The word 'screencast' was first coined by columnist Jon Udell in 200 5. (For specifics on creating screencasts from PowerPoint slides, see my tutorial ' Creating a PowerPoint Screencast Using Camtasia Studio.') Screencasting OverviewĪ screencast is a digital video and audio recording of what occurs on a presenter's computer screen, and it can be used to create sophisticated, information-rich multimedia presentations. The topics explored include an overview of screencasting, its benefits, the flipped classroom, screencast software, tools, planning, and teacher-created screencasts.

This article focuses on educational screencasts. Screencasts enable teachers to create a digital recording of any instructional activity performed on a computer screen, 1 and they can be used as learning resources, learning tasks, and learning support. A screencast can provide learners a student-centered and engaging learning experience in both distance and traditional learning settings. Many educational technology tools can be used in instruction however, one fundamentally useful tool in teaching is the screencast. One of the keys to effective 21st century teaching is to balance traditional pedagogical methods with the effective use of technology to foster learning. Educators in today's classrooms must be able to use and integrate both current and emerging technologies.

Students in both K–12 and higher education will spend all of their personal and professional lives immersed in a digital society.

Good educational screencasts depend not only on thorough planning but also on thoughtful and careful editing to re-sequence lesson elements, eliminate awkward and unnecessary portions, and craft a focused, easy-to-follow presentation that uses students' time efficiently.To align screencasts with lesson objectives, goals, assessment practices, and standards, instructors can create their own screencasts rather than searching through the thousands of educational screencast videos on the web.Screencasts can provide learners a student-centered and engaging learning experience in both distance and traditional learning settings.