Google for Education recently announced some new features for Chromebooks, Google Classroom, and Google Meet, including a screencasting app for Chromebooks.
Screencast App
With the new Screencast App, both teachers and students will now be able to easily create videos. The new Screencast App will be built into Chrome OS. According the Google, the screencast feature is available now for users whose Chromebooks are running the Chrome OS M103. It will soon be available for Google Workspace for Education.
Uses for Screencasting
There are so many ways the Screencast App can be used. For teachers, the Screencast app will allow you to record instructional videos or live classes. This will allow teachers to build a video library of lessons and demos. Students can then watch the videos if they miss class or need extra help with the lesson topic. In addition, students can also use Screencast! For example, they can record presentations or videos that show understanding of concepts taught. In fact, there are many uses for screencasting for both teachers and students.
Features
Some features of the Screencast App include the ability to trim your video. In addition, the speaker’s face and voice can be recorded along with the content on the screen. Furthermore, a marker tool will allow users to write, draw, or point to and highlight different parts of their screen while recording.
Transcription and Translation
The screencasts will have built-in transcription and translation. Each recording will automatically be transcribed once it is completed. When the recording is viewed, the transcript will appear to the right of the video. When watching the video, students can search the transcript for keywords or click on sections of the transcript to view that particular section of the video. The transcript can also be translated into different languages. This will be great for second language learning in the classroom.
Saving and Sharing Recordings
The recordings will automatically be saved to Google Drive. A unique video link will be generated once the user clicks on the Share button. This link can then be shared with those with whom you want to watch the video. Click here to see a video walkthrough of the Screencast app and additional Google updates.
8 comments
Hello, I am a Google Admin Console super user for my employer (k-12 school) and having difficulty finding this app. When is it available or if it’s available now how would one manage it?
Hello Garrett. The Screencast app is not yet available for Google Workspace for Education. It is only available personal Google accounts. Sources reveal it will be available in the Fall. I’m sure it will be available in the Admin console at the time it is released.
Is it now accessible for Google Workspace for Education? Or is that update still waiting? I am not seeing the app on my personal Google account either. Where is it located?
Hi Lisa! Here’s is a good article about how to access it. It might be that your Chrome needs an update! If that’s not it, send me an email (ehorn@tcea.org), and we can get it sorted!
Hi, we are a french schoolboard and would like to know if and when the screencast app will be offered in other languages, french in particular 🙂
Hi Pascal! The last update Google gave on this was at the end of March. They mentioned that this year they are expanding recording and transcription support in Screencast to a dozen new languages. They anticipated rolling them out in early April. The update doesn’t mention if French is one of those languages but hopefully it is. You can read more about it here.
Is there a way to unpin the extension from the toolbar?
Hi Beth! You can do so by clicking the puzzle piece icon in the top right corner of your Chrome Browser (it should be somewhere between the address bar and your profile picture). When you click it, a list of your extensions will appear. You can select the pin icon to pin and unpin them from your toolbar. I hope this helps!