ScreenPal
ScreenPal is an easy-to-use video and screen recording web application that enables you to capture what is being displayed on your computer screen along with audio. The tool comes with full editing functionality and once created, videos can easily be accessed by students via a shared link.
You can find material on how to get started and instructions on how to download ScreenPal on the ScreenPal page.
Creating Audio Recordings
For starters you will need to download an audio recorder. Our preferred software is Audacity. It is a free download. You will also download LAME as it allows the files to be exported/converted to .mp3 files. Both downloads are available on the Audacity website.
Download, record with and load audacity recordings into Blackboard and a video overview:
- Go to the Audacity website.
- Click on: Download Audacity ( Select MS Windows or MAC)
- Then select Audacity installer and Audacity will open with the auto install wizard. *Make sure to install LAME from this site as well. LAME will allow you to export/save these files as .mp3 files.
How to Record
- Open a new file in Audacity
- Click the Record Button (the red circle , it is the 3rd button from the left on menu bar)
- Speak ( record what you would like to say)
- Click the Stop Button ( the yellow square, it is the 5th button from the left on menu bar) NOW YOU NEED TO EXPORT THE FILE • Go to File: and select Export as MP3
- Enter name and then click on save
- A form will appear, Complete the form ( It will have the following fields shown below)
- Title
- Author
- Album
- There will also be other fields, and all of these fields are optional
- Finally, Click OK
How to Load Audio in BB
Now that you have recorded and saved your file in an mp3 format, this is a very simple process.
Here are the steps:
- Select the content area in which you would like to be able to add an audio file
- Scroll over the Build Content button and select create item (you may also select audio, but add item as it will allow users default audio player to open the file)
- Next, fill in the Name and go to the Attachments(#3) and click “Browse My Computer”
- Once you click on this button, an window will pop up to choose your file. Go and select your audio file.
- Select that file (double click on it) 6. Hit Submit, Then Hit OK
- The file has now been loaded into your course as an mp3 file and is easily accessible by most default audio players. You will notice that Blackboard automatically creates a audio menu bar for the file as loaded in the course.
RefWorks
RefWorks is an online bibliographic management program through the Library that allows users to create a personal database of references and generate bibliographies or reference lists in a variety of citation formats (APA, MLA, Turabian, etc.). This is a very useful organizational and time-saving tool which will enable you and/or your students to:
- Quickly export references from most research databases.
- Organize into folders.
- Quickly create bibliographies or lists of references.
Most databases have an "Export to RefWorks" option. Off-Campus users, will be asked for a group code; use code RWFSC to get access. Note: You must have popups enabled for RefWorks to work properly.