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Reflections on the week

amberbaumbach's picture
Submitted by amberbaumbach on Sat, 11/15/2008 - 8:26pm

Even though I had a difficult and frustrating time finding a place to upload my screencast, I really enjoyed creating it.  I've already thought of at least five ways that I can use screencasting (that is if I figure out an easier way to upload!) professionally.  A lot of the work that I do is training others on using certain software and screencasting will be the perfect tool to enhance that training.  It is much easier to actually show someone how to do something then it is to tell them how to do it.  I typically type out instructions for various things in email, or create blog posts.  While this works, it is not the most effective training to illustrate exactly what is to be done.

When making the screencast I found it difficult to explain what I was doing as I was doing it.  With the podcast, it was easy to read from a script where necessary, but for this week script reading was much more difficult.  In this week's readings I had read that this would most likely be a possibility, but it wasn't until I was actually trying it out that I realized this would be the case for me as well.

Libraries can use screencasting to train library staff on new technologies and software.  Instead of running a training session where staff takes time away from projects and patrons to meet for a formal training, the screencast could be created by the technology department and viewed at the leisure of the staff (within limits, of course).

Hi Amber! I also had a

grace.v's picture
Submitted by grace.v on Sat, 11/15/2008 - 10:14pm.

Hi Amber! I also had a difficult time uploading my vodcast.  It took longer than I thought and I didn't think it would work.  I think I spent about an hour trying to upload the video on blip.tv.  I also liked screencasting and I think it would be very helpful with training people how to use features on the internet or databases or pretty much anything online.  Laughing

    I also had fun creating

etheldimapasok's picture
Submitted by etheldimapasok on Sun, 11/16/2008 - 8:19am.

    I also had fun creating my very first screencast  but  t'was also a challenge.  I also used CamStudio and it took me a while to  remember which button to press while reading the script and at the same time doing the demo. Uploading on blip tv took me a while until my PC froze for hours while uploading it.

 

    I do agree with you that libraries can use screencast to provide training session for library staff avoiding frustration when they have go to the same training over and over again.

   With the budget crisis, libraries could also use to teach library patrons a skill, such as how to search by title or author, whether they are in the library or using a home computer. Screencast projects prove to be cost effective because you can use free tools with minimum cost compared to traditional reference. 

     I must admit that watching somebody demonstrate something and hearing it can be more effective than reading manuals which sometimes can be tedious/monotonous.  Librarians can also have fun while they educate patrons and colleague.

Like I told Veronica, it

meredithfarkas's picture
Submitted by meredithfarkas on Sun, 11/16/2008 - 1:02pm.

Like I told Veronica, it takes doing this a few times to really develop your own strategy for creating a screencast, but it gets much easier once you do (and what works for one person may not work for another as we have our own preferences and competencies). I'm so glad though that you can see so much potential for this in your work! :)

I agree that screencasts can

jasminabad's picture
Submitted by jasminabad on Mon, 11/17/2008 - 11:10pm.

I agree that screencasts can potentially be a cost effective and time saving means of training others.  I do not know how many times I've shown a student how to use our OPAC or how to log-in to our school network.  It would be great if I can simply direct the students to click on the link on the library portal for demonstrations on how to use librarry resources.  Adobe Captivate offers a quizzing feature within the demonstration.  This is wonderful because it is an instant assessment of whether the trainee understood the process.

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