Screencast-O-Matic: An Evaluation

The following post was originally written for my Master's course work.

March 18^th, 2012

Summary

Screencast-O-Matic (SOM) is a free online resource that allows users to create, save, and share screencasts. A screencast is a video, typically with audio commentary, in which the viewer is shown how to complete a short computer based process or series of steps. Screencasts typically show the interface of software applications and include the ‘animation’ of cursor movements, mouse clicks, and whatever else is seen on screen. SOM offers an entry-level product for screencasting, but one that certainly has everything most beginners will need. The applet runs with minimal set-up, and offers features such as: automatic microphone input level with sound quality review, a variety of resolution options, and webcam integration options. Once a screencast recording is started, users can very easily pause and continue using the “option + p” command. Stops and starts are rather seamless and the free account has a generous maximum runtime of 15 minutes. Once a screencast is completed, users can share via SOM, YouTube, or save on their own hard drive as a QuickTime, Windows Media or other popular file format. Captions can be added as well, for viewers to find a section or chapter of interest. For a “Pro” upgrade available for $12/year or $30/3 years, SOM users can gain features such as: the removal of watermark when publishing, expanded recording time limits, publishing directly to Google Docs, editing capabilities, and advance recording controls. For the targeted user, (educators, tech-support, online enthusiasts) the upgrade is likely very affordable and would make using this application even more accessible and enjoyable.

Critique

Possible innovation application – Screencasting via a resource such as SOM would allow educators and their students to create “how to” videos and tutorials with minimal instruction or training and no start-up cost. For teachers such as myself, interested in emerging classroom models such as the “flipped classroom”, SOM would allow me to quickly record videos for my students to view outside of class, reserving in-class time for discussions of the topics in greater depth and supervised independent work time. My students could also be innovative using this technology, as they would be easily able to record videos documenting their own knowledge and mastery of a subject or process for assessment. Furthermore, students would be able to create their own review videos and/or tutorial videos for one another. Such uses hold rather exciting possibilities for learning, sharing knowledge, and assessment.

Main advantages - The main advantage of such an accessible piece of technology its speed and ease of producing high-quality screencasts. You cannot get more affordable than free, and the finished video sharing options are not restrictive. Other screencasting programs can cost many hundreds of dollars, and SOM offers a lucrative “Pro” package for a dollar a month or less. The free user interface is very easy to navigate, and while it does not allow for editing, the streamlined production does not necessarily warrant such options. The use of sharing screencast via SOM “channels” makes organizing and sharing videos very quick and easy via short URL links.

Possible concerns of the website – Using the free option may prove to be frustrating for some, given that editing is not an option. This means that if an error is made, rerecording the entire video is required. That said, other video editing software applications could be employed to circumvent this barrier/frustration. For the free account, there is the constant presence of appropriately tech-related sidebar advertisements, but that concern is minimal and avoidable with the upgrade account.