8 Free Applications To Record Your Computer Screen | inspirationfeed.com
Multiple free options for screen recording. This is mostly about making videos for YouTube or similar sites, but these could be used for quick tutorials and demos in e-learning. I'm familiar with Screenr, Jing, and CamStudio, but not BSRSoft, XVidCap, EZVid, BB FlashBack Express, or Rylstim.
ActivePresenter is a screencast/simulation tool with some similar features to Captivate. The free version can do screencasts and export them to WMV, but not simulations in Flash. You can add captions and zoom and pan even with the free version.