Camtasia; My journey towards video creation

Camtasia is a software suite, created and published by Techsmith, for creating video tutorials and presentations directly through screen cast, or direct recording plug into micro soft power point. Its basic function is to record video of our computer’s screen or portion of a screen. From this lesson I have learned how to do screen recording using Camtasia. Screen recording mainly helps in tracing the steps or process if we are learning new concept. 

For example, if the tutor teaches us how to create Google classroom, primarily the steps, it is always better if we can do screen recording along with the tutor in the classroom rather than writing notes in the book.  We can refer and use that recorded package for longer duration. It makes live easy for the people having less memory retention. 

In Camtasia, we can insert any kind of video, music, pictures, and captions to make attractive presentation or movie. We can record our own voice, split, and join whenever it is necessary. It is flexible software through which we can take out unwanted stuff to look/hear much better. It has numerous features whereby we can create quiz along with the video. It is fun learning. Being as a future educationist I strongly felt that, we need to use this software in teaching and learning in the classroom.

Now with the shift of paradigm we can use Camtasia while teaching. Children will always learn better when they can see their learning visually attractive. We teach value through the video. Not only that we can also assess have students had learning through camtasia as it involved certain features like quiz and questionnaires. In such cases it also helps in creating constructive class because students have control over the lesson by taking part in the quiz.

 If we impart the knowledge of Camtasia usage to students, they can record whatever they learnt in the software. It will help them in future reference without having to visit teachers’ frequently. It also helps in teaching students with various method such as showing video, power point presentation, video tutoring and so on. It is important to integrate technology into teaching and learning to enhance students’ learning.

This is the video I have edited using Camtisia

Digital native verses Digital immigrant

Digital native verses Digital immigrant

Today world has change incrementally from the past. With the scenario change, inhabitants too change from that of the previous generations. A really big discontinuity has taken place.Today’s generation grown up with  new technology.  Their entire life has been change and surrounded by using computer, video games, digital music player, cell phones and all other tool of digital age. It is amazing to see today’s college students spent most of the time with the electronic gadgets. Computer games, email, the internet, cell phones and instant messages are integral part of their lives.

Today’s generation think and process information fundamentally different from their predecessors. And with certainty we must say that their thinking has changed. What should we call these “new generation of today? There are many possible references for them but the more useful designation is for them is digital natives. So what does that make the rest of us? Those of us who were not born into digital world but at least touched the few aspect of technology at some later point in our live are called digital immigrant. Today’s older folk were socializing different from their kids and are now in the process of learning new language.

To get the crystal clear of digital immigrant accent, some of the characteristics are stated below. It include needing to print out an email and document written on the computer in order to read and edit it (rather than just reading and editing on the screen) bringing people physically into our cubicle to see an interesting website (rather than sending them the URL)

On the other hand digital natives are used to receiving information fast. They like parallel process and multi –tasking. They prefer graphic than text. They function best when networked. They are used to downloaded music, phones in their pocket and library in the laptop.  But to huge extend, digital immigrant do not believe that younger generation can learn successfully while watching television or listening to music because they can’t. This is because they did not practice those skills constantly for all of their life. For them system is alien. Argument for this topic ends here with the questions. So, what should happen? Should digital native learn the old ways or should the digital immigrant learn the new?

                                             College students gaming through mobile phone

levels of ICT integration

1.      Low level of technology integration

2.      The middle level of technology integration

3.      High level of technology integration

In low-level technology integration, it doesn’t involve the use of complicated ICT knowledge. Here, they just use simple and basic ICT knowledge in teaching and learning. From the some examples that we have discussed in the class, I came to know that low level of technology integration includes downloading pictures, preparing a presentation, letting students submit their worksheet via email, recording marks and uploading files.

In the middle level of technology integration, technology plays a vital role, providing both students and teacher with important materials for activities. The technology is well integrated into the lesson. Examples that we have discussed in the class were the use of role-play simulation, preparing a worksheet and use of different software comes under the middle level.

In the high level of technology integration, technology is used by students to help them through a variety of important learning processes. Here the students were given the opportunity to be creative by letting them make links about content areas, use learning tools and develop thinking skills, challenging them with complex and authentic tasks and enhance students learning.

As discussed in the class, we fall under the low-level technology integration. This is because, in the college, there is a virtual learning environment where tutors avail to upload files, presentation, and necessary classroom notes. We use email to upload our assignment. Most of the time, we have seen tutor bringing handout which is downloaded from the internet. All those characters matched with low-level technology integration and we fall under this.

Microsoft Publisher

When we were in the third year, we were asked to prepare a brochure on health and Physical education. I have seen and read many brochures prepared by others. But I haven’t thought about how it was created. The designs looked simple with all the effective information in details. It was an assignment and to be graded. By hook and crook, I had to meet the dateline.

 Then I asked one of my friends about how to prepare a brochure. She gave me a little hint on making brochure in Microsoft Publisher. Even she did not have adequate knowledge of it. Then I browsed the internet and looked for steps involving in preparing brochure. From that, I started to explore how to go with the brochure.

It was just a piece of cake after knowing how to go about it. We can use Microsoft publisher to publish anything. In MS publisher, we get so many options like newsletters, calendar, business letter, brochure, postcards and many more. When we select any of the options, we get different ready-made templates. We can even create our own design and templates using the option given there.

Here, the text box is the working place. The text box should be fit within the text border. We can insert pages by clicking on the option ‘insert page’. It is a very good way of publishing something. We can use our creativity and make it unique. Once we insert the text box, we can layer them and we can design. It was fun learning this and I realized that I can use it at any time.  As a teacher, we can always incorporate it with classroom teaching and learning.

Finally I created one beautiful brochure.