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Pencast videos can be a useful way of providing demonstrations for students. This resource explains physical and digital approaches for recording pencast videos.
One challenge with DIY educational video can be explaining complex topics, and sometimes a standard screen recording or piece-to-camera won’t be enough. A pencast is usually when you record a piece of paper while showing your hands writing, sketching, annotating, etc. This can be a particularly great for both the student experience and student retention as research shows that students learn better from a video lecture that shows the instructor drawing graphics as they speak rather than referring to already drawn graphics.
Pencasts can be used to explain difficult topics, describe processes, introduce threshold concepts and map ideas for students. Additionally, it provides the teacher with an opportunity to refine an explanation and to do so in a controlled and consistent way.
When might a pencast be useful?
- Tricky topics or concepts
- Explanations and processes
- Instructions
- Overviews
- Maps
- Diagrams
- Charts
Planning your pencast
Once you’ve decided on the content you’d like to cover, it’s time to start planning your pencast. Here are a few tips to keep in mind for recording:
- Imagine you are sitting with just one student. Talk to them and not about them.
- Speak naturally and keep it casual.
- Display your enthusiasm for the subject, it will make your video more engaging.
- Use anecdotes to illustrate points. A relevant story can be captivating.
- Sketches, doodles and diagrams can weave a narrative and link ideas. You can also use objects like modelling clay, paper cutouts and lego.
- Keep the production process simple, accessible and low-tech (you don’t have the time or resources to compete with Hollywood).
- Make it brief and focus only on critical content. If the content has intrinsic learning value aligned to assessment, students will care less about production quality.
- You don’t need a script, just a content guide that you can glance at to stay on track and keep the video concise.
- Have good lighting.
- Try not to “date” your video by mentioning specific dates, etc. This is an opportunity to create a valuable reusable asset which you can use beyond just one session. You can always add supporting text in the module above or below the video.
The 5Cs of eLearning visuals provides a simple checklist for you to assess the appropriateness of the pencast format in your teaching.
Screen recordings with Annotation (digital)
This is perhaps the easiest way to record digitally, via your computer or tablet. However, this approach to recording will mean that your audience won’t be able to see your hands, and therefore it isn’t really a traditional pencast. There are some advantages to this though, including the use of colour and having a less obstructed view.
Explain Everything – Amanda White
In this example, Senior Lecturer Amanda White is using an iPad with a popular app called Explain Everything. Amanda imports her slides and then annotates over the top of them. The app itself contains useful help and on the app website you will find a rich collection of help and tutorials.
PowerPoint – Annette Dowd
This excerpt is from Senior Lecturer Annette Dowd, who has chosen to use the annotation & screen recording features in PowerPoint. Many users find using a mouse to be difficult for annotation, so Annette has chosen to use a Wacom tablet and stylus of her own. To do a screen recording in PowerPoint, simply go Insert > Screen Recording.
Kaltura Capture – Julia Memar
In this lecture excerpt, Associate Lecturer Julia Memar is using the annotation features in Microsoft Word while doing a screen recording with Kaltura Capture. Just like with PowerPoint, some users find using a mouse to be difficult for annotation, so Julia has chosen to use a Microsoft Surface Pro (which has a touch screen) and stylus.
Tablets – Amanda White
iPads and most other tablets and phones these days contain screen recording functions, and using them with another note-taking app can lead to more options. For iPad users, another way is to first do a screen recording, then use the markup tool in the notes app. In the example below, Amanda White is using a paid app called Noteability while also using the screen recording function on her iPad.
Physical pencasts
This is a more traditional type of pencast. The easiest way to make these is to use what you have on hand – your smartphone, tablet or webcam along with any kind of mounting solution you can find. See examples in video tutorials from Annette Dowd and Julia Memar.
You’ll need to get your camera or mobile device pointing down from you point of view (POV) perspective to show the paper on a flat surface. This means you will need to set up some kind of mount for your camera. There are cheap phone mounts available online (try searching eBay or Amazon, for example). Another idea may be to use a document camera in a lecture theatre. You can also contact the LX.lab media team and request to loan a mount for your phone or tablet, though resources are limited. The image below shows one of our mounts in action.
A mount is not the only way to arrange your recording setup. You can also try positioning your phone or tablet on a box or bookshelf, and keeping it in place with some books or sticky tape as shown in the image below.
Once your camera has been set up, you’re ready to record. Consider using: markers, paper, printouts, cutouts, modelling clay, lego, or other creative tools, and a quiet space with plenty of light. Anything you can use to illustrate your ideas within the camera frame will do.
After recording
When you have finished recording your video, be sure to upload to Kaltura, and embed your video into your subject. If you require video edits, Mac users should consider using iMovie, while Windows 10 users should use the built-in program Video Editor. Also, keep in mind that your phone or tablet most likely includes options to trim your video as well.