Ready. Set. Record.
As teachers we know that for students, classroom presentations can be both challenging and nerve wracking. This is often due to the lack of time for students to present so they end up being rushed, and have only one shot at success. Another challenge is maintaining an attentive, interested student audience throughout the presentations. Screencastify is the perfect solution for all of these concerns.
Screencastify is a Google Chrome extension that records your computer screen, voice, and face. I learned about this extension at a workshop on “flipped classrooms”. Here teachers use Screencastify to record their voice and computer screen thus allowing students to view the presentation at home. If teachers can use this tool for their lessons, I thought it would be a good way for students to do their presentations. Since we are in the age of children watching YouTube videos for entertainment, Screencastify provides them with a familiar and exciting way for them to demonstrate and share their learning.
Screencastify is a Google Chrome extension that records your computer screen, voice, and face. I learned about this extension at a workshop on “flipped classrooms”. Here teachers use Screencastify to record their voice and computer screen thus allowing students to view the presentation at home. If teachers can use this tool for their lessons, I thought it would be a good way for students to do their presentations. Since we are in the age of children watching YouTube videos for entertainment, Screencastify provides them with a familiar and exciting way for them to demonstrate and share their learning.
Our third grade class had been working on a Social Studies project in Google Slides on the three types of communities. I modeled how to make a Screencast as they watched my presentation on the Smartboard. The children seemed genuinely excited after I completed the demonstration. Since this was being done in the classroom, they went to different areas of the room and some chose to work in the hallway when they were ready to record their presentation. They were given the option of completing the project with their webcams either on or off. This was a key component as some children are initially more shy than others. Learning how to be comfortable on camera is an invaluable 21 century digital skill.
After the children completed their Screencasts, they took the shareable link and pasted it under an announcement I posted in Google Classroom. The children were thrilled to show off their presentations to their classmates. The exciting moment came as the students were preparing for their test. Without realizing it, they had already started studying having watched their classmate’s Screencasitfy presentations multiple times.
After the children completed their Screencasts, they took the shareable link and pasted it under an announcement I posted in Google Classroom. The children were thrilled to show off their presentations to their classmates. The exciting moment came as the students were preparing for their test. Without realizing it, they had already started studying having watched their classmate’s Screencasitfy presentations multiple times.
As a teacher, Screencastify helped to solve my problem of getting to hear everyone’s presentations while also preserving valuable class time. I was able to view them at home and provide meaningful feedback to each student without being rushed by time constraints in the classroom. Because some students are more comfortable than others when it comes to talking in front of a webcam, my advice for teachers who want to use Screencastify is to allow the children to choose the recording format that is comfortable for them. Today’s children are living in a digital world. Screencastify is a way for teachers to integrate technology in a way that children are accustomed to viewing it.
Trish Gordon
Immaculate Heart of Mary
[email protected]
Links to Screencastify examples:
Rory’s Project
Sean’s Project
David’s Project
Sophia’s Project
Brenna’s Project
Trish Gordon
Immaculate Heart of Mary
[email protected]
Links to Screencastify examples:
Rory’s Project
Sean’s Project
David’s Project
Sophia’s Project
Brenna’s Project
Check out Trish's Classroom website here.
Ms. Gordon has been teaching 3rd grade at IHM for 24 years. It is all she ever dreamed of doing since she was a 3rd grader herself. "I'm living my dream!" When she isn't teaching, she loves doing arts and crafts and currently runs an after school crafting club called Kid Krafters. Trish loves getting new ideas and inspiration from Pinterest!
Ms. Gordon has been teaching 3rd grade at IHM for 24 years. It is all she ever dreamed of doing since she was a 3rd grader herself. "I'm living my dream!" When she isn't teaching, she loves doing arts and crafts and currently runs an after school crafting club called Kid Krafters. Trish loves getting new ideas and inspiration from Pinterest!
AoPTech would like to thank Ms. Gordon for sharing her Screencastify experience with us.
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