Faculty Screencasting: Winning before Beginning

Thu, 12 Mar 2015 11:09:48 -0400
relay, screencasting, techsmith

Over the course of the past year, approximately 40 faculty and staff members have made use of UMBC’s supported screencasting tool, TechSmith Relay, to record over 400 recordings. This application is easy to use and configure, and it allows users to create how-to videos, capture lecture presentations (e.g., as a solution for inclement weather), and adapt their pedagogy to support their learners’ needs. This article highlights two TechSmith Relay users’ experiences with this tool.

Dr. Brian Grodsky is an associate professor of Political Science, and teaches 200-400 level courses. He’s made nearly 250 recordings since adapting TechSmith Relay for tests and both in-class and online discussions. For online classes, Dr. Grodsky uses lecture recordings along with readings as the basis for tests and online discussion. Dr. Grodsky chunks his lecture recordings into 5-15 minute, digestible pieces, which is an identified best practice for screencasting in order to support learner engagement with the content. "I think the tool is generally great….I definitely recommend using this," says Dr. Grodsky, who believes this tool has opened numerous opportunities to delve more deeply into the course content during class discussions.

Dr. Stephen Mang is a Lecturer with the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. He uses TechSmith Relay videos to introduce students to chemicals, their reactions, and equipment prior to laboratory experiments. He also makes short (5-10 minute) introductory videos that address discrete concepts from readings for students to watch prior to class to facilitate in-class discussion. Dr. Mang says he’s found these videos "really help in terms of the number of students who come to class ready to discuss the material."

Dr. Mang’s impressions of the tool are also very positive, and he too would recommend any faculty use Relay, and particularly those who teach labs. "The videos can be an excellent supplement to that lecture, letting you change what you focus on during the in-person lecture and helping students really understand what they're going to be doing in lab that day."

If you are a faculty member interested in getting started using TechSmith Relay, simply submit an RT ticket, and DoIT will work with you to get up and running.