+Evaluating Software: Screencast programs

Semra BakiEDIT 5395

+General Informationand Type of License

Name: Semra Baki

Institution: Texas Tech University

Department: Instructional Technology

Software Programs Evaluated/Vendor: Adobe Captivate 8/Adobe Camtasia Version 2/TechSmith

Content Area: Media Design and Development

Education Level: Higher Education (sophomore)

+Screencast Software

This presentation will review two Screencast programs:

TechSmith Camtasia for Mac Version 2

Adobe Captivate 8.0

+ Adobe Captivate CS4

Runs on both Windows and Mac platforms

Captures high-quality video from the computer screen

Record, Edit, Produce, and Share video

Most common uses: Creating demos for training Tutorials Quizzes and Testing and Presentations

+ Captivate System Requirements

Multicore Intel® processor

Mac OS X v10.6, v10.7, or v10.8

2 GB minimum of RAM (4 GB recommended)

3 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on flash-based storage devices)

DVD-ROM drive

1024 x 768 display (1280 x 1024 recommended) with 16-bit graphics adapter

+Adobe Captivate CS4

Pros ConsSupport using the theme colors.

Does not capture every move of the cursor or mouse - only captures the screen as your screen changes

Preset templates for presentations, tutorials, and quizzes and testing

Software taxes system resources

Functionality allowing user to create quizzes and testing

Not intuitive

Integrates seamlessly with other Adobe products

Expensive

supports gestures and geolocation

can be viewed on a variety of devices

+TechSmith Camtasia for Mac Version 2

Runs on Mac platforms

Captures high-quality video from the computer screen

Record, Edit, Produce, and Share video

Become your own producer!

Most common uses: Creating demos for training Tutorials and Presentations

+Camtasia System Requirements

Mac computer with an Intel processor

Mac OS X v10.8 or later

Quartz Extreme support (rendering is not supported on external USB monitors)

2GB of RAM

4GB of available disk space (minimum)

QuickTime X or later

Playback using the Smart Player is supported on Internet Explorer 8+, Chrome, Firefox, Safari 5.1+, iOS 6+, Android 4+ (Chrome for Android Recommended)

+Camtasia Studio 8

Pros ConsCompression: for smaller file sizes

Software taxes system resources during Production phase

Records all movement of mouse and cursor

Does not include some of the features/bells and whistles that Captivate does

Files can easily be exported to other formats - .swf, .flv, .avi, mp4

Comprehensive user guide sent to your email upon loading trial version

Includes a Power Point Toolbar Add-On for easy recording and production

+Evaluation of tools(pg. 38 question)

The biggest thing with captivate which I really like is the ability to create demos and trainers. Captivate, in its price-range, is hands-down the best authoring tool for creating software quizzes, simulations and interactions. What used to take days and weeks to create by hand, can be done in minutes and hours in Captivate.

+Evaluation of tools (pg. 38 question)

Depending on the length of your movie (SWF) , they are sometimes very large and hard for students on slower connections to use.  You really need a streaming server or something similar to adobe connect to stream your vides for students unless you know the student is on a high speed connection.

Designers might find scripting for Captivate easier than Camtasia. If your Camtasia recordings are being narrated in real-time, it’s not as easy to follow the script verbatim. Try working with a high-level outline or storyboard when writing for Camtasia.

+ Recommendation – Camtasia(recommendation to the CMMT department committee members)

Even though Adobe CS4 Captivate comes highly recommended from designers, I recommend Camtasia Studio 6.

It took me long hours to install the free trial version of Captivate. The Captivate options were overwhelming. Captivate would be perceived as too complex; therefore, having a greater learning curve that with Camtasia.

+ Recommendation – Camtasia Cont.

CMMT is Camtasia is

expensive less expensive

uncomfortable using technology

easy to use and very intuitive

in need of a program primarily to create tutorials and presentations

software that easily allows the user to record and produce tutorials and presentations

in search of an alternative to Adobe Captivate

the less expensive, comparable alternative to captivate