Camtasia Studio

I just got Camtasia Studio and with only a couple hours of time invested in learning how to use, was able to put three instructional videos together yesterday. Here's the context.

I am teaching IRLS571 Introduction to Information Technology as a blended course this semester. For spring semester, I will be teaching it virtually. The challenge is to figure out how to teach parts that need more hands-on instruction. For instance, to learn how to use Audacity to create an MP3 for a podcast, a lot of the students in the current class came into the Center and sat at a computer with me. I had made instructions for them to follow that I put up on a webpage, but I felt that for many the hands-on time was crucial. Plus, there are 43 enrolled for the spring offering which to me is the equivalent of teaching three sections online. How to make a good learning experience for so many students with so many learning styles is no small task.

Using Camtasia Studio, I was able to make a seven and half minute video about using Audacity to record audio and export it as MP3. The video is presented on a webpage as Flash and linked off my class webpage with the text guide. I also made a five and half minute video using the XML file to make the RSS feed and a two and half minute video on how to subscribe to podcasts using iTunes. I did all this over about seven hours yesterday and much of that was getting over the learning curve. I can see many uses for Camtasia Studio in instruction and plan to continue developing more content for the class and other educational technology resources that I support.