The plan is to make instructional videos about Moodle. I’m the sole instructional technologist and support 120+ faculty members. If I can create videos that demonstrate features, my hope is that it will save us both time and will allow me to be more effective. After creating two videos, I’ve learned the importance of writing a script.
If you’re looking to make some instructional videos, I highly recommend “They Came for the Carbs, and Stayed for the
Collaboration: Engaging Library Workers across
Units to Deliver Meaningful Learning Objects” published in ACRL. The appendices are especially helpful. One thing I learned was the importance of adding a short feedback form after the video in order to improve the videos and/or discover gaps in learning. My first two video are embedded below.
If you’ve made instructional videos, what are some things that made them effective? If you experienced bad results, in terms of learning, what may have caused that?
Couple of things…
(1) If you want to minimize distractions, maximize the window you are working in, better yet, fullscreen it.
(2) If you record with higher fps, the movement of the mouse cursor becomes much more visible.
(3) Choose bigger mouse cursor for recordings. Also, some recording software will automatically show clicks as some kind of animation.
(4) Use a good external USB mic, preferrably a condensator mic with a shock mount. Makes a ton of difference per dollar.
(5) This is debatable and I don’t have any pedagogical research for it, but most people I ask confirm that they prefer to see a face in instructional videos. Doesn’t need to be huge, just a small corner.
(6) I don’t know whether you have influence on it, but there is a lot of possibilities to put information on your endscreen, like links to playlist, previous video, channel and so on…
Best,
smp
Thanks for the tips, SMP! Great advice.