Screencasts are audio-narrated “tours” of what you see on your computer screen (they don’t have to narrated, but it works much better if they are). Screencasts that I have seen are primarily used to show how to use various computer applications. They are wonderful teaching tools, especially for technological dummies like myself.

They can also be used as good speaking opportunities for English Language Learners.

I’ve written a lot about how I use online video games with ELL’s. One thing I’d like to do is have students play video games using “walkthroughs” (instructions and hints about how best to “win”) and create instructional screencast ”walkthroughs” that would teach other students how to play the game.

Of course, students could also just leave a stationary picture on the screen and talk about it.

In order to make it on this list, the application needed to be accessible to ELL’s and not require any downloading of software, since downloads are problematic for many schools.

Here are my picks for The Best Tools For Making Screencasts:

Screencast-O-Matic

And, though I’m limiting this list to apps that require no software download, I do feel I have to at least mention Snagit, which is a very popular free tool available by download.

Screencasting In The Classroom is a guide from Kathy Schrock (thanks to Vicki Davis for the tip).

Screencastify looks like a great tool for making screencasts.  Also see A Great Update to Screencastify from Richard Byrne.

Loom lets you easily make screencasts, though it can only be used in Chrome.  Here’s a video about it:

Loom is Introducing a Desktop Screencasting Tool is also from Richard Byrne.

Record Screen is a new tool that lets you…record what’s on your computer screen.

Nimbus lets you take online notes, “clip” screen images, and and make a screencast.

3 Best & Free Screen Recorders for Teachers is from English Teaching 101.

Screenjar is a new screen recorder.

Now You Can Use Flipgrid to Make Screencast Videos is from Richard Byrne.

Screen Recorder does what its name says.

Everything You Need to Know About Building a Great Screencast Video is from Cult of Pedagogy.

Share It lets you record a screencast.

How to Use Loom to Make a Whiteboard Video is from Richard Byrne.

TechSmith Capture Replaces Jing is also from Richard.

Vidyard is another screencasting tool.

Vimeo Record – Another Screencasting Tool is from Richard Byrne.

Five Screencasting Tools Compared and Ranked – Fall 2020 is from Richard Byrne.

Screenity – Screen Recorder & Annotation Tool is a Chrome extension.

RecordCast lets you record screencasts.

Vmaker is a free screencasting tool for educators.

Record Annotated Video Presentations With PresentationTube’s Chrome Extension is from Richard Byrne.

Veed.io is yet another tool for making screencasts.

Tella is a new tool for creating screencasts.

Recwide is a new screen recorder.

Screensy is a Chrome extension that lets you create screencasts.

Calipio is a new tool for recording screencasts.

Five Things I Like About the New Chromebook Screencast Recorder is from Richard Byrne.

FlexClip Screen Recorder is a free…screen recorder.

Soap Box is a new tool for creating screencasts.

Vento is another screen recording tool.

If you think I’m missing any tools, or if you have other ideas on how they can be used effectively with students, feel free to leave a comment.

You might also be interested in the other nearly 350 “The Best…” lists.

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