1. Screencast-O-Matic:
Easy Audio-Visual Instruction
By FAU Librarians
Rachael Neu, Alyse Ergood,
Melissa Moore, and Lauri Rebar

2. SOM LibGuide
http://libguides.fau.edu/SOM

3. Overview
• Background
• SOM: How To
– Pre-Production (Getting Ready)
– Production (Recording)
– Post-Production (Editing)
• Best Practices

4. Screencasting Defined
“Screencasts are short instructional videos
that demonstrate computer-related tasks…”
(Notess 2012).

5. Screencasting in Higher Ed

6. Screencasting Tools

7. Screencast-O-Matic (SOM)

8. Using SOM

9. Using SOM
• Overview:
– Gather your materials
– Record your screencast
• Key Features
• LIVE Demo
– Edit your screencast
– Produce & Deliver your screencast

10. Gather Your Materials
• Choose a Topic
– What elements do we want to teach in each session?
– Audience: Who are they and how do we meet their
needs?
– Why does my audience need to know this?
– Start simple.

11. Gather Your Materials
Compare PowerPoint VS Screencapture
PowerPoint Screencapture

12. Gather Your Materials
• Brainstorm
– Identify the objective, procedure and steps
• Create an Outline
– This will act as a guide and structure for pre-
production
– Identify the major points and steps to be included in
the tutorial
– This outline does not need to be detailed, as much as
it needs to be comprehensive

13. Sample Outlines

14. Gather Your Materials
• Write the Script
– Once the content outline has been reviewed and is
solid, use it to write the script for each individual
screencast.
– The script should detail what will be said throughout
the screencast, realizing it will be edited several times
prior to producing the screen cast.
– Must be clear, concise and explicit.

15. Gather Your Materials
Example of a Script

16. Gather Your Materials
• Graphics
– Identify graphics to go with your script and to
include in the screen cast.

17. Gather Your Materials
• Create a Storyboard with the Script and
Identified Graphics
– PowerPoint is a great tool to use to storyboard.
– Check storyboard for accuracy of topic you are
teaching.
– Take screenshots to help you visualize.
– Add graphics that will help make your point.
– It is imperative that your script match the graphics
being described.

18. Gather Your Materials
Examples of Storyboards Structures

19. Gather Your Materials
– You need to create an account with
Screencast-O-Matic before you can complete
activities. (http://screencastomatic.com)
– You will also need a microphone/headset.

20. Need Help?
Ask a Librarian!

21. FAU Homepage
http://www.fau.edu

22. FAU Libraries Homepage
http://www.fau.edu/library

23. Ask a Librarian: What?
http://www.askalibrarian.org

24. Ask a Librarian: What?
http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/ref/askpol.htm

25. Edit Your Screencast

26. Edit Your Screencast

27. Save Your Screencast
• Save your video to .SOM format
• Remember where you saved your
video
• Easiest to save to .SOM “cloud”
storage
• Videos must be in .SOM format in
order to edit them

28. Do edits in this order
• Resize video
• Size to final dimensions
• Use “Keep Aspect Ratio” or presets
• Hide Mouse and/or Webcam
• Do now for entire video, or
• Do later for separate sections

29. Cut Out, Trim Around
• Cut Out
• Cut out excess/bloopers at start and end
• Cut out bloopers, “ugh”, “um” and
“mouse clicks”
• Need to record more?
• Record using “Replace Video”
• “Trim around” the section you want to
keep

30. Change Speed
• Change Speed in selected sections
• Speed up:
• Eliminate computer delay in search
• Slow down
• Slow down the recording, then re-
record a longer audio section.

31. Insert More, Add Audio
• Insert More
• Add a newly recorded (existing) section
• Record a new section directly into the
video
• Edit Audio
• Add/replace audio, or
• Export WAV file to edit

32. Zoom and Pan
• Zoom In - Show detail
• Manually set Zoom or
• Follow Mouse
• Use transition for seamless look
• Pan
• Move the “camera” around while
zoomed in
• Slow movements only!

33. Transitions
• Add at start and end of video
• Add between edits
• Multiple transition types
• Fade (choose the color)
• Collapse or Expand
• Slide left, right, top or bottom
• Preview the transitions
• Choose duration of each transition
• Use to add Titles by adding Text

34. Overlays
• Apply to sections
• Apply at an exact point with a delay
• Add Text (font, color & style)
• Blur Text
• Dim screen & add spotlight
• Add boxes
• Animate moves over time (great for scrolling)
• Animate to change size & location of items
• Fade in and out, slide box to new location
• And much, much more!

35. Recap of Key Features
– Easy-to-use interface & toolbar
– Screen & webcam videos
– Resize & reshape frame (drag)
– Media player-style toolbar
– Add Notes, captions, callouts,
– Mouse effects, remove audio
& webcam data (advanced)
– Basic editing available for free
– Publish to YouTube, Google Drive,
Vimeo, etc. or your computer: QuickTime (MP4), Flash (FLV),
Windows Media File (AVI), or Animated image (GIF)

36. Produce & Publish

37. Produce & Publish
• Formats: SOM, Mp4, AVI, FLV movie or
Screenshots
• Save to Computer Hard drive and/or also
publish to one of the following:

38. Example: AAL Screencast
View
Ask A Librarian Screencast
See Screencast-O-Matic LibGuide:
http://libguides.fau.edu/SOM

39. Best Practices Using Som
• Script it
• Screencasts 2 to 3 minutes
for specific skills or tasks
• Screencasts 10 to 12 minutes
for lectures

40. Best Practices Using Som
• Rehearse

41. Best Practices in Using Som
• Prepare your screen prior to recording

42. Best Practices in Using Som
• Select “Pause” icon while recording to
think and plan what you are going to say
next and to avoid errors.

43. Examples for Instruction
Purposes
1) Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is using it
to teach students how to use software and use
in their assignments.
2) The Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching
Effectiveness at the University of Saskatchewan
is using it to flip the classroom.
3) The University of North Carolina, Charlotte
and the College of Charleston’s Math
Departments both use it to record how to
complete challenging math problems.

44. Examples for Instruction
Purposes
4) Pace University uses it for GIS homework
assignments.
5) Brigham Young University-Idaho is using it to
show students how to create their education
and teaching assignments.
6) University of Alaska is using it to augment
Chemistry class.

45. Bibliography
In process

46. Points to Remember
• Sign up for a Screencast-O-Matic Account
first. www.screencast-o-matic.com/
• Work from the greatest need.
• Start simple.
• Remember your audience.
• Use clear, concise and explicit language.
• Keep within determined time frame.
2-3 minutes (task) or
10-12 minutes (lecture).

47. Points to Remember
• Script and storyboard your screencast.
• Rehearse (plan to record screencast 2-3
times.)
• Pause while recording your screencast to
avoid making any errors.
• Always save screencast/video in SOM file
format first.

48. Thank You!
• Remember to visit our
Screencast-O-Matic (SOM) LibGuide:
http://libguides.fau.edu/SOM