We’ve tested many different ways to do screencasting and have looked into different technologies, tools and best practices.  Check out the video below for a quick tutorial on screencasting.  (Special thanks to Jason Archer)

Screencast Tutorial in Vimeo

Screencasts: A Best Practice from Academic Technology on Vimeo.

Tools in Use

• Any Mac running Leopard
• Screenflow (v. 1.1.3) | http://www.flip4mac.com/screenflow.htm
• MobilePre M-Audio USB Preamp | http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MobilePreUSB.html
• M-Audio Nova Class A FET Mic | http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Nova.html

Step by Step Process

1. Resize our screen resolution to 1024×768
2. Upload the 760×420 desktop background with cross-hairs Download Bkgd
   
3. Bring browser into the screen and center it on the desktop over the cross-hairs
4. Record screencast and end [Apple Shift 2]
5. In Screenflow, click the “crop” icon in the lower-left corner of the canvas
6. Enter 760 in the width and 420 in the height parameters. Move the box on top of the desired recording
7. Click “Apply”
8. File -> Export -> Customize
9. In Video Settings: Select “Framerate” drop-down and select 15 fps (frames per second)
10. Keyframes: Automatic
11. Data Rate: Automatic
12. Faster Encode, (single-pass)
13. Click “OK”
14. Click “Sound” and “Settings”
15. In “Channels” pulldown, change from stereo to mono
16. Target bitrate needs to be 64 kbps
17. Click “OK”
18. In “Dimensions”, make sure it is selected to “100%”
19. Click “Export”

At this point, the video will export to whatever folder you desire. Your video should average around 1.3-1.5 mb/min, depending on what kind of screencast you are making. Below, click on the image to see one of these screencasts in context, made exactly the way we have outlined. It’s about three minutes long and around 3+mb. | Play Movie

Watch an Example

Like what you see? Give us some feedback.  We want to help take teaching and learning to the next level.