Thing 21

Oh my, this is it!
http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cXh0rYFof

Well, I believe I've covered my bases by providing the url as well as the MP4 video that I made.  I blubbed my way through and really enjoyed it!  Having screen-o-matic free, is wonderful.  Again, I gauge everything based on "when" I get a classroom again, however, when I do, I will use Thing 21 all of the time!  My first year of teaching I tutored 5th graders before and after school several times a week in math.  5th graders really struggle with fractions of every kind.  Having the ability to make a short recording that they can play at their own rate, watch as many times as they need to until they "get it" is wonderful!  This can be a wonderful help in learning languages as well.  Conjugating verbs can be so confusing (I speak from my own personal experience with Spanish)  How easy and helpful to make short videos on the verbs they are working on weekly.  I can definitely see students' grades improving with a help like this in place.  I will use this frequently and for many different ways to help my students learn more effectively.  Some students may never need this aid, but for those who do, it's as close to one-on-one as you can get without actually being there!

As I was watching the Screencasts demo I watched the videos where teachers were giving their students feedback for projects.  Another wonderful way to use this tool, giving students an auditory feedback as well as a written one for their work.