Getting Started With CamtasiaFebruary 16, 2010

A SEFLIN Academic Round Table

Kristy PadronAlyse ErgoodLauri Rebar

Florida Atlantic University Libraries

◦ What are you expected to do?

◦ What are the goals for this project? ◦ Overall for all screencasts?◦ Each individual screencast?

◦ Who do you report to?◦ How often do you need to check in with them?

I. Starting a Camtasia Project

What elements do we want to teach in each session?

Audience needs What are they and how do we meet their needs?

Easy to use (Keep it SIMPLE)

Easy to remember (Keep it SIMPLE)

Functionality

Building on ideas

Brainstorming our structure – Part 1

Brainstorming our structurePart 2

Screen capture vs PowerPoint presentation

Work flow – One person do A-Z? Or one to script, one to record, one to edit?

Keeping track of sequencing of steps from first model Don't recreate the wheel with each screencast.

Development of "best practices" from initial session What makes best practices?

How to measure progress we make in preparing the session Goals v “Success?”

How closely are we meeting our original expectations? Step back and modify goals and expectations

How to test project on user group. Who to use for this step –

Students in Library Friends Student workers in Library

Brainstorming our structurePart 3

Proposal Outline Storyboard PowerPoint / Screenshots Recording (including above and

screencapture) Production (deleting pauses, syncing sections,

editing narration) PostProduction (preparing it for the Web) Posting it to the Web

What did we need to know how to do before we started to produce the tutorials?

Created a proposal for Administration.

Developed our proposal based upon sample proposals we had found online.

The proposal allowed us to Clarify our task. State the “who, why, where, what, when and how” of the

entire project.

The Proposal

Fulfill portions of our Libraries’ Mission and Plan.

Answering student needs

Answering a service issue

Answering ILIS (information literacy and information services) needs and goals

Exploring the project’s fit within organizational goals/vision

By Administration and ILIS

From multiple departments and individuals Created more of a cooperative effort for the libraries Not just a project by Reference Librarians.

Confirm accuracy of information presented with other departments.

Are your efforts supported?

How to estimate the time?

Research the amount of time for each task.

Meet multiple times with our calendars.

Included as part of our Proposal.

Adjust timeline as we progress.

Creating a timeline for completion

Establish goals and mileposts.

Explore how each team member works best in different situations.

Develop a sense of each other’s strengths and weaknesses as we worked on the workflow.

Initial workflow based on the research we did.

Establishing a workflow

Research !!!

Centralized our research via Delicious.com bookmarks. Camtasia category –

anything relating to Camtasia. TechSmith category –

items produced by TechSmith, who created Camtasia.

Generating ideas

Google-searched for completed projects by other universities.

Gleaned advice and tips from these sites: Size of recording screen. KISS (keep it simple, stupid). Tips for using microphone.

Searched for Best Practices from other universities.

Flexibility in our expectations and methods.

Technology is constantly changing.

Reviewing work of other libraries

What elements make for a good podcast? ADA compliant

picture, printed words, spoken words Ability to rewind or replay, speed up, etc. Focus on topic Simplicity Length of podcast (3-5 minutes maximum) Transitions between PowerPoint, Screenshots

and Screencapture Consistency in the presentation of the content

opening slide with introduction, body, closing slide with key points to remember

Identifying “must-haves” for tutorials

II. PreProduction: Choosing a Screencast Topic

Get input from your supervisors and the various library departments including: information literacy and instruction department, reference, systems, and more. Consensus Incorporate feedback Work from the greatest need Start simple

Brainstorm your ideas, your process

Identify the objective, procedure and steps and begin pulling information together.

Write it down.

Brainstorm and Record

Sample Brainstorming

Create an Outline

This will act as a guide and structure for pre-production.

Identify the major points and steps for what needs to be included in the tutorial.

Break down the difficult steps into smaller steps, and add any minor points; they may end up supporting the needed transitions.

This outline does not need to be detailed, as much as it needs to be comprehensive.

Sample Outlines

Once the content outline has been reviewed and is solid, use it to write the script for each individual screencast.

Why write a script? The result is a more polished,

professional product. The script details what will be said

throughout the screencast, realizing it will be edited several times prior to producing the screencast.

Must be clear, concise and explicit.

Writing the Script

Examples of a Script

Examples of a Script

Examples of a ScriptLet’s start by going to FAU’s home page, located at http://www.fau.edu/

Graphics Identify graphics to go with script and to

include in screencast.

Additional Examples of Screenshot Images

Personalize the screencast for patrons whenever possible. ◦ Using PowerPoint, create a slide to introduce your project

and the librarian narrating the screencast with an actual or avatar picture of the narrator.

For the final piece of your screencast, create a summary slide in PowerPoint with ‘Key Points to Remember’ from the screencast. ◦ This is especially helpful for patrons when there is a lot of

information presented.

Introductory and Concluding Slides for Storyboard and Screencast

Create a storyboard with the script and identified graphics.

PowerPoint is a great tool to use to create a storyboard.

Check storyboard for accuracy of topic you are teaching.

It is imperative that your script match the graphics being described.

Check or edit any transitions.

Create a Storyboard

Examples of Original Storyboard Structures

Parts of a Real Live Storyboard

At the beginning of the project, set up aworkflow feedback and approval process with adminand other supervisors and all interested parties. As you receive feedback and approval, you will be

empowered in the production process. It will keep the process flowing smoothly.

It was imperative for us to get feedback upon completion of the script, storyboard and the screencast prior to making it public.

Do not record your screencast until you have received approval to do so.

Getting Feedback and Approval

Documentation for Feedback and Approval

This is a time-consuming process, due to the learning curve required for most software.

Track activities, progress, and difficulties, including procedures and simple tips. Maintain detailed instructions for reference.

Record all meetings, feedback received, status/stage of your screencast, suggestions, and timelines (i.e., deadlines).

Documenting Your Process

Working in a team environment with a team leader is an effective way to divide tasks and complete a timely screencast. Divide tasks between group members. This same individual can keep your supervisors

and administrators abreast of your process, progress and concerns.

Provide Ongoing Updates

Practice speaking and recording on the microphone.

Work on comfort level with using a microphone and with hearing your recorded voice.

Get comfortable reading and practicing a script with microphone. Pay attention to your pace and pronunciation

throughout the practice session. You may or may not need to make changes in your speaking and presentation from observations made during practice. Most tutorials are only three to five minutes.

Decide on microphone that suits you, your group, and your voices.

Practice, Practice, Practice

To practice, access a free and similar software called Jing from the creators of Camtasia, Techsmith, at www.jingproject.com.

If Your Library Does Not Have Camtasia

Expect a learning curve during which you will learn A LOT of new skills.

Consult with tutorials as needed (www.techsmith.com).

Embrace trial & error.◦ Be patient, supportive and generous with smiles!

Utilize individual skills and interests, and apply them to the various roles.

Become familiar with software features: identify what works best for you and your project.

III. ProductionCamtasia can be challenging!

Rehearse to get comfortable with everything!

◦ Use the storyboard to arrange screen transitions and narrations.

◦ Check the microphone for sound quality and adjust it, if necessary.

◦ If using the Internet, decide on what will be visible on the computer screen (URL, menus, etc.).

◦ If you are comfortable with your task, production (and everything thereafter) will go smoothly!

Lights, Camera, Rehearsal!

(Top) Before recording: determine the screen size and what will be recording for a screen capture.

(Bottom) During recording: see ‘Audio’ for sound quality, and also the keys for stopping and restarting recording.

Example: Recording with Screen Shots

Be familiar with the features needed for the type of recording you want to make.

Expect to have multiple takes… be flexible.

Again, be generous in your patience (especially towards yourself).

If you make a mistake, pause, then try again.

Script edits, updates, and good ideas often appear at this point.

Time to Record!

Example: Recording with PowerPoint

Production roles can be assigned by interest or rotated to promote familiarity with the technology.

◦ Roles were changed periodically so we could each master the software and the different responsibilities attached to each role. Narrator (the voice) Producer (recording) Editor (editing and cutting)

More technical aspects as well as nuts & bolts of production can be found in our “Best Practices” document.

Production: Parts in a Play

After the screencast was recorded, editing needed to be done.

Editing uses different tools within the Camtasia software than those used during production.◦ Examples: cutting, call-outs, Zoom-n-Pan

PowerPoint and Internet screen actions become sewn together at this point.◦ “Import” features are used.◦ This required the use of the “slice” feature and

others not so readily familiar to many.

IV. Post-Production

When editing was completed, we distributed our “final draft” for approval.

After approval, the screencast was ready to be posted to the web.◦ Final production was assisted by the Systems and

Digital Libraries departments.◦ This presented another layer of expertise that we

had to learn or at least become familiar, including: file and sound formats, and other technical aspects of making it be web-ready.

Production Wizard: specifies the type of format used for web casting, in addition to sound, screen size, and other factors.

During pre-production and production, we kept careful notes about how things were done.

We compiled what worked for us.

We recognized that due to our assignments, priorities, and some unknowns, we could not finish the project in one concentrated block of time.

We gradually created a Best Practices document for future reference to be used when producing future screencasts.

This document permitted us to share and distribute what we learned through our collective experience.

Thinking About What Was Done

We were asked to advise how this project should proceed.

“It ain’t easy…” Create screencasts on topics that impact

the highest number of library users. Beware: content changes rapidly! Recommended changes to the initial idea of

how Camtasia would be used in the department.

The project was later continued.

The Near Future of the Camtasia Project

Screencasts were later used in other library projects, especially with social tools (LibGuides, YouTube, etc.).

The Camtasia project generated a life of its own!

We had: ◦ a continuity plan,◦ careful records,◦ other supporting documentation,◦ and most importantly, THE INTEREST!

Thank you for your participation and interest!

Kristy Padron – kpadron (at) fau.eduAlyse Ergood – aergood (at) fau.edu

Lauri Rebar – lrebar (at) fau.edu

FAU Reference: (561) 297-3780

V. Questions & Answers