Screencasting provides a quick and effective way to create rich media content and can be used to create resources that fulfil a variety of purposes. Some examples include:

• Replicating traditional lectures: a traditional presentation can be shown on screen with an audio commentary used to present the spoken component of the lecture.
• Demonstration: a demonstration on the screen, either a previously recorded video or a process in an application or program can be narrated to create a learning object. This form of screencast is very common for demonstrating how to use software.

One element of UHI's streaming server software, Medial, is a screen capture program called MEDIALecture. This software, available to all UHI staff (and students) allows for the recording of high quality screencasts which will be uploaded directly to the streaming server. MEDIALecture allows you to record just your voice, your screen and your voice, a webcam and your voice or all three.  

As with other video and audio recordings it is advisable to limit single screencasts to around 6 minutes as research has shown this to be to optimum duration. Longer topics can be presented through a series of screencasts that have been broken up into discreet chunks and contextualised in the virtual learning environment.