Screencastify For Teachers

Simplify Your Lesson Recording: A Teacher's Guide to Screencastify

Hey everyone, it's the Bearded Lobo! Today, I want to share my process for quickly recording lessons or instructions for my students. Like many educators, finding extra time is tough, but sometimes creating a short video can save a lot of time and confusion down the road. My go-to tool for this? Screencastify.

What is Screencastify?

Screencastify is a screen recording tool that runs as a simple extension in your web browser. It's been around for a while and really gained traction during the remote learning boom. While our school district provides the paid version, the free version offers a surprising amount of value for teachers.

With the free plan, you get:

• Up to 10 video recordings stored at a time. Don't worry, this isn't a hard lifetime limit! Once you reach 10, you can simply delete older videos you no longer need from your Screencastify library to free up space for new ones.

Getting Started

1. Installation: Find Screencastify in the Google Chrome Web Store and add it as an extension.

2. Check School Policy: Important! Many school districts require extensions to be approved by an administrator. Before you start recording, make sure Screencastify is allowed by your school or district's IT policy.

Recording Your Screen (It's Easy!)

Once installed, you'll see the Screencastify icon (often an arrow) in your browser's extension bar. Recording is straightforward:

1. Click the Icon: This opens the recording menu.

2. Choose What to Record: Select whether you want to record just the current browser tab, your entire desktop screen (essential if you're showing apps outside the browser, like I often do), or just your webcam.

3. Select Your Microphone: Make sure you choose the correct microphone if you have multiple options.

4. CRITICAL STEP: Double-check that the microphone toggle is ON! Trust me, I've recorded entire lessons only to realize my microphone was accidentally muted. Cue the quiet sobbing when you realize students couldn't hear a thing (and often won't tell you because, well, teenagers!).

5. Hit Record: Choose the specific screen if prompted, and after a short countdown (3, 2, 1!), you're recording.

While recording (especially in browser tab mode), Screencastify offers tools like highlighting or drawing on the screen, which can be useful for emphasizing points.

Example: Recording Assignment Instructions

Recently, I needed my students to find old video clips for a commercial we're creating for the school district. Instead of just relying on written instructions, I quickly recorded my screen using Screencastify, walking them through exactly what I needed and where to find resources.

After You Record: The Magic Happens

Once you click the extension icon again and hit "Stop," Screencastify processes your video. This usually only takes a few moments.

From the preview page:

• Naming: Give your video a clear title. Or, let the AI Assistant suggest one for you!

• AI Enhancements: Use the AI features to generate captions, a transcript, and a description automatically.

• Preview: Watch your video back to make sure everything looks and sounds right.

A Huge Win for Accessibility: Captions & Translations

One of the standout features, especially valuable for diverse classrooms, is the automatic transcript and translation.

• Captions: Easily add closed captions to your video.

• Transcripts & Translation: The generated transcript appears alongside the video. Students can click on the transcript, select a different language (like Spanish, the most common second language in our school), and instantly see the translated text! They can read along in their preferred language, making instructions much more accessible for English Language Learners (ELL/ESL students). This is incredibly helpful.

Why Bother Recording?

Teaching involves juggling countless tasks. We don't have time for complicated tools. Screencastify makes recording simple and fast. It's perfect for:

• Absent Students: Help them catch up quickly on what they missed.

• Substitute Teacher Plans: Record clear, simple instructions directly from you. A substitute can simply point students to your video, reducing confusion and classroom management challenges. Hearing instructions in your voice makes a difference.

• Reinforcing Concepts: Create quick tutorials students can re-watch as needed.

It's a quick, easy, super simple way to support your students without adding a huge burden to your workload.

Hope this helps you explore Screencastify for your own classroom! Let me know if you give it a try. This is the Bearded Lobo, signing off. See you soon!