Picasst: An innovative web-based tool for recording classes

Abstract

Currently, there are a lot of educational materials like texts, presentations, graphics, audios and videos that teachers can produce by themselves. Probably, video production is the most complicated kind because it involves more technical knowledge. "Picasst" is an innovative web-based software tool that facilitates both the creation of audio-visual teaching content and their online accessibility. Functionally, this software is divided into two parts, the recording system and the management and access to recorded content. On the one hand, the recording system of "Picasst" is similar to a desktop drawing software included in digital whiteboards, but unlike the latter, it can also record the activity of the teacher along with their voice. On the other hand, the management and access system of "Picasst" allows teachers and students to organize their content in an easy and convenient way. This paper will deal with the use and effects of "Picasst" for different subjects, students and teachers at the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. "Picasst" is a software tool that has been completely developed and tested by the authors, and it will be available freely in the second half of 2012.