Creating a video can be a lot of work. Especially for those who are uncomfortable with speaking. It took me at least 10 tries until I finally decided I was just going to accept the result. I get stumped or feel pressured at times so I add in words (like, um) when they aren’t necessary. But of course, the end result was worth it. It was intriguing that I could create a video explaining something that I am showing you on my screen. Instead of having to relay the text or words to a person, you can use a visual with words, expression, details and easy navigation that allows the other person to understand and see what is being explained. If you are unable to promote one on one instruction, this is definitely a handy tool to be able to use. I know many of the online courses I have taken thus far, have required me to make videos, so fortunately for me, I was able to navigate this time without having to teach myself.
I have so far used Jing and screen cast. Both of which are great free resources. I recommend Jing because it allows you to save all the videos you have created and it just seems easier to navigate through for me. Maybe that is because I am familiar with it. YouTube is great for many purposes, including to store your own videos you have created.
So the website I choose was http://www.wufoo.com/. I liked this website because it allows you to create different types of forms. I think it can become useful not only for business purposes, but for educational purposes as well (online quizzes/recaps). For instance, you can create multiple choice and other types of quizzes for students. You can also have students reply with text or in written paragraph forms. English teachers could use this site to create webs or help students write and organize essays. You can also create web forms/websites and have students navigate their way through online homework assignments. There are also ways to create interactive graphs.
Here is the website video from YouTube:
Once I had the website I was going to use and the reasons to use it, I started recording my navigation and explanations. This was the portion I disliked. I can’t stand to hear myself talk, so I am constantly re-recording hoping for a better alternative. Unfortunately, I had to make way with what I recorded or I would be going at it all day. The important thing to remember when making a video is just try and relax and be normal. Speak as if you were explaining something to your grandmother. I say my grandmother because I am completely comfortable talking to her. Also, remember that mistakes are going to happen, that is also included in normalcy. Do not delete or start over again, just because you took two breaths, or you said “um” like I did every 30 seconds. If you get stuck on re-recording till perfection, take a break. It becomes un-natural and awkward and sometimes you just need a break. Also, I would recommend to record in different sections/number breaks. By that I mean, depending on the length of your video, you may want to save it in portions so you do not have to go back and record the whole thing over again. My video was less than 4:00 minutes, but if you were recording a 15 minute lesson instruction, you should make sure you can save and continue recording from different points.
I also made a quick recap quiz to help you remember the valuable resources for this site.
Please take the time to recap of why I believe this website could be a great technological resource to use in the classroom.
https://docs.google.com/a/laverne.edu/forms/d/1fOc1SeYZ0WrIzlYBkwIh_9eAANEyt0kD16VH0Mt6Pik/edit
Thanks for reading!
JCarmell's blog 
Great video! I was laughing when I read how frustrated you were about how much you were saying “Um”. I was doing THE SAME THING
Ooops, didn’t mean to send that comment unfinished like that!
Anyway, I was doing THE SAME THING when I was recording my video! I probably said “um” 50 times in the first minute of recording. I finally realized what I was doing and consciously made an effort to quit saying that =) I really couldn’t tell you were saying “um” a lot. You sounded really clear and your instructions were easy to follow. I also like that you added a little bit of recording advice for beginners. Screen recording software can seem a little daunting for newbies. This is one of the reasons I liked Snagit– I thought it was pretty easy to use.
I’ve never heard of WuFoo. It looks fun and anything that is free is cool with me!
Hey Janice, awesome video. I had no clue this website existed, I think I am going to use it for my SDAIE lesson tomorrow to make a little hand out. You made it really clear and you could tell you had a plan. I mentioned this to steven already, I think you guys had to do a bit more planning because your websites were not as simple as mine. That being said, your tutorial is exponentially more useful than how to sign up for a yahoo.com e-mail. It is so hard not to say “um”. I bet if you did a “how to sign up for gmail” you could do it in one shot. wufoo seems like a really eclectic tool. I wish I knew about this while I was working at my dads, I just used filemaker pro and microsoft office. It is amazing how accessible technology is these days. I really like your idea of recording in parts. Have you ever heard of the Khan Academy? If not, check it out, this Khan guy records screen casts of math lessons. In 60 minutes from a while back they show him and how his screen casts are used in “flipped” classrooms. They even show my Jr. High, Egan, in the 60 minutes report and interview students and teachers who use his screen casts. Have a good one!