Screenr is a tool on the web that you can use to create screencasts and instantly publish them on Twitter.
A screencast is a video which records everything you do on your computer screen. Usually you can talk into a microphone as you do it. With some software, you can edit afterwards.
After you get to Screenr (screenr.com), press the record button, just like on a tape recorder.
Record Microphone Trash Done
Drag the corners of the box to select the area, then click the microphone button. It automatically detects whatever microphone you have plugged in.
Next, click the Record button…
The framed box then counts down 3, 2, 1… GO! And at that point you can begin to do whatever you want to be recorded on your screen. Clicking the record button again will PAUSE your recording. You have 5 minutes.
And you’re done with the recording part! Next, Screenr shows you a preview of your screencast and lets you send a description out to your followers on Twitter.
Your Twitter followers see a link and a description of what your screencast is about.
This is what your followers see when they click on the link. Play Share (embed or get URL) RT Reply to author (via Twitter)
From this page, since you sent it out, you can also Download the screencast as an MP4 Publish it to YouTube Trash it (not stuck with it forever)
Libraries are all about bibliographic instruction, and when I say that I mean we instruct users on every piece of technology we use to help them find information. So right now, I would like everyone to jot down at least three ways your library can use this. Here are some of my ideas:
Let’s face it, library catalogs are hard to search, which is why we keep adding more tools to help people to find things more easily. Have you ever been helping a patron over the phone and you wish you could just be there with them to show them how something works? This is a very quick easy way to do that.
Anything that you want to teach your patrons to do on your website, or outside of it, you can teach them through this tool.
If we want people to give us their e-mail addresses, let’s show them how to do it in a quick video that we send out. Remember, if a person is not on Twitter, we can still embed these videos into our websites or blogs.
Show ‘em how to sign up for an event at your library. Remember there are so many people out there who are just getting their first computers, who are just now crossing that digital divide, the 1.0 users who still don’t know how to do this.
Wouldn’t it be cool to catch screencasts of game play? My son is 13 and has been wanting to do this for at least a year now. So you can show your teens how to use this. But you could also capture their game play and publish it on YouTube. That would really make them feel pretty special!
We just started this option a year ago. We are still showing people how to pay their fines online. THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW USERS.
This tool does not allow you to edit your screencast, however. You definitely have to plan out and rehearse your screencast before you do it. If everything goes south in the middle, you can always trash it and start over. If you want to edit your screencast, you’ll need to use another tool, like Camtasia or one of the other applications out there.