A screencast is a video and audio recording of your computer screen and all the actions that occur on the screen, like mouse movements, highlights, drawing on a whiteboard, or application switching. Screencasts can be used to record introductions for online classes, explain course concepts, or mini-lectures. Below are some tips for creating quality screencasts:

1. Work from a script – Think ahead and plan what you will say. It’ll save you from some frustration and provide a source for captions if they need to be added at a later time.
2. Keep it short – Videos should be a maximum of 15 minutes, but ideally under 10 minutes.
3. Minimize the strain on your computer – Most screencast software is processor intensive. Quit all unnecessary applications before you begin your recording.
4. Use a dedicated microphone in a quiet space or a headset to record – This keeps external noise at a minimum on your recording.
5. Move slowly – Quick mouse movements can be confusing and hard to follow.
6. Don’t stop if you make a mistake – You can always edit later on. It doesn’t have to be perfect during the recording.

If you are new to screencasts and would like to know how to get started or if you just need some guided help, get in touch with the Educational Media Technology team. NMC has licenses for TechSmith’s Camtasia Studio and SnagIt and Ensemble Anthem, which works seamlessly with the Ensemble video library.