Which Screencast Makes My Life the Easiest?

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Figuring out screencasts could not have come at a better time for me than right now.  With all this COVID-19 scare and schools practically being cancelled for the rest of the year, it's forcing teachers, students, and parents to learn a completely different way of learning.  We're all cooped up in our houses, we can't leave, and we are sailing in fairly uncharted waters when it comes to public education and remote learning.  Screencasts could in fact, literally be a life saver when you're trying to learn something new on the "internet-webs", and maneuver through lessons in the alienation of your own home right now.  If you're a teacher, screencasts could really save you some time typing out directions, too.  It can also give your visual learners a little boost of confidence when they see how to navigate something, rather than the written directions.  As a librarian, you can also use screencasts in multiple ways such as, showing students how to navigate the OPAC, take them on virtual field trips, show them how to login to Google Classroom, how to even create their own screen cast.  The possibilities are endless.

I have reviewed two highly recommended screencast programs and I've compiled a list of PROS and CONS about them.  The two screencasts you're about to review are Screencast-O-Matic and Screencastify.

Screencast-O-Matic PROS:
- Easy to navigate
- Quick and easy download
- You can upload and save to different locations
- You can save the program to your Chrome bar

Screencast-O-Matic CONS:
- You create the video and recording within a certain frame
- It's just one more thing you have to download to your computer
- You get a limited number of screencasts on your free trial


Screencastify PROS:
- It's a Google extension rather than a download
- You are able to choose for it to show your desktop or webpage only
- Super simple and easy to navigate
- You can copy the link or download it to share with others

Screencastify CONS:
- You are only allowed to make screencasts that are 5 minutes or under while in the free trial

All in all, I would choose Screencastify simply because it's another extension to Google.  When I hear that, my mind instantly says "USER FRIENDLY!".  I did give Screencast-O-Matic a try, but my gut tells me to stick with the Ol' Faithful Google.  Check out the screencast I made, teaching students how to access their public library and using their OPAC!  This is my first time ever making a screencast, but Screencastify made me feel confident in what I was doing because their mini tutorial and navigation settings were supreme.  Enjoy!

Click HERE to view.

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