Screen Capture Videos
Introduction
Screen capture or “screencasting” refers to recording the activity on part or all of a computer screen and then making it available as a video for others to follow. Often an audio narration is also included to help explain the actions on the screen.
Simple screen capture is easy to achieve through the use of some additional software. It involves clicking on a record button and recording what is being viewed on the screen in real time, together with spoken audio.
Uses and examples
Screencasting is a useful tool for teaching, learning and research purposes. Possible uses include:
- Software demonstrations
- Recording lecture slides
- For review and feedback of work
- As an alternative to a text based document.
- Providing worked solutions to problems
- Demonstrating complex ideas
- Creating materials for distance learning
Suitable screen capture software
Popular free software to use for screen capture is called Jing. It has versions for both Mac and Windows. It is very simple to use but is restricted in the duration of recordings (5 minutes maximum) and its inability to edit the captures. A more commercial version of the software is Camtasia which allows more complex screen recording and editing to be achieved.
Resources
- Download the Free Jing software (opens in a new window)
- Download a quick guide to installing and using Jing (PDF, 652KB)
- JISC guidelines for screencasting
Help and Advice
Contact Gill Kelly (g.m.kelly@qub.ac.uk) for further information.
