Skip to Main Content
Michigan State University

Screencasting: Basics

An introduction to tools and tips for creating screencasts "on the fly."

What Is A Screencast?

A screencast is a video recording of action taking place on a computer screen, including mouse movement, text entry, scrolling, and movement from page to page. Screencasts can be recorded with or without audio.

Why Use Screencasts?

  • Provide educational content that appeals to a wide range of learning styles.
  • Enhance instructional value for library users in virtual environment.
  • Explain in detail what may be confusing to explain in writing while allowing the viewer the opportunity to move at own pace.
  • Provide visual demonstration in lieu of face-to-face instruction.
  • Access online from anywhere at any time.
  • Easy to create.
  • Zero to low cost. No expensive software or fancy equipment is necessary!
  • No training necessary.