I used Screencast-o-matic, which is a free tool that allows you to capture your screen and voice (video if you like also) to create the tutorial below. Jing and Snagit for Chrome are also great options as well.
The tutorial on adding functionality to Google Documents with an extension called Read & Write for Google is embedded below.
Using Screencast-o-matic is very simple. A quick visit to the website brings you to the homepage with a big blue button that allows you to go directly into the recording interface. After recording your screen-cast, simply save or upload to YouTube.
Screen-casting is a very powerful tool for teachers, students, and administrators. The possibilities are limited only by your creativity and imagination. Teachers can create tutorials, read text or directions, review study guides, create step by step example lessons, show off exemplary work, and.. and... and.., I think you get the idea. The simplicity with which many of these tools allow you to create a screen-cast allow students of all ages and abilities to create them as well. When students create a multimedia project (which this most definitely qualifies) and they know it will be for an audience, the effort and quality of work increases dramatically. It's almost a no-brainer to allow students to create their own masterpieces. Administrators can flip PD and staff meetings by creating a screen-cast for teachers to view before hand. Now the meeting or PD can concentrate on content deep discussion.
Screen-casting is no longer a complicated, expensive endeavor. Screencast-o-matic, Jing, and Snagit for Chrome are all free and allow for powerful lessons and multimedia project creation.