Jing Basics
Thursday, July 1st, 2010
Jing is a desktop video program that allows you display what is on your screen and do a voice over at the same time. There is a one minute introductory video at
http://blog.jingproject.com/assets-jing/gettingstarted/index.html
You will notice from the video that Jing also captures still images, but it is the video that is really powerful.
Jing videos have several advantages:
- It’s very easy to use.
- You can store your videos on the Jing server and just paste the url where you want it.
- It’s free and downloadable by anyone.
- You don’t need any special programs to view a Jing video.
You can download the program for free at http://www.jingproject.com/ All you need to use it is a microphone or headset attached to your computer. (Available at Radio Shack for around $10.)
While it is most useful in an online course, it can fill a need in a classroom course as well. You can post the urls in your BlackBoard course site. You might use it to:
- Show how to do something on screen (for example a computer application, how to export your BlackBoard course: http://screencast.com/t/YjRiMDQy)
- Show how to do something on the internet (get to a site or right click to save a picture)
- Tour a great website – For example:
- Explain project directions – You don’t have to get fancy on the graphics, just display the written instructions that you already have and talk your way through them. It’s a fact that some students just get it better by hearing. Example at http://screencast.com/t/GPiHjq70Aet
- Create a talking powerpoint – Display the show and do a voice over. Example at
If you are already a Camtasia or a Macromedia Captivate user you will want to know the differences between them and Jing:
- There is a time limit of about 5 minutes on the Jing videos
- You can not edit a Jing video.
- Jing videos are produced in only one format: flash files.
However, for “quick and dirty” audio visual broadcasts, you can’t beat Jing.
