Visual Teaching - these are tools that facilitate the teaching of concepts visual images or annotations. And they are adaptable to any discipline.

Why should I teach visually?
Because images engage parts of the human brain that are not engaged by text or or the spoken word. Integrating images into learning activities or into lectures and discussions is an excellent instructional technique for increasing your student's engagement. As we know, if an individual is not engaged in a topic, learning does not occur. Educators in the 21st century are fortunate to have a host of options for integrating images into their teaching strategies. Even if you do not teach in a "smart" classroom, consider "web enhancing" your class with these tools by providing interactive, visual assignments for students to participate in between class sessions. Our classrooms no longer have four walls!

Camtasia Studio

Imagine being able to show exactly what's on your screen to anyone, anywhere. Imagine that it's easy. Now you've imagined Camtasia Studio. With the smartest screen recording tools on the planet, Camtasia Studio makes everything from training videos to PowerPoint presentations to lectures look better, reach more people, and pack more punch. Which makes you look even smarter, too. For PC users. Full retail price is $299. Individual educational price is $179.99. A free limited trial is available through the website.

Sketchcast
A free, web-based tool that is like an online white board. Click record and proceed with drawing, diagramming or writing on the digital white board. Plug in a microphone and speak while you're creating. When you're done, Sketchcast will provide you with a url that you can plug into Blackboard that will take students to a video of your sketchcast ... including audio! Sketchcast also gives you the option to embed the videos in a blog or directly into Blackboard. Pretty slick!


Voicethread
A free,web-based discussion board alternative that easily integrates images (pictures or documents) and allows users to leave asynchronous discussion comments in voice or text AND gives users the option of drawing right on the image using simply a mouse. Very easy to use! No downloads. Sign up for the "Voicethread" iTech Lab workshop to learn more!