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Web 2.0 Digital Tools

Digital Tools

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Digital tools are online resources that can be used to enhance teaching. I have used several different digital tools, but the ones I use most often are Kahoot, Quizlet, ClassDojo, and AdobeSpark. They provide more engagement in the classroom, can be used as formative assessments, and they collect critical data for understanding students. Without the use of digital tools, technology usage would lack purpose and meaning. Now that schools have technology for student use, it is important that we as teachers learn about how we can best implement these tools to educate the newer generation.

What is ScreenCastify?

One digital tool that I have heard about, but never looked into, is ScreenCastify. It is a website, that can be added as an extension on Google, that allows users to take a video of their screen, tabs, or of themselves. I know of a few teachers in my school who use it to create sub lessons, but I wanted to take a look for myself. I decided to go to the website and sign in through my school's Google account. It took only a few seconds before I was able to start navigating the website.

Features
On the website, there are several key pieces of information that should be explored before creating a screen cast:
  1. Task Bar- this feature is located in the bottom left corner of the screen. It allows users to write on the screen as they are recording, highlight important text, and even use a spotlight tool to showcase important content. Users can view how much time their recording is as well.
  2. Screen/Self Recording- users are able to take a screen cast of their whole screen, just one tab, or even take a video of themselves. There is a count down from 3 so the user knows when the video is beginning, and users can stop the video at any time. When finished, users can edit their videos and cut content they don't deem necessary in their video.
  3. Easy Uploading- users can upload finished videos to their Google Drive, download onto their computer, or upload their screen cast right to YouTube. I noticed that there are two version of ScreenCastify, and if you are using the free version, you can only upload 5 videos total. The videos can be deleted to make room for more screen casts.
  4. Courses- The ScreenCastify website offers courses to learn more about how to use it. Courses are given by teachers who have used ScreenCastify in their own classrooms. Courses show the duration of each lesson, what each one will teach, and provide an awarded certificate for completing the course. There are three courses total, two for teachers and one for students.
  5. Resources- the Resources Tab on the website offers a beginners guide, as well as a PDF to a book that discusses 50 ways to use ScreenCastify in the classroom. Please click HERE for the link to the PDF. 

Source
Classroom Uses
  • Flipped classroom
  • Visible thinking
  • Lesson planning
  • Parent/student communication
  • Virtual Field Trips
For more information about how to use ScreenCastify in the classroom, watch my YouTube video below, or click HERE for the direct link. 



Additional Information
Downloadable PDF explaining how to use ScreenCastify with Google Apps:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/17MKeHg5q7egsWkrt3u9-7R_JUtO0XE9S/view

Author: Vicki Davis

Author: Jake Miller

Author: Jess Boyce
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Comments

  1. BetteNovember 30, 2019 at 7:39 PM

    Thank you for the clear overview of ScreenCastify. Your video does a great job of explaining how to use ScreenCastify and I like the resources you include. I agree with your comment that digital tools help to give meaning and purpose to technology in the classroom. As I am learning more about the available digital tools for education, I see how they can really add to any teacher lesson or student project. Do you have a favorite digital tool that you are already using?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CdowneyDecember 3, 2019 at 6:43 PM

      My favorite digital tool is ClassDojo. I have been using it in my 5th period classroom for more of an individual behavior management system. The whole classroom management system I was using in my other classes wasn't working in this one. Students were not buying in and had trouble seeing how they were affecting others. With ClassDojo, students get data collected about them based on positive and negative points/behaviors. At the end of the week, I have students reflect on how they did and what they can do to improve.

      Delete
  2. NMZumpanoDecember 3, 2019 at 2:21 PM

    This is by far my favorite tool and I haven't even used it with the features you talked about (i.e. spotlight or drawing). Thanks for the great PDF as well! I was happy to hear you found some ways to use this with your students.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CdowneyDecember 3, 2019 at 6:25 PM

      A lot of the features can be overlooked since they are shown in a small task bar, but I think they can be quite meaningful! I look forward to using it more in depth!

      Delete

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