Despite the fact that screencasts have been used in higher education for years, little is known about the effectiveness of using them inside the classroom--as part of a lecture. One of the main benefits of using screencasts in class is that it allows the professor to work with students one-on-one. This novel instructional method was implemented to teach the fundamentals of Microsoft Office and Google Sites as part of a required freshman undergraduate Computer Information Systems class. Effectiveness was evaluated at the end of the semester (N = 72). Results support the efficacy of screencasts over traditional lectures for step-by-step instruction. To maximize effectiveness, students should follow along with the screencasts during class time. Moreover, professors should consider interspersing screencasts with collaborative group work. Also, professors should ensure that the screencasts have an adequate level of difficulty for the students. Moreover, students should be encouraged to follow the screencast in real time, possibly by dividing the computer screen between the screencast and their workspace. Lastly, students should review screencasts after class to further increase learning outcomes. This paper discusses these and additional findings in detail and positions contributions in the context of prior research.