There are a variety of software packages available that allow you to do this, with just as wide a variety of bells, whistles, and prices.\u00a0 These \u201cscreen capture\u201d packages record whatever is shown on your screen (or a subset of your screen) along with audio through a microphone input, and output a digital video file in one format or another.<\/p>\n
Starting at the high end, Techsmith\u2019s Camtasia Studio<\/a> is the Cadillac of screen capture.\u00a0 Not only does it include just about any bell and whistle you can think of, it also includes an integrated editor that allows you to jazz up your video before publishing to formats ranging from Flash for the web to iPod-compatible videos to Youtube directly.\u00a0 The downside \u2013 it lists at $299, with an educational discount down to $179 (and if you do decide to go this route, I\u2019d recommend going the extra mile and purchasing the bundle that includes SnagIt<\/a> for $199, a screen capture utility that you\u2019ll fall in love with). You can try it out for 30 days for free — its features certainly justify the price if you’re going to use the software extensively, but for just starting out, there are simpler and cheaper options.<\/p>\n At the next tier, you can find a wide variety of screen capture software from lesser-known and considerably lower- In general, the software works fine for its intended purpose, but if you run into trouble, I wouldn\u2019t expect the same level of support you\u2019d get from the higher-end products.<\/p>\n Another potential software package for video screen capture is the open-source (i.e. free) CamStudio<\/a>, based off an earlier version of the now-commercial TechSmith Camtasia package.\u00a0 I haven’t used this myself, but it comes highly recommended from a well-respected colleague who has used it to make quite a number of instructional videos using his tablet pc.<\/p>\n Microphones<\/strong><\/p>\n As far as microphones go, you can get away with the built-in mics in many laptops and web cams.\u00a0 Of course, with Workflow<\/strong><\/p>\n The easiest way I\u2019ve found to create these videos is to place the problem in Bluebeam PDF Revu<\/a> before starting the recording.\u00a0 Then, set up your microphone and screen capture software to record the Bluebeam window.\u00a0 Next, solve the problem just as you would in your class, explaining your steps as you go.\u00a0 Finally, hit the \u201cstop record\u201d button in your software, and save your video file to a format that best meets your needs!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One of the greatest benefits of using a Tablet PC is the ability to create short videos walking students through lectures or problem-solving exercises. Sure, you can create hand-outs showing step-by-step problem solving, but it\u2019s hard to beat an audio Continue reading Creating Instructional Videos with Tablet PCs<\/span>![\"image\"](\"http:\/\/aplusphysics.com\/flux\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/image_thumb4.png\" "\\"image\\"")
<\/a>support firms.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been using BSR Screen Recorder 4 over the past few years, which was roughly a $30 purchase at the time.\u00a0 The new version, BSR Screen Recorder 5,<\/a> is available for download for $50, and includes output options to AVI, Flash, and WMV.\u00a0 I can\u2019t speak to the newer version of the software, but BSR4 has performed admirably for me for videos of 10 minutes in length or less.\u00a0 I\u2019ve used this software for everything from movie analysis problems<\/a> to mini-lectures<\/a> to flash video creation for the APlusPhysics.com website<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"http:\/\/aplusphysics.com\/flux\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/image_thumb5.png\" "\\"image\\"")
<\/a> Finally, I\u2019d like to point out a free software package called LectureScribe<\/a> put together by Brian C. Dean<\/a>, a computer science professor at Clemson University.\u00a0 LectureScribe is a slick little flash video creation program designed by a teacher for teachers.\u00a0 It takes a bit of getting used to, but if you want a no-frills package to get you started, LectureScribe is your answer!<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"http:\/\/aplusphysics.com\/flux\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/image_thumb6.png\" "\\"image\\"")
<\/a>microphones, you typically get what you pay for.\u00a0 Decent USB microphones can be obtained for $30-$50.\u00a0 I use a Zoom H2<\/a> portable digital recorder ($145 at Amazon), purchased a couple years back as a multi-function device.\u00a0 Students use it in class for our Physics In Action<\/a> podcast, I use it for creating multimedia videos, and outside of school I\u2019ve used it for recording a reading of books onto CD for my daughter as a Christmas present.\u00a0 It\u2019s a relatively high quality microphone that automatically converts its input into digital files, so it\u2019s very portable, or you can plug it directly into a computer for use as a microphone.\u00a0 For simple video recordings, however, this is probably overkill.<\/p>\n