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As a student, I always had to work harder at math and science to get a good grade. It just didn't come naturally to me at a certain point in my schooling. I would often get so wrapped in taking notes that I would not process what we were being taught. What I would have given to have access to the teacher walking through the math or science problems again when I was at home for review. That brings me to this week's Screencasts of the Week - they allow you to just that. Bring home the teacher in the form of a screencast!

Now you've heard of me talk about mathcasting before with the pioneer, Tim Fahlberg. Tim introduced me to Graeme MacNeil who contributes to Tim's mathcast wiki. In addition to mathcasts, Graeme also creates 'phicasts'. What's a phicast? Well, it is a physics lesson that incorporates screencaptures and screencasts. Graeme uses classroom response system (clickers), a tablet, ExamView software, plus Jing or Camtasia Studio to record his phicasts. Click on the pic to the left to watch an example of a phicast - it is about Newton's Second Law of Motion. Remember that law? If not, watch the phicast to re-learn it! You'll see in the screencast the use of the classroom response system when the students have to participate and give their answers to the problems. You can see additional phicasts here.

And, since we're talking math and science, I thought I'd give you an update on Tim's mathcast project. His wiki continues to grow which you can see here. He's working on creating a library of 500 screencasts for K-7 math using many student and educator voices! Another expert mathcaster, Colleen King of Math Playground is also participating in the K-7 Mathcasts 500 Project. Graeme also contributes many mathcasts to the wiki.

And, math must run in the family. Tim's sister, Linda Fahlberg-Stojanovska (pictured on the left) is a Professor of Mathematics and Computer Sciences at the University "St. Clement of Ohrid". She not only contributes to Tim's Math247 wiki, but also has a mathcast wiki here complete with mathcasts in Macedonian and Albanian! Linda has created 100s of calculus mathcasts. And, be sure to check out some the videos she created wtih Graeme here. What makes these screencasts cool is that they relate both physics and math!

Graeme and Tim also have an interesting twist on mathcasts - they have the students create them as well. Here is Graeme's write-up on why this is a good idea (hint: it engages students, they like to show off what they can do, it is different...).

What's also interesting is that Tim is in the USA, Graeme is in Australia and Linda is in Macedonia. They don't let the physical distance separate them - they colloborate online using Skype to work together and make mathcasts and phicasts.

Hats off to you Tim, Graeme, Linda and Colleen for making math and science easier for students to learn. I am in awe. This is a service that benefits all of us. And, they're making these screencasts available for free to everyone! Do you like what you see? Please be sure to thank Tim, Graeme, Linda and all the other screencasters who are helping students learn.

What can you do with a screencast? Who can you help or inspire? Share your knowledge and pass it on.