1. www.le.ac.uk
Using Screenr to record
lecture summaries
Dr Paul Reilly
Dr Palitha Edirisingha
Teaching Enhancement Fund project
13-14 February 2013

2. Overview:
• Pedagogical benefits of using Screenr
• Getting Started
• Guidance on what makes for a good
screencast
• Record your own!

3. Nie et al (2008): Student
perspective on ‘lecturecasting’:
• “I think it’s a simple way of getting information in a portable
format as well, so you can have it on the move. And ten
minutes worth of rather than an hour lecture. I mean this is
simply put in student language, so how does a student look at
the topic and a person who doesn’t do this course they can
get the information in a simple and quick way and a portable
way.”

4. TEF Blackboard study (2012): ScreencastsTEF Blackboard study (2012): Screencasts
popular amongst international dissertationpopular amongst international dissertation
studentsstudents
• 58.8 percent of participants agreed that they
had been useful for their projects
• 18.8 percent strongly agreeing with this
statement
• 17.5 percent unsure whether it had helped
• Only 3.8 percent felt it hadn’t been useful

5. Focus Group results: UnintendedFocus Group results: Unintended
learning outcomes from Screencasts?learning outcomes from Screencasts?
• For me the screencasts were the only help for me and they were so
useful as well […] Basically if there are screencasts or something on
the Blackboard it will help us to take notes and listen to lectures
later on
(Focus Group 1, Participant 2)
• Sometimes it’s fast, maybe I need to listen again to understand
(Focus Group 3, Participant 2)
• The thing is everyone just learns the different places and ways.
Someone prefer reading, someone prefer listening and watching so
that is the point of the screencasts to me
(Focus Group 3, Participant 4)

6. Aims of this Project:Aims of this Project:
• Demonstrate potential role of screencasts in addressing
learning needs of international students and those with
learning difficulties across the university.
• Enhance existing provision of learning resources for media
and communication students
• Empower students to take greater ownership of their
learning and provide resources that aid their preparation
for assessed work such as essays and examinations.

7. Getting Started: Creating a ScreenrGetting Started: Creating a Screenr
AccountAccount
• You will need Mac (OSX 10.4 and up) or Windows (XP, Vista or
Windows 7).
• Java 1.5 runtime or later for recording and the Flash Player 9
(release 115 or later) or Flash Player 10 for playing
screencasts.
• You sign in with Facebook, Twitter, Google or Yahoo accounts
(Don’t worry it won’t post screencasts to any of these without
your permission)
• Customise your profile page and put up a photo so your
students will recognise you!

8. Example of Screenr Homepage:

9. Preparing your lecture summary: Some handy
tips
• Select the most important slides from your lecture (5-7 should normally do)
• Remember that you have only five minutes per recording and you don’t want
to have to speak too quickly
• Remove the date from the first slide if you wish to reuse the summary for next
year’s cohort
• Try to use Creative Commons licenced pictures (if available) to illustrate key
issues but don’t place too much information on the slides
• Save a copy of your lecture summary on your PC/laptop – you may want to re-
record this screencast at some point in the future

10. Recording your first screencast: Some handy tipsRecording your first screencast: Some handy tips
• Consider how you will begin and end your screencast (I introduce myself at the start)
• Remember your audience – try to speak clearly and slowly
• Timing is important- you only have five minutes so try not to spend too much time
talking about one slide if it means you have to rush towards the end
• Don’t be too much of a perfectionist- this should be conversational rather than a
formal lecture
• Listen to your screencast once (and only once) before publishing it on the site – this
will help with future recordings

11. Watch a few examples before you attempt yourWatch a few examples before you attempt your
first screencast:first screencast:
• Introduction to MS3008/8 Dissertation Blackboard site
http://www.screenr.com/ljm7
• MS3022 The Arab Spring
http://www.screenr.com/sLN8
• MS7027 Media and Terrorism
http://www.screenr.com/8qIs

12. Recording your first screencast:
• Logon to Screenr
• Click on Record (beside my screencasts on the right hand side
of the screen)
• Screenr will scan your system to make sure you have Java
installed (if not you will be asked to download it)

13. Resize the frame and click record:
• A frame will appear, which you can move and resize to cover
your browser
• A black tool bar at the bottom of the screen is used to start
the recording
• Open up your summary and when you are ready click on the
red record button in this toolbar (bottom left)

14. Publish your screencast:
• Click Done if you finish before the five minutes
• You will then be able to preview your
screencast before deciding whether to publish

15. Task: Record your first screencast
• Use one of the laptops provided (headphones
and microphones may be available)
• Use a summary of one of your lectures (5-7
slides approx)
• Don’t be afraid of pressing cancel and starting
again – the first time you record a screencast
will be the most challenging
• Ask us for assistance – either in the workshop
or afterwards