Once you’ve chosen your screencasting software, select your recording area (the optimal area is full screen), select your destination folder (choose your desktop for an easy-to-find location), select the recording device (a microphone), and select the format of the vodcast (WMV for easy posting).

nother great option for presentation is Presentation Tube, which allows educators to make videos, then upload to Presentation Tube or YouTube,

Remember That You Are The Parent When it comes to technology, many parents feel that they do not know enough to create limits and boundaries. Because of this they do not feel right taking the technology away. You are still the parent and in your house you make the rules. You have every right to take the computer away from your child if you feel they are not having enough “down time”. I know one family that the whole family felt out of balance so they unplug the Internet in their house. So everyone has to be disconnected at the same time. They use this time to reconnect as a family and just have some ‘down’ time. Create Family Rules The #1 thing you can do is have a conversation with your child. I strongly encourage every family to sit down and talk about exactly the points you raise. Make family rules that everyone can live by. No computer before breakfast, no computer in the car while someone is driving, etc. These are good times to be disconnected and be together as a family. If the parents also abide by these family rules then there is buy-in from everyone. Everyone having to give it up is easier then “Why do I have to give it up but Dad can still check email on is iPhone?” Homework Shouldn’t Take Longer

A Note for Google Apps for Education Users If you are using Google Docs within a Google Apps for Education domain your domain administrator will have to enable the option for users to use Google Docs offline. Google's directions for domain administrators can be found here. A screen capture of the Apps Domain settings is included below.