The role of Screencasting in statistics courses

Recent advances in technology have allowed lecturers in the Department of Statistics at the University of Auckland to experiment with screencasting as a way of enhancing our students’ experiences while studying statistics. A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen activity, often containing audio narration. This paper describes the thoughts, challenges and experiences of a group of lecturers during the transition to providing lectures on-line to a large number of undergraduate students. On-line lectures are not provided as a substitute for class attendance, but to assist students in choosing a method of learning that works for them as individuals.