Screencasting with Screencast-O-Matic

Owned by Mark Gallimore
Last updated: Jul 25, 2024 by Nicholas Coil
3 min read

For most screencasting jobs, the Center for Online Learning & Innovation recommends Screencast-O-Matic.  Canisius University pays for a Pro license, offering a limited number of faculty use of the Pro features, including the simple but powerful video editor.  Contact helpdesk@canisius.edu to request an account under the Canisius license.

Mac users also have the option of using QuickTime to record screencasts, and iMovie to edit these.  However, Screencast-O-Matic puts recording, editing, and other features into one easy-to-use package.  

If you are producing simple video slideshows, PowerPoint for Windows can export narrated slideshows as .mp4 video files, and so does not require a screencaster at all.  

For student projects, PowerPoint in Windows or Quicktime/iMovie for Mac are ideal.

Additional Screencast-O-Matic Video Tutorials

Installing Screencast-O-Matic under the Canisius License

  1. Contact helpdesk@canisius.edu for license information.  You'll then receive instructions, together with a URL and password, necessary for installing Screencast-O-Matic with the pro features.

2. On the Screencast-O-Matic landing page for Canisius, there's a number of ways to trigger a download but the quickets is clicking What if I can't work in the browser?  This will give you a link to download the app.

Click it, and follow the prompts to run the installer for Windows or Mac.

 

3. When presented with the option, choose I have a Team Plan.

 

4. Follow the steps to enter the URL, and Password, respectively.  

 

Screencast-O-Matic will then open as a pro version, allowing you to record and edit video.

 

It is possible to create Scripted Recordings.  Although this takes a little longer than creating simple recordings, it makes it easier to create concise tutorials illustrating complex procedures, and best of all, gives you a downloadable file for closed captions.  The closed caption file (.sbv) can then be installed in the video after it is uploaded to YouTube (but is not available for videos hosted in D2L.)  Closed captioning makes your videos more accessible.