Jing

Jing (http://www.jingproject.com/) is free software that allows you to create screen capture or screencasts, and you can share them easily. Here is a screencast of me going through notes about demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. http://screencast.com/t/n4PmXOEw

This is a great tool to use for when I am absent. I can always count on there NOT being a substitute teacher that can teach Spanish. But with Jing, I can teach a lesson without being there--teaching new information does not have to stop because I am absent. I used this last week when I was out of town. I created a folder on my class website. A Jing screencast of my notes was first, and then there were web activities for them to practice what I just taught them. It worked really well.

When I first showed my screencast to my students, they were amazed. They told me, "You can teach us when you are absent!" I replied enthusiastically, "I know. I don't even have to come to school anymore. I will teach you in my pajamas from home!"

When we start have students have laptops, I also could create a screencast and ask students to watch it at home so my teaching can continue at home.