Just some thoughts on a recent video capture project.
My initial experience with Camtasia, while not a complete success, has piqued my interest. I can certainly see the value of capturing the screen and related movements as well as adding audio commentary. The main problems that I experienced were with audio (no microphone, but working on that!), transitions (couldn't get them to stick in all of the splits), and final production (the production window was so big that I could not access any of the control buttons at the bottom). Still, this is an intriguing subject to me and I look forward to working more with it and preparing some teacher training footage for use during planning days and what have you.
The microphone problem is fairly easily solved, but the other two are kind of perplexing. No answer still for the transitions not sticking (with the exception of the first and last). The production problem was overcome to a certain extent as I remembered that I could use the "enter" key on the keyboard to handle some of the tasks. I think that I actually produced the video but was unable to determine where it was saved. A little exploration will likely lead me to it, but I would still love to know how to get the production window to a size that the buttons are visible!
The subject matter of my first capture was internet research techniques and could be useful for students or others with little experience in this area. If I could re-do the project, I would capture a Google screen where I actually did a "key word search" to show what it looked like and the resulting "hits." I plan to purchase the software and learning as much as I can about it can only help me use it to my advantage and that of our teachers for future projects.
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I see the potential for the Cam4 program and others that will surely follow. Having these available would help the teacher be in two places at once (which is usually required but difficult to do), helping students while at the same time allowing students to move at their own pace and still receiving your instructions. This is possible in the computer lab setting. Making the instructions visual and audible covers the bases. Making them available online for students with questions after school truly takes care of business.
Thanks for the online bookmark page. I'm going to try that one out this evening. I've found something about my first one that isn't so great.
I had a problem with producing as well. I figured out that if you change the resolution of your computer it sometimes makes everything on the screen a little smaller and you can see the popup. Granted, you may not like this, given what I remember about your vision, but I don't think it'll become so small that you can't read it. Maybe you've figured another way around this, but for me it was an easy, simple solution. Plus, you can always go back to your original settings when you're done.
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