Click on any of the above pictures to visit a site and find out more about screen-casting.
I know, I know. You don't have time. You are stretched too thin and although you like the idea, you just can't get started with screen-casting.
Here's the thing though, you may just find yourself with so much more time and less stress if you go ahead a make it work for you. So, I'm going to try to convince you!
A little background...
I started screen-casting in the 2012-2013 school year for my math students when they had to review for a test. I knew that it made no sense to have them complete a whole bunch of practice problems if they were going to keep making mistakes. I used screen-casting as a solution. I recorded myself explaining each problem on the study guide as I solved them. I uploaded the link to my teacher webpage and told the students it was there. The whole process took about 10 minutes.
One day, a student who typically struggled with homework and had been directed to my website came up to me and said wide-eyed and smiling, "Mrs. Pitel, did you know the answers were on there?".
I laughed, and told them that was the whole point. See, I remember what doing homework could be like. Let me back up one more time.
Growing up, I was very lucky. I had two parents who were involved and a part of my life. My mom was an elementary school teacher and a reading specialist. She taught me how to read and made sure my work was done thoroughly and accurately all through elementary school. Then, at some point, she started to send me to my father for help with Math and Science problems. She didn't remember or know how to solve the problems and figured he did. He was after all, an Aerospace Engineer. I'm sure you can see where this is going. He was a rocket scientist, I was 14. His explanations didn't help me. We just weren't speaking the same language. That's not his fault. He just wasn't the person that could or needed to help me. The voice I really needed at this point was my teacher. I think that there are a lot of students who face the same predicament. Parents who are trying to help, but can't for a variety of reasons.
So, back here in present day, that's what I think about, how my voice can be the one that is there for them to guide students and support them. As their teacher, that is my job.
Now that I am a computer teacher, I have even greater opportunity to make use of screen-casting. Each student in my class works at a different level and at a different pace. I use screen-casting to record explanations of new software programs, formulas or ideas. Then students can refer to those videos when they are ready or if they need repetition. This helps me and my students. Let's face it, as much as I would like to be able to, I can't be there for each one all the time. Also, for a variety of reasons, I have students missing class due to illness, music lessons, lateness. Screen-casting my lessons when there has been empty seats has provided me the benefit of not having to worry about how that missing student is going to learn the material. This process gives all of my students a place where they go watch and review what has been presented, when and where they need the information. Although there are plenty of other videos out there they could look up and watch, there is an importance to having it be MY voice, MY methods, MY presentations.
So, give it a try. All you need is internet tool and a microphone. At most you loose a few minutes. In return you can gain so much more.
Here's the thing though, you may just find yourself with so much more time and less stress if you go ahead a make it work for you. So, I'm going to try to convince you!
A little background...
I started screen-casting in the 2012-2013 school year for my math students when they had to review for a test. I knew that it made no sense to have them complete a whole bunch of practice problems if they were going to keep making mistakes. I used screen-casting as a solution. I recorded myself explaining each problem on the study guide as I solved them. I uploaded the link to my teacher webpage and told the students it was there. The whole process took about 10 minutes.
One day, a student who typically struggled with homework and had been directed to my website came up to me and said wide-eyed and smiling, "Mrs. Pitel, did you know the answers were on there?".
I laughed, and told them that was the whole point. See, I remember what doing homework could be like. Let me back up one more time.
Growing up, I was very lucky. I had two parents who were involved and a part of my life. My mom was an elementary school teacher and a reading specialist. She taught me how to read and made sure my work was done thoroughly and accurately all through elementary school. Then, at some point, she started to send me to my father for help with Math and Science problems. She didn't remember or know how to solve the problems and figured he did. He was after all, an Aerospace Engineer. I'm sure you can see where this is going. He was a rocket scientist, I was 14. His explanations didn't help me. We just weren't speaking the same language. That's not his fault. He just wasn't the person that could or needed to help me. The voice I really needed at this point was my teacher. I think that there are a lot of students who face the same predicament. Parents who are trying to help, but can't for a variety of reasons.
So, back here in present day, that's what I think about, how my voice can be the one that is there for them to guide students and support them. As their teacher, that is my job.
Now that I am a computer teacher, I have even greater opportunity to make use of screen-casting. Each student in my class works at a different level and at a different pace. I use screen-casting to record explanations of new software programs, formulas or ideas. Then students can refer to those videos when they are ready or if they need repetition. This helps me and my students. Let's face it, as much as I would like to be able to, I can't be there for each one all the time. Also, for a variety of reasons, I have students missing class due to illness, music lessons, lateness. Screen-casting my lessons when there has been empty seats has provided me the benefit of not having to worry about how that missing student is going to learn the material. This process gives all of my students a place where they go watch and review what has been presented, when and where they need the information. Although there are plenty of other videos out there they could look up and watch, there is an importance to having it be MY voice, MY methods, MY presentations.
So, give it a try. All you need is internet tool and a microphone. At most you loose a few minutes. In return you can gain so much more.