Free Camtasia™ Studio: Create your Own Desktop Videos

(Note: This is a cross posting from the CLASSROOM Toolkit Newsletter because the offer for Camtasia™ Studio is so good.)

Desktop video is one area where existing Open Source software doesn't measure up to the commercial version. And, the "king" of commercial video creation software is Camtasia™ studio.

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Camtasia™ Studio is also much better than Microsoft™'s free Movie Maker software that is a free download for Windows™ Xp.

Link to the Microsoft™ Movie Maker Download Page

Now, teachers can receive a fully functional (previous version, Version 3.1.3) of Camtasia™ Studio for free!

There is no telling how long Techsmith™, the makers of Camtasia™ Studio, will keep this offer online, so act fast.

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Note: Classroom Toolkit is taking the unusual step of publishing this article early so that our readers can take advantage of this TechSmith™ offer.

Our online strategy is to publish articles that are organized in a magazine-type collection once a month.

However, this offer is too good for teachers to wait. TechSmith™ may pull this offer before the end of the month.

We will also publish an article related to this free Camtasia™ offer in our Open Source for Education, section of the Classroom Toolkit 11-30-07 newsletter. This article explores the reason that your school district's IT Department can't take advantage of this free Camtasia™ offer…and the reason that free Open Source software "seldom flies" in a school district network environment, either.

Previous Camtasia™ Version: No Problem

Even though this free version is an older version of the software, it is still superior to any available Open Source desktop video product.

Of course, Techsmith™ would like you to upgrade to the current version, Camtasia™ 5.0. And, Techsmith™ is offering an upgrade to this trial version for half-price, $149.00 USD.

Action Steps

Here are the steps that you need to take to grab this offer…

1. Download Camtasia™ Trial Version

Download the 30-day trial to Camtasia v. 3.1.3

2. Install the Trial software on the computer of your choice

3. Request the Registration that will allow the software to "run forever," i.e., turn the trial version into a full version

Obtain a Registration Key (Note: You have to provide an E-mail address.)

4. Visit TechSmith™'s Educational Resources Page

TechSmith™'s Educational Video Resources

5. Create your instructional videos

Fantastic Offer:

The software license key that TechSmith™ sends you turns the evaluation copy that you download for free into a fully licensed version.

At the same time, TechSmith™ offers you a chance to upgrade the license for a the newest version at 50% off the new version (Camtasia™ Suite 5.0.

Upgrade Link: $149.00 USD

(Note: This upgrade price beats the "Education Version pricing," and provides the full commercial license to this product. Education Price: $179.00 USD.)

System Requirements

It is applications such as Camtasia™ Studio that keep Apple™ and Linux from making headway in their competition with the Windows™ operating system. Of course, Apple™ provides its own free Audio and Video software, but Apple™ computers cost more.

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Contrary to what Apple™ and Linux supporters tell themselves, and would like to believe; i.e., that the education market drives the computer software industry; business and home users are really the engines of computer operating system marketing. Apple™ needs to provide better business applications at a lower price point, and Linux needs to be easier to use and needs to run Windows™ applications in a seamless way.

Note: Apple™ computers run an application called Parallels™, that does an outstanding job of running Windows™ applications on the Mac.

Of course, Apple™ computers are superior for desktop video and movie production. However, one application for Camtasia™ videos is to capture Windows™ desktop images to demonstrate how technology can be integrated into your curriculum. If your school district provides Apple™ computers for teacher and student use, then you don't need Camtasia™ Studio.

Microsoft Windows™ XP or Windows™ Vista
Microsoft™ DirectX 9 or later version
1.0 GHz processor minimum ~ Recommended: 2.5 GHz (for PowerPoint™ and camera recordings.)
500 MB RAM minimum ~ Recommended: 1.0 GB
60 MB of hard-disk space for program installation
Optional: Camtasia Studio Add-in for Power Point™ requires PowerPoint™ 2000, 2002, 2003, or 2007
Optional: Production to the Apple iPod format requires Apple QuickTime™ 7.1 or later
Optional: Windows-compatible sound card, microphone and speakers (recommended)
Optional: Camera video recording requires a USB Camera. Digital video (DV) cameras are not supported. USB Web camera

Benefits of Camtasia™ (Either Version)

Simplifies video for distance learning
Improves online content creation. You can post these videos on a Website or burn them to CD/ DVDs
Enhances classroom presentations. You can create video handouts and take home multimedia lessons
Strengthens teacher training. Workshop and Training program Follow-up procedures can be posted for online viewing or downloading
Great for technology integration
Super for Computer Lab demonstrations and student self-help FAQs
Wonderful for student learning centers

Features of the Latest Version

Unless your Classroom is "High Tech" (or you are a Curriculum Specialist, Trainer or Webmaster); you won't need these latest features.

And, although there is a learning curve, it is not as steep as with many other high-end software products. (TechSmith™ also provides Camtasia™ video tutorials to get you "up and running" quickly.

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Link to the TechSmith™ Learning Center

Camtasia™ Studio publishes videos and MP3 files for portable media players - even the iPod. It enables you to share videos with anyone, even with the use of Flash"

You achieve this miracle by being able to record anything on your computer monitor screen, including narrated PowerPoint™ slides and web cam video. Then, you can even edit multiple audio tracks, reduce background noise and equalize volume on these tracks.

The new version has a the ability to "AutoZoom" to investigate sections of the screen in greater detail…great for demonstrations.

There is also the ability to create interactive videos that can contain surveys and quizzes. The interactive videos can also contain "hot spots" that launch programs and Websites.