The Casting Couch: Podcasting and Screencasting CLAUD Summer Meeting / Exchange of Experience Day 22 June 2007 Southampton University Kara Jones Research Publications Librarian University of Bath

Podcasting Creation of audio files, usually as MP3s Uploaded to the internet Downloadable onto a PC, MP3 player, iPod, phone, etc. Using free software called Audacity Branded as ‘Libcasts’.

Creation of audio files, usually as MP3s

Uploaded to the internet

Downloadable onto a PC, MP3 player, iPod, phone, etc.

Using free software called Audacity

Branded as ‘Libcasts’.

Why Podcast at Bath? Redevelopment of level two New induction tutorials – self-guided Meet all user needs - flexibility & portability Innovative Cheap & easy Low impact of staff time

Redevelopment of level two

New induction tutorials – self-guided

Meet all user needs - flexibility & portability

Innovative

Cheap & easy

Low impact of staff time

How we did it Equipment & software Content & style Promotion

Equipment & software

Content & style

Promotion

Equipment & Software Equipment – not much! PC or laptop Mp3 player for testing Microphone Software Free! Audacity (http://www.sourceforge.net) Conversion file (to create MP3s)

Equipment – not much!

PC or laptop

Mp3 player for testing

Microphone

Software

Free!

Audacity (http://www.sourceforge.net)

Conversion file (to create MP3s)

Audacity

Content & Style Topics Suitability of information Intros & outros Language Music Speaking

Topics

Suitability of information

Intros & outros

Language

Music

Speaking

Promotion Library webpages - Libcasts webpage - At point of need Newsflash on the University homepage RSS feeds Design a catchy logo

Library webpages

- Libcasts webpage

- At point of need

Newsflash on the University homepage

RSS feeds

Design a catchy logo

The Finished Product!

Measuring Success

Screencasting Recording screen movements using software called Camtasia . Create movie files with instructions for various library resources. Placed throughout the library website at the point-of-need

Recording screen movements using software called Camtasia .

Create movie files with instructions for various library resources.

Placed throughout the library website at the point-of-need

Libflicks Using Camtasia software from Techsmith.com One day training, cascaded back to library staff. Task group decided on specifications, again using the wiki.

Using Camtasia software from Techsmith.com

One day training, cascaded back to library staff.

Task group decided on specifications, again using the wiki.

Guidelines for Libflicks Libflicks should be short (3-5 minutes) Point of need placement Include audio - clearly spoken, no 'umms' Include info on webpage about how long the screencast is and perhaps consider using time stamps that show change of topic.

Libflicks should be short (3-5 minutes)

Point of need placement

Include audio - clearly spoken, no 'umms'

Include info on webpage about how long the screencast is and perhaps consider using time stamps that show change of topic.

Tips & Tricks Film first, narrate later. Length of show should be ‘reasonable’ Consistency of style Don’t overdo the gimmicks but use: Transitions, captions, callouts, music, narration, zooms Your eyes can't be in two places at the same time so don't have text to read and the cursor demonstrating things at the same time in different places of the screen.

Film first, narrate later.

Length of show should be ‘reasonable’

Consistency of style

Don’t overdo the gimmicks but use:

Transitions, captions, callouts, music, narration, zooms

Your eyes can't be in two places at the same time so don't have text to read and the cursor demonstrating things at the same time in different places of the screen.

Questions? Audacity: http://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/ Camtasia: http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp (see also Macromedia Captivate)

Audacity: http://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/

Camtasia: http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp

(see also Macromedia Captivate)