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Many of my most memorable moments as a teacher have come when I was able to work with my students individually. I always used those opportunities to build positive relationships, identify misconceptions, and help put a personal spin on what we were learning. In fact, one of the main reasons I became a teacher was because of my high school English teacher Mrs. Wilcox, and the personal attention she gave me and my classmates. Mrs. Wilcox had a gift for what Sarah Brown Wessling calls "writer talking to writer (and) . . . thinker talking to thinker."

But with close to 30 students in my classroom, one-on-one time is at a premium. I've found there are certain things I need to do to "set the stage" for making that time both effective and efficient - the most important being allowing my students to have access to content and feedback whenever they need it.

Those who help students with their writing have a huge challenge. The writing process has many steps and students need their teacher's insight all along the way. With so many students needing so much guidance how can one teacher do it all? Some teachers are beginning to rely on podcasts and screencasts to give their students personalized feedback and focus that valuable one-on-one time on the most important concerns. Check out this fantastic explanation from ELA teacher Sarah Brown Wessling on how she is able to give her students the time and attention they need to improve their writing.

While Sarah uses an iPod and a voice recorder, for those of you with an iPad, a Dropbox account, and the free Screenchomp whiteboard app, you can use the same idea to give personalized feedback of your student's work without having to cart home stacks of papers. Check out the video below for an explanation of how you can do this.

Can't view this video? Click here

If you prefer text and pics for your how-to's check out this Tildee I created about using Screenchomp for personalized feedback.

Do you teach a subject other than writing? You can still use the same concept to grade anything from individual math problems to Spanish verb conjugations. The trick is to tweak it for whatever situation you are in. In fact, why not take it a step further and have your students create their own ScreenChomp explaining how they set up a particular physics problem, or peer reviewing another student's work. The options are endless!

If you have any other ideas or questions about Screenchomp and personalized feedback please leave them in the comments below.

Dan_Spencer

Dan Spencer is the Educator Emissary for Techsmith, as well as the Educational Technology Consultant for the Jackson County (MI) Intermediate School District. Before that he spent a decade teaching his students chemistry, physics and engineering. Follow his tweets at @runfardvs.

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Edtech guru Kevin Honeycutt loves to remind us that "isolation is the cancer of education."

As a teacher I always wanted to do everything possible to ensure my students enjoyed learning and were doing so effectively. All too often though, when the bell rang, and the door shut, I was often left to figure that out on my own. But at the same time, some of my most energizing experiences in education began with impromptu conversations with other teachers going through the same struggles as I was.

#flipclass chat on Twitter

With all the recent buzz about the Flipped Classroom it's important for interested teachers to have ways to learn from those who are already using it the right way and avoid the frustration of isolation. On Monday, March 5 8:00PM EST, Brian Bennett and other Flipped Classroom experts will host the first of many #flipclass chats on Twitter.

UPDATE 3/5 - Topic selected for tonight's #flipchat: What has been a big struggle since flipping?

Be part of the conversation

Our #flipclass chat will be similar to #edchat and other group conversations on Twitter.

To participate, log into your Twitter account and do a search for "#flipclass" at 8PM EST on March 5th. Tweets with the #flipclass hashtag will appear as conversations pop up. Another option is to use Tweetchat.

Either way, feel free to sit back and watch or, better yet, join in! Ask questions. Share experiences or resources. But most of all, enjoy connecting with educators who are going through the same struggles and successes you are.

#flipclass educators to follow

If you are looking for some #flipclass educators to follow, here are some of the best:

See you there!

Dan_Spencer

Dan Spencer is the Educator Emissary for Techsmith, as well as the Educational Technology Consultant for the Jackson County (MI) Intermediate School District. Before that he spent a decade teaching his students chemistry, physics and engineering. Follow his tweets at @runfardvs.

Cross-posted from the Visual Lounge blog.

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I'm happy to announce new versions of Snagit 11 for Windows and Snagit on Mac 2 are available today!

You've asked and we've listened. The number one request from Snagit users? Video! The new release of Snagit is full of new video features and capabilities on both platforms!

What's new in Snagit?

  • Video Capture (Windows and Mac)
  • Video Outputs to Camtasia Studio, Screencast.com, YouTube, FTP, Facebook and Twitter (Windows and Mac)
  • Image Outputs to Facebook, Twitter and Evernote (Windows and Mac)
  • New Stamps (Windows and Mac)
  • Paste from Clipboard (Windows and Mac)
  • Centered Canvas (Windows)
  • Updated, time saving profiles and more available to download (Windows)
  • Easier Resizing (Windows)
  • More Zoom Options (Windows)
  • Spell Check (Windows)
  • Change Canvas Color (Mac)
  • Color Filters (Mac)
  • Webcam Image Capture (Mac)

Use Snagit's video capture to reproduce software bugs, show coworkers certain features of specialized software, or make training aids for clients. See popular uses for Snagit here and real-life examples here of how people use Snagit.

And, I also have some news about Jing. Jing Pro is heading into retirement starting today, February 28, 2012. All current Jing Pro customers will have their subscriptions extended free of charge until February 28, 2013 and can purchase an upgrade to the new Snagit at a 50 percent discount. With Snagit, users will no longer have a five minute video recording limit, and will have the freedom to blur sensitive information, scroll and capture long webpages and documents and enhance screenshots like never before. And, fear not, the free version of Jing is not going anywhere.

Already a Snagit user? Thank you! Academic upgrade pricing is $14.95 for current Jing Pro subscribers and existing Snagit users. New to Snagit? Educators can purchase the software for $29.95 (which includes a free Screencast.com account with 2GB of storage and 2GB of transfer bandwidth monthly). Go to our education store for more details or to purchase. Snagit on Mac is now also available in the Mac App Store.

Useful Links:

I can't wait to hear what you think about the new versions of Snagit! What will you snag today?

Cross-posted from the Visual Lounge blog.

Have an iPad and Camtasia Studio? TechSmith just released an app called FastTrack that lets you take the complete series of Camtasia Studio 7 tutorials anywhere your iPad can go.

FastTrack
Get FastTrack for iPad

Some of the cool things you can do:

  • View Camtasia Studio tutorials offline
  • Follow along in Camtasia (use iPad as extra screen)
  • Search across videos
  • Skim video transcripts (Tip: rotate iPad to portrait mode to see transcripts)
  • Give on-the-spot feedback to TechSmith tutorial creators

The app was developed as a TechSmith Labs initiative, which means it's an experiment. We're hoping to learn the answers to questions like: Is this the kind of thing customers find useful? Should we add community or social features? Add tutorials for other products?

Give it a whirl and tell us what you think over on our feedback site!

FastTrack FAQ

Q: Why create an app with videos that are already available online?
A: While the videos are available online, that doesn't necessarily make them very portable. If you are commuting, on a trip, or somewhere without a wifi or network connection you won't have access to the content. Part of the idea behind TechSmith FastTrack is to make this content available when you're ready to learn.

Q: Isn't it weird to put how-to videos about a desktop program on an iPad?
A: There are lots of things that are weird, but putting video content focused on learning is probably not one of them. In fact, having this content on the iPad actually makes a lot of sense. First off, when you're using a program like Camtasia Studio, it's actually easier to watch a how-to video on the iPad and follow along. Switching back and forth between the video and the application can be cognitively taxing and asking people to put a lot of information in short-term memory. Like a training manual or book, the iPad app delivery is flexible and readily available. Best part is, you don't have to use paper weights to hold the book open to the right page as you work - the video will be right there waiting. So if making content easily available in a different context is weird (but not so different than a PDF, physical book or e-book), than call us guilty.

Q: So all this does is play videos?
A: Yes, pretty much it. It's very focused and targeted. Anyone who wants to learn Camtasia Studio basics will benefit. Could we decide to do more, add more content, make it something more than it is? Yes, perhaps. A lot of that depends on feedback and how people end up using it. That's why we want to hear what you think!

Q: So where's the Android version?
A: We definitely recognize that the value of an app like FastTrack cuts across tablet operating systems. At this point, we are only starting to evaluate the possibilities and future options of delivering learning content on mobile tablet devices. As we better understand the impact and possibilities of an app like FastTrack, we will need to decide if and how we support other versions. For now, if you want to see a Android or other platform version of FastTrack, please leave us some feedback.

Cross-posted from the Visual Lounge blog

The Forge

UPDATE: Recording of this episode is below and posted to YouTube.

This month on our live web show, we're bringing you a special focus on education! Video is more popular than ever, as it's being used to deliver content as part of blended learning, flipped classroom, and 1:1 tech initiatives.

We have a sweet lineup for this month:

  • Make cooler iBooks with help from TechSmith tools
    Andrea Perry (@andrea_perry), information developer, TechSmith
  • Use screencasts to teach better & solve real classroom problems
    Ben Rimes (@techsavvyed) and Jason Valade (@Jay2thaVee), tech coordinator and tech teacher, Mattawan CSD
  • Mobile apps ScreenChomp and Coach's Eye for teaching & learning
    Mike Malinak (@MichaelMJ), lead developer, TechSmith

As with every episode of The Forge...if you can't make the live show, we'll miss you! But you can watch the recording later. Just subscribe to our YouTube channel so you know when we post it.

 

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Daniel Foster is the "social media guy" for TechSmith. He enjoys iceboating, ice cream socials, and isosceles triangles. Tweet him up @fosteronomo or put him in a Google+ Circle.

Hello Everyone - We're live from TCEA 2012 in Austin, TX. We'll have sessions running throughout the conference in Room M10 of the Austin Convention Center (Mezzanine level). Session topics are listed below. For the complete schedule and session times go here (PDF). You can also find us in Software Express booth in the exhibit hall (Booth #235).

Teaching Tech...Intern Style! - Would you let a team of interns do the legwork of integrating technology into your classrooms? That's exactly what Dr. Roland Rios, Technology Director at Fort Sam Houston ISD, recently did. Come hear about Fort Sam Houston's unique story and hear how this empowered group of students began training teachers and modeling for fellow students, and how TechSmith software helped make it happen.

How the Flipped Classroom Gives All Students a Chance to Succeed - Clintondale High School faced several major issues. From extremely high failure rates to behavioral issues in class, and bored disengaged students, they faced what many schools face every day. But they've turned a lot of that around in less than 2 years by flipping their entire schools instructional model. Come hear how they did it from one of the teachers involved from the start. Their results speak for themselves!

Camtasia Studio Overview - The use of video and screencasting in Education is on the rise. But how do you start creating videos without being an expert in technology? Come to our overview session where we will highlight some of the simple techniques you can use to engage and leave an impression on your audience, including how Camtasia Studio works, how to record your screen and use some of the features to wow your viewers, and how to produce and share your final video.

Mobile Minds: Welcome to TechSmith Labs - Mobile in Education is the definitely a hot topic these days. And we would love to share with you TechSmith Labs, a place where we shine the spotlight on some of our promising prototypes. Come and learn more about mobile apps like ScreenChomp and how teachers are empowering students to teach their own lessons.

Educator Showcase - Want to be inspired with creative and effective ways educators are using technology? Join Dave McCollom, TechSmith's Education Evangelist as he highlights some of TechSmith's 20 Educators to Watch chalkstars. Learn how they are using technology in different ways to achieve education goals, staff training, district wide communication and even global collaboration.

How to Make More Engaging Screencasts - Ever wondered how to make your video a bit more fancy with music, effects and transitions? It's much easier than you think! In this session, we will introduce techniques that you can easily apply to your video to make it more engaging and likely to be viewed.

Seeing the flipped classroom grow from grassroots to CNN has been an awesome experience. In his interview with CNN this week, Greg Green of Clintondale High School (Clinton Township, MI) did a fantastic job of representing the passion of the educators in the movement. This clip (and hopefully others to come) will introduce a new audience to these bright spots in education, but it's the discussion that follows that will shape what happens next.

As I'm typing this, there are 538 comments and counting on the article. This is a really exciting chance to get more educators involved in this public discussion and help focus on the positives things that are happening in education that don't always get the media attention they deserve. Follow this link to participate in the discussion .

If you're new to the Flipped Class model and would like to explore what it's all about, here are some additional sources of information for you.

We're excited, of course, because Greg and his teachers have used TechSmith products to make this happen. They're using Camtasia Relay to record all of their lessons and Camtasia Studio to do some extra editing work when necessary. Check out those link to learn more and don't forget about our discounted pricing for educators.

Cross-posted from The Visual Lounge

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One of the best parts of being an evangelist is that I get to share the good news with you. Today is one of those days! Camtasia for Mac 2 is here! You spoke up. We listened. We've redesigned and rebuilt Camtasia for Mac to help you create engaging, high-quality videos...faster, easier, and with more consistency.

What's new in Camtasia for Mac 2?

  • Editor tweaks - The editor interface has been redesigned so it's easier and faster to find what you need.
  • Extend Frame - this makes it easier to lengthen individual frames of a video to give yourself more time to highlight specific points of interest, or add more time for narration.
  • Custom annotations - you can easily copy and paste them into your timeline and reuse the effects throughout your video, or for a future project.
  • Annotations - you can point out specific features throughout your video. Easily add speech bubbles, arrows, shapes, lines and more. Additionally, callouts can easily be animated, including the tails of the callouts, to follow certain points of emphasis in the video.
  • Tilt and restore animations - these make it easy for users to manipulate video into a more effective display.
  • Mobile device frames - now you have a simple and effective way to demonstrate your mobile device apps! Record video of your app in a simulator and showcase the device your app runs on by adding a frame around your videos!
  • Cursor FX - Draw attention to mouse clicks by highlighting, magnifying or spotlighting the point of emphasis.
  • Blur Effect - now you can easily hide private information on the screen.
  • Production tweaks - Produce your videos 40-60% faster with higher quality output. Export an HD-quality file with a flash wrapper and HTML 5 fallback, so no matter where your viewers watch your video, even from a browser that is not Flash-enabled, your content will work.

Download a free, 30-day trial of Camtasia for Mac 2. New users can purchase the software for $99. Already have Camtasia for Mac version 1? Current users can upgrade to version 2 for $49. Camtasia for Mac 2 will also be available in the Mac App Store soon.

And, as always, we want to know what you think about the new release. Feel free to share your thoughts here on the blog or on our new community site. We need to hear what you'd like to see in the next version!

Mini demos of new features

We are thrilled to announce that Coach's Eye has just hit the App Store, kicking off our first venture into the iPhone app world. You'll notice right away that the app was built with athletic performance in mind, but that is really just the beginning. Coach's Eye has some incredible potential for educators or anyone that is interested in creating on-the-fly tutorial videos. Before I get ahead of myself, let's take a look at the app:


Here are two examples of videos created with Coach's Eye. The first is a sports example, the second should help get you thinking about the non-sports possibilities.

Example #1: My personal trainer critiquing my deadlift technique (or lack thereof):


Example #2: Luke Miller (TechSmith Product Marketing Manager) Demonstrates Proper Chopstick Technique:


Coach's Eye is available now in the iPhone App Store for a limited time price of $0.99. Please check it out and share with your friends! Whether they're a coach, teacher, chef, or just about anything else- we believe this technology will be a real game changer in the way people share knowledge.

Be sure to check out the Coach's Eye website as well. Sure it has a great overview, tutorials, etc - but I recommend going there just to check out the awesome rotating banner at the top!

Sometimes learning (and life) can be a bit easier when broken down into smaller pieces. Jamey Boelhower uses ScreenChomp to do just that in his English Comp 101 class. The students love it because the lessons are available when they’re writing and can call on a particular video in that moment of need. Check out an example and get your daily tautology lesson here: http://www.screenchomp.com/t/6kdZpjcPpE

If you’d like to try your hand at this you can download ScreenChomp for free in the iPad App Store. If you’re already using ScreenChomp, be sure to grab the latest update as we’ve listened to your feedback and added the option to adjust pen width.


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You may have also missed our last update where we added the ability to scroll and gain more precious screen real estate. You can learn more about that here.