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
Step 1: Plan 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.
Find out more…
The 5Cs of eLearning visuals provides a simple checklist for you to assess the appropriateness of the pencast format in your teaching.
Getting support and access to production facilities
If you don’t have your own equipment or the skills currently, the LX.lab Desktop Studio is equipped to help you maintain high production quality and a professional aesthetic. The Desktop Studio is easy to use, but first requires you to complete a basic orientation and induction (book via ServiceConnect).
Step 2: Record
Pencasts can be conducted digitally or physically, and it’s your decision on which you think could suit your situation the best. Below are some approaches you may find useful to try. Alternatively, you can book a space at the LX.Lab Desktop Studio.
Screen recordings with digital annotation
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.
Examples of digital annotation
Kaltura Capture
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.
PowerPoint
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.
Explain Everything
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.
Tablet devices
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.
You’ll need to mount your camera or mobile device so it’s pointing down from your perspective to show the paper on a flat surface. You could try:
Cheap phone mounts available online (try searching eBay or Amazon, for example).
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 Figure 2.
Figure 2: a make-shift phone mount
Useful tip
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.
Examples of physical pencasts
Pencast example 1
Excerpt from a lecture by Senior Lecturer Annette Dowd.
Pencast example 2
Excerpt from a lecture by Associate Lecturer Julia Memar.
Step 3: Upload
Once you have recorded your pencast, upload it to Kaltura. Kaltura is the university’s supported media platform.
Quick instructions for uploading a video to Kaltura:
Navigate to My Media on the left of your Canvas dashboard.
Select ‘Add New’ and then ‘Media Upload’.
Select ‘Choose a file to upload’ and find your video file.
Enter the appropriate video details before selecting ‘Save’.
