HOWTO Create an instructional video using ScreenChomp

ScreenChomp is a free screen capture app for the iPad. It is similar to Camtasia (in fact, it’s made by the same people). It presents you with a virtual whiteboard and records audio along with your activity on the whiteboard allowing you to create simple instructional videos.

Below are the steps I took to create the following video. Be warned, however: I did not do things in the simplest way as I wanted to have complete control over the end product (the video) in order to edit it in iMovie and upload it to YouTube. I also wanted to do all steps on the iPad exclusively. I can upload a simplified tutorial if people would like.

Anyway, watch the video and follow the steps if you think it could be something you could use.

Craig

The Video

What apps I used:

ScreenChomp, iDownloads+ (free version), iMovie for iPad

I also used Sibelius to generate the blank staff wallpaper and  then SkyDrive and iDownloads+ to transfer the image to the iPad.

The Steps:

1. Open a new ScreenChomp session and set background wallpaper from Camera Roll (note that this is entirely optional. I needed to because I wanted blank staff paper)

 

2. Position and size the background image to suit (I put my image in the middle section as this seems to work the best)

3. Make sure you have what pens you want to use ready in the dock at the bottom of the screen

4. Press the 'Rec' button and deliver your lesson - I found it necessary to use a stylus to write (even then it looks like a 5 year old)

5. Press the stop button (the square) when finished and you will be taken to a preview of your video

6. Click the 'ScreenChomps' icon and your video will be prepared via ScreenChomp's web service (you must be connected to the internet for this). Alternatively you can upload your video to Facebook from here. This can take a wee while depending on the size of your video - so go have a cup of coffee while this is happening

Note: If your video is taking a really, really long time or it closes itself then close the application process using the double-click technique and when you open the app again it should be fine (although, you may have to do this a few times…)

7. When your video is ready, a link appears at the top of the screen. When you click it you are taken to a page where you can download your video

8. Click the 'Share' button and choose 'Copy link' then click 'Done'

 

9. At this point you can share the url link with your students and they can watch it online via ScreenChomp.com, but if you want to edit your video in iMovie then continue...

10. Open iDownloads+ and paste the copied link into the browser address bar (this is so you can download the video to your Camera Roll)

11. When available, press and hold the 'Download' link. When the download details come up press ‘Download’ then press 'Done'. This downloads the file to iDownloads+'s file manager

 

12. Once it has downloaded you can find it in the 'File Manager' folder of iDownloads+. Press the blue circular arrow button to the right of the file

13. You can now save the video to your Camera Roll by pressing "Add Video to Photos'

14. And there you go... Once it is in your Camera Roll you can then open it in iMovie and edit it, add titles etc. then upload it directly to YouTube or wherever you like (or simply export it to your computer)