In my last blog I was asked for my comments on how good I found the web 2.0 tools I used (see
http://www.screencast.com/t/KLVh7bOFZ)
I used Jink (a free, open source tool, easy for creating slideshows and screencasts) and hosted by screen cast.com (a free, open source tool, by the same company as Jing called TechSmith).
Jink is great, really easy to learn, it sits in the background in the top corner of your screen (so you can use it at a moments notice). You can take a screenshot (and do some nice animation), you can video your actions on your screen (ie. Used as a tutorial for learners or “how to….” session), you can record audio on top of a powerpoint presentation. You are limited to 5 minutes video only (though Jink use this as a USP saying 5 minutes is enough!!!). The problem is that the file format is not compatible with many other file sharing sites (eg. You Tube). This is a real issue for me and a real pain (I’m sure others too would have issue on this). Jing puts a positive spin on this saying it’s files are not compressed so are better quality.
I didn’t however like screencast.com, a site where you host your Jing content. I couldn’t see any network effect (no real community sharing stuff and bouncing ideas of each other). It’s not that pretty a site (well to me in any case). You can embed files in other sites, but you are limited to only 1 type of widget (which isn’t the best) and it doesn’t work with all sites (eg. It doesn’t work with quite a few blogs).
That’s the end of the blog………but you can read on!
I’ve rated Jing/screencast under several criteria. I’m going to try to do this with other tools. This will mean that I can compare & contrast tools. The main criteria are around ease of use; multi-media & instructional design (does it help learners learn). I’ve been tough on Jing/screencast as I see 10 out of 10 as very easy to use, fairly rich multi media, good instructional design & a good network!!! Please do let me know what you think of the criteria!!!
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Criteria
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Comments
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Learner & Customer
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Educational Practitioner
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Ease of use for information & learning
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Screencast has standard layout which shows files
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6
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6
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Ease of use for user to create user generated content
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Jing is very, very easy to create content and to upload to screen cast. Easy to record audio (easier than say using slideshow)
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9
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9
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Size of network for the tool (1)
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Poor (no real network compared to say slideshow and other sites)
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3
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3
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Does it help learners learn
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Seems to have good feedback from customers/learners. Fairly rich multi media helps. Educational practitioners like the tools.
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7
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7
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Technology issues (2)
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Can’t use with many other file sharing sites (eg. You Tube), but files better quality (not compressed). Poor widgets. Seems fairly robust, stable site. Educational practitioners like the tools (see
http://c4lpt.co.uk/Top100Tools/jing.html) |
4
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8
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Multimedia nature
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Pictures, audio, video can be used (and in combination) so quite rich (better than many)
You can take a screenshot (and do some nice animation), you can video your actions on your screen (ie. Used as a tutorial for learners or “how to….” session), you can record audio on top of a powerpoint presentation
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7
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6
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Applicability for wider training/education
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Used for teacher/tutor generated learner content; learner generated content; resources/materials for learners
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7
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7
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Applicability for learndirect
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Same as above. Lower scare as it doesn’t seem like Jing/screencast can be integrated into existing community of practice?
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6
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5
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Average
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6.1
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6.4
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NOTES
1) Size of network for the tool. The assumption here is that you should go to where your customers are. If millions are using the tool, then you should go there. You overcome the “ease of use” issue and you gain network benefits
2) Technology. A range of issues are applicable here including open source, stability, availability, bandwidth, issues with LMS; how good the widgets are, how easy to distribute content on other file sharing sites.
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