WAAL09: Transformative Technology: Screencasting and the Use of Jing at UW-Madison

Transformative Technology: Screencasting and the Use of Jing at UW-Madison
Steve Frye & Ian Benton, College Library at UW-Madison

• http://www.jingproject.com/ - quick download


• We're not here because we work for Techsmith - more interested in how this technology can change what we do - link on handout to comparison of screencasting tools


• What do you think of when you hear "transformative technology"? Changes what you do, or how you do it; NOT hype - it's use is immediately apparent


• Examples from audience: internet, e-mail, online circulation / OPAC, telephones, automobile, IM


• What are the steps for changing a tire? Those who know in the audience list steps - so everyone else can now change a tire, right? I think we just need more information - Steve explains in detail using all kinds of words that most people probably don't know - now how many people could do it? OK, let's try YouTube... - now how many people could start doing this? - lots and lots of people raise their hands - is YouTube transformative technology?
  We librarians are bicycle repairpeople - when they ask us how to do something, we send them tons of words - or, we could send them a screencast with video and sound (shows example for finding a specific article)
• When you try to describe a visual process with a textual description, you must translate
  
• Jing videos can be created in real time, at the reference desk


• Patron responses (unsolicited) are VERY happy - (shows examples)


• What is a screencast? Much bigger than what we've shown - Wikipedia definition


• Techsmith has video on homepage to show you the value of Jing (shows) - same company makes Camtasia, but Jing is free and fast and has free hosting - just a link, no file transfer necessary


• Removing a barrier to communication (the long list of words and steps and jargon) - no technological hurdle


• How many times have you described a process, and had the patron say "but I that exact thing!"


• Question: what about kinesthetic learners? Answer: They need to follow the process, because my video doesn't provide them the materials they want


• Anyone challenge our assumptions? Audience: Not sure if it's transformative; used to co-browse and be there in realtime with user


• There could certainly be instances in which Jing is not the right tool for the job


• Instruction librarians showed interest


• Ian uses it to send in tech glitches, rather than just describing


• Staff use to send explanations to each other, too


• College Library: Dec 2007-July 2008, soft roll-out in evening reference; Aug 2008 - Official Jing training - not mandatory, but it's a useful tool


• If desired, could be a re-usable object, both for librarians and for users


• Statistics: 1,400-1,550 chat reference calls in 1-2 months; 15-25% use Jing - needed to upgrade


• Jing Pro = low cost for institutional use, had to upgrade to get enough storage space; now enough for UW-Madison's entire campus library system


• Steve doesn't think he's ever had a patron who couldn't get the Jing video to work


• Embed function doesn't seem to be robust


• Most library staff initially didn't record sound - patron response was favorable


• Nice to tell patrons ahead that there's audio, in case they need to turn it on or off
  (Show chat transcript, time involved in recording Jing, then continuing chat)


• Documents normal human interaction, not perfection


• Can also share with patrons, so they can make videos themselves


• Can transfer between Pro and free Jing


• Online "help" files are robust


• If interrupted, just push "pause" and continue video again


• (Demonstrations of making, playing, saving video)


• We consider these videos as disposable - don't agonize over its organization; probably easier to create a new one


• Question: Does this work the same on Mac as on PC? Answer: Yes.


• Jing also captures still images, and then there's some extra tools (arrows, boxes, highlighting)


• Question: General screencasting - any pushback from vendors on demonstrating the use of their databases, say if posted to YouTube? Answer: Haven't heard anything yet...


• Video length limit = 5 minutes; suggest not going over 2 1/2 minutes and not trying to explain more than 4 concepts per video


• Question: Does Jing save time on the desk? Answer: Ian's chat transcript data shows that it doesn't, actually lengthens chats


• When sending, ask patron to "tell me if this doesn't work"