flipping the classroom". This concept really interested me because it was a way to reach students beyond the 46 minutes in class everyday. Also, students could go back and review the videos if they needed extra help or use them as a review for upcoming assessments. Maybe the biggest bonus though is it gives the students more time in class to apply the material in labs or activities rather than sitting in a lecture experience. Because of this, screencasts really appealed to me because they would have an immediate impact in my classroom.
These videos were my first and second attempt at making a screencast and I think there are some obvious issues, and improvements between the two videos. For my first video, "How to: Pedigrees" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoLbgn_ufCs), I used a program called Screencast-o-matic. I have developed a love/hate relationship with this site. As you will learn I utilized google screencastify for my second video. Screencast-o-matic is a free download that is extremely user friendly to set up and record. In fact, I like the recording aspect and tools of screencast-o-matic much better than screencastify. My biggest issue was after watching the video and attempting to share or download it to a file or Canvas, I was unable to do so. I spent hours troubleshooting and kept getting the same message, "Unable to download your video at this time". I didn't want to rerecord the video again so I set up a camera and recorded my computer screen manually, which obviously produced a sub-par product. An email to the company, a few lost points on my assignments, and hours of frustration later I was ready for a new program.
I had difficulty getting screencastify to work the first time I tried it a year ago but reluctantly went back to it due to my difficulties on the first video. This time, I was able to use the program and had little difficulties uploading two new videos for my class including this artifact called, "How to Punnet Squares": https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzLtiCze06ehOUxnZmhZQnlWWjA/view. I think screencastify is extremely easy to use now, but do miss the bells and whistles of using screencast-o-matic. If you can't upload the video though it is basically useless. The only major issue I had with screencastify was that you cannot have it in present mode when using slides because the icon disappears. I didn't try clicking present after I started recording so maybe that would work but would also disable the ability to use a pen and draw while recording, something I found extremely valuable.
Both of these videos will be utilized next year in the classroom. In fact, I could see myself making a dozen or more in the future. I actually enjoyed doing screencasts, and I think my students would not only enjoy them, but also benefit from them as well. I could see using them in multiple application in the future. One way that I mentioned above would be in a "flipped classroom" application. This could be a tool for opening up more time in class for questions, applications, or labs and activities.
I have a very diverse, co-taught, biology classroom with students who will move on to honors chemistry to students that are currently reading at a 2nd grade level. I am excited about these screencasts being applicable for all students in the room. Some of my more studious students may use it as a precursor to get a heads start with a lesson, where others may need it for extra help. All students could benefit from these videos as a quick review as well as come test time or even for final exams.
Artifact links:
"How to: Pedigrees" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoLbgn_ufCs
"How to Punnet Squares": https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzLtiCze06ehOUxnZmhZQnlWWjA/view
Thank you,
Jim Nielsen
For my first artifact, or artifacts, I decided to talk about the two screencast videos I created for this class to use in Biology. I wasn't sure if they counted as two separate artifacts so I will talk about both of them here cause I learned a lot about making these videos in between them. A couple of years ago I went to a professional development class about "flipping the classroom". This concept really interested me because it was a way to reach students beyond the 46 minutes in class everyday. Also, students could go back and review the videos if they needed extra help or use them as a review for upcoming assessments. Maybe the biggest bonus though is it gives the students more time in class to apply the material in labs or activities rather than sitting in a lecture experience. Because of this, screencasts really appealed to me because they would have an immediate impact in my classroom.
These videos were my first and second attempt at making a screencast and I think there are some obvious issues, and improvements between the two videos. For my first video, "How to: Pedigrees" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoLbgn_ufCs), I used a program called Screencast-o-matic. I have developed a love/hate relationship with this site. As you will learn I utilized google screencastify for my second video. Screencast-o-matic is a free download that is extremely user friendly to set up and record. In fact, I like the recording aspect and tools of screencast-o-matic much better than screencastify. My biggest issue was after watching the video and attempting to share or download it to a file or Canvas, I was unable to do so. I spent hours troubleshooting and kept getting the same message, "Unable to download your video at this time". I didn't want to rerecord the video again so I set up a camera and recorded my computer screen manually, which obviously produced a sub-par product. An email to the company, a few lost points on my assignments, and hours of frustration later I was ready for a new program.
I had difficulty getting screencastify to work the first time I tried it a year ago but reluctantly went back to it due to my difficulties on the first video. This time, I was able to use the program and had little difficulties uploading two new videos for my class including this artifact called, "How to Punnet Squares": https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzLtiCze06ehOUxnZmhZQnlWWjA/view. I think screencastify is extremely easy to use now, but do miss the bells and whistles of using screencast-o-matic. If you can't upload the video though it is basically useless. The only major issue I had with screencastify was that you cannot have it in present mode when using slides because the icon disappears. I didn't try clicking present after I started recording so maybe that would work but would also disable the ability to use a pen and draw while recording, something I found extremely valuable.
Both of these videos will be utilized next year in the classroom. In fact, I could see myself making a dozen or more in the future. I actually enjoyed doing screencasts, and I think my students would not only enjoy them, but also benefit from them as well. I could see using them in multiple application in the future. One way that I mentioned above would be in a "flipped classroom" application. This could be a tool for opening up more time in class for questions, applications, or labs and activities.
I have a very diverse, co-taught, biology classroom with students who will move on to honors chemistry to students that are currently reading at a 2nd grade level. I am excited about these screencasts being applicable for all students in the room. Some of my more studious students may use it as a precursor to get a heads start with a lesson, where others may need it for extra help. All students could benefit from these videos as a quick review as well as come test time or even for final exams.
Artifact links:
"How to: Pedigrees" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoLbgn_ufCs
"How to Punnet Squares": https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzLtiCze06ehOUxnZmhZQnlWWjA/view
Thank you,
Jim Nielsen
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