From Van's Blog
Sunday, November 8, 2009
BP14_2009113_ScreenToaster
For my Web 2.0 tool that we needed to research this week, I chose ScreenToaster.
The Tool Itself:
ScreenToaster, is an amazing Web 2.0 tool that allows its users to record their computers screens with one click of the mouse. This tool is reminiscent of the program we use in this program called, Screen Flow. Where this tool differs from Screen Flow is that it is completely mobile and housed online. All users need to do is sign up online for free and then they can access it on any computer PC or MAC: and record whatever they would like to from their screens.
ScreenToaster takes it a step further with its ability to easily share and stream their recorded videos to the ScreenToaster website. This is truly awesome, giving their users the ability to shoot, record, and upload videos in a quick and easy fashion. The site itself offers all of these screen captured videos for their users to also view. They have categories ranging from web, education, to design and gaming: just to name a few.
The biggest plus to this Web 2.0 tool is the fact that it is free, considering other screen recording programs cost well over a hundred dollars.
ScreenToaster, of course, can't rival professional tools like Camtasia or ScreenFlow, but if you are looking for an easy to use screencasting tool to record a quick demo or tutorial, ScreenToaster is definitely a contender for being one of the best and easiest to use tools available (Lardinois, 2009).
Assignment:
The assignment I would use to exercise this tool is in my opinion, very cool. I would ask the students to teach me anything they would like to, while using this tool. What I mean by this is; the students would need to come up with a presentation on anything that they can teach on their computers while recording it with this tool.
For example if a student would like to teach the class how to find a secret gem inside a video game, they can record themselves playing the video game while talking over the action. Throughout the presentation the student would explain to the class how and where to find the gem.
Once the presentation is over and recorded, I would then ask the students to upload their video to the website for viewing in class later. After this, I would then ask the students to search the database of videos on the website and find one video that is similar in nature to their own presentation.
Lastly, after all of these tasks have been completed, we as a class would watch all of the presentations and other videos in class. We would give creative feedback and comments to the presenter.
This might seem like a simple assignment, but sometimes a simple fun assignment like this is needed for the students, so they can breathe a little and have some fun. This is where I think this tool and assignment would be great.
Other Educational Benefits:
This Web 2.0 Tool and accompanying site offers many great benefits to a digital media class like my own.
1.) Screen Recording: - With this option all of the students can continue to make tutorials and presentations on anything they want outside of the classroom. They will now have the ability to use this in all of their other classes as well. Furthermore, other educators and faculty members can use this tool in the event the school cannot provide even better programs that do the same thing, due to budget constraints.
2.) Sharing and Streaming: - With this option all users have the constant option of mobility, housing, and view ability of their videos and others.
3.) Cross Platform: - With this option it does not matter what type of computer you have. This is huge in school systems that are all PC base or MAC base. With this tool it doesn’t matter and can be used on any computer.
These are just a few of the educational benefits that this one Web 2.0 Tool offers to a classroom of digital media students. As I said earlier, my assignment is not the most elaborate, but is still technologically inclined and lets the students be as creative and personable as possible. With this tool I feel a lot of educators and students alike would enjoy and benefit from having such a tool at their disposal.
1 comments:
- Christina Carboni said...
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Van,
ScreenToaster sounds like a great tool. As a technology teacher and mentor, we are always looking for ways to instruct and assist others in learning different programs and tools to use. This site is the answer to those who do not own a program similar to Screenflow or Captivate, which is the one I currently use at my school that is PC based. Thank you for sharing!
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