This is so true. Thank you for bringing this topic up. It’s something both professional and casual screencasters need to be aware of.

There are multiple ways to address this. Your AIDA model is a great start. I’m also seeing screencasters begin to incorporate more storytelling and cinematic effects into their productions. In a way, screencasting is morphing into movie making. And this is a good thing.

There’s a good discussion about this over at http://www.brooksandrus.com/blog/2009/09/10/screencasting-as-art-exploring-cinematic-techniques/

There are lots of things we can do to make our screencasts more engaging. I like to incorporate more speaker video by using chroma key effects. I believe it’s important for listeners to see your eyes and your smile. This helps convey your passion, enthusiasm, and at times, your compassion. It’s great for establishing rapport & trust with your audience. I show how I do it with this tutorial http://macscreencasting.com/green-screen-video-in-screencasts.html

Screencasting is growing trend. As we look to take our screencasting to the next level, we’ll have to incorporate more advanced techniques. This begins with a solid story, good effects, and viewer engagement.

And I’m right there with ya, just shoot me if I have to sit through another boring screencast.