These screencasts were created in Camtasia. I had limited experience with screencasting, so this project provided a valuable opportunity to hone my skills in planning and producing instructional videos. One screencast demonstrates how to create a fillable PDF in Adobe Acrobat, while the other analyzes Synthesia, an AI-powered video creation tool. Working on these screencasts allowed me to explore different types of content delivery and think carefully about how to present information.
For both screencasts, I began by writing a detailed script. The script outlined the narration and the visual elements I planned to show on the screen. This helped insure the videos were organized and flowed logically. I recorded the narration using the Voice Notes app on my phone as I found it produced clear audio with minimal background noise. After recording the narration, I used Camtasia’s Screen Recording tool to capture my screen. For the Fillable PDF screencast, I recorded myself completing each step in the process, while for the Synthesia screencast, I navigated through Synthesia’s website and pointed out key features. I broke the recordings into multiple clips to make editing easier.
In Camtasia, I imported my narration and screen recordings into the timeline and trimmed both as needed to create a smooth tutorial that flowed. I added transitions between video clips and used Camtasia’s pan and zoom feature to emphasize important areas of the screen. I updated the look of cursor and added a circle animation during clicks. For both screencasts I added in titles and on-screen callouts to reinforce key points. Throughout the process, I focused on ensuring that all visual elements supported learning and did not increase cognitive load.
Overall, this project strengthened my skills in instructional design, video production, and screencast editing. It also reinforced the importance of planning, storyboarding, and having an attention to detail. I am looking forward to applying these skills in my current role and using screencasts to support learners.