Technology for Teaching & Learning

42 Video Tips

Jennifer Smith

Videos, when properly used, can be an incredibly useful teaching tool: They give you the opportunity to deliver course content in ways that are memorable, meaningful, and fun. Videos allow students to easily re-watch and re-listen to the content they don’t understand, or to review material, all at their own pace.

Is Video Right for You? | Which Video Type is Right For You? | Equipment & Software | Planning Your Video | Performance | Recording | Post Production | More Resources | References

Is Video Right for You?

Jennifer Smith (CTE): Is Video Right for You? PowerPoint and Transcript

Video Pros & Cons

Campus Video Production Resources

  • Academic Media Productions (part of UFIT/CITT)
    • Located at HUB 225
    • Video support is available at no cost for registrar courses (self-funded and non-credit courses do not qualify)
    • Request assistance
  • Center for Online Innovation and Production (COIP)
    • Located at East Campus 2046 NE Waldo Rd., Suites 1100-1250
    • Video support for UF Online, self-funded, and non-credit courses
    • Request assistance
  • Creative Works
    • Located at 1115 NW 4th Street, Gainesville
    • Video Production, Web Development, and Interactive Media creation for self-funded and grant-funded projects.
    • This is a UF Auxiliary that charges cost recovery rates
    • Request Assistance
  • Unit production services
    • Your college or department may have video production support designed to meet the needs of your discipline
    • Check with your department chair regarding the availability of unit services

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Which Video Type is Right For You?

Video recording software has become cheaper and easier to use than ever.  In this section, we’ll look at a few different options and their features. We will also cover how to determine your software needs, and identify which video formats fit your needs.

Jennifer Smith (CTE): Which Video Option is Right for You? – PowerPoint & Transcript

Examples of Video Types

  • Interview – Spotlight on Kevin Knudson

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Equipment & Software

Cell Phone

Center for Teaching Excellence: Cell Phone Equipment – PowerPoint & Transcript

Screen Recording

Mediasite

  • Available for Mac and PC
  • How to request a MyMediasite Account:
    • Go to UF’s Video & Collaboration Services
    • Click on the “Request Service” form to get an account
    • In your MyMediasite account, click the “Download the Desktop Recorder” button
      • You may need to ask IT support to install the recorder
    • Once you have the recorder installed, you MUST register it (otherwise your recordings will disappear)
    • View the MyMediasite Tutorials 

Camtasia Studio

An educational license for Camtasia Studio can be purchased for about $180.00.

Zoom

Zoom is available for free to all UF students, faculty and staff.

Multimedia Tools

Microsoft Sway (Free! Part of UF’s Institutional license)

  • Sway is part of the Office 365 suite.
  • The features are limited, but you can import a Word document and apply a template to it.
  • View the Sway tutorials.

Adobe Express (Formerly Adobe Spark)

  • All UF students are provisioned with a free academic subscription that provides premium features. (View Adobe licensing details.)
  • Spark allows you to combine text, images, video, and audio.
  • It is very easy to use and produces a professional-looking product.
  • This is best used for one-time applications as there is no way to archive your content.
  • View the Inspiration Gallery.

Adobe Premiere Rush (Replaces Clip)

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Planning Your Video

Writing a Script

To get the most out of your video investment, you’ll want to communicate your message in the most effective and memorable manner. Your script and the accompanying visuals are critical. You’ll save time and frustration if you do some planning before you shoot. This section will give you the resources to identify the features of effective and interesting visuals, write an engaging script, and create a storyboard.

  • James Babanikos: Preparing your Online Lectures
  • LinkedIn Learning
    • “Finding Content for your Class: Teachers as Collage Artists” (Kevin Kelly)
    • “Motivating viewers” (Amy DeLouise)
    • “The Benefits of Scripting Before you Shoot” (Amy DeLouise)

Presentation Slides

Create Engaging Video

Storyboard

 Accessibility

Think about Accessibility as you plan your video. This can save time later AND improve your students’ experience!

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Performance

In this section, we’ll discuss some strategies to help you feel comfortable in front of the camera as well as provide some suggestions for effective oral communication. The resources provided here will suggest rehearsal tips for quality presentations and help you to critique your own practice video.

Performance Practice

A bit of practice prior to a video shoot can help you to get the results you want in fewer takes.

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Recording

It’s not necessary for every video you create to be a polished Hollywood production. But if students can’t see and hear you, it will be difficult for them to receive your message. This section will give the resources to select the right microphone, determine your lighting needs, set up your equipment, and shoot your video.

Lighting & Audio

  • Chris Lavigne: Lighting on the Fly
  • LinkedIn Learning: Web Video: Lighting (Rick Allen Lippert)
    • Understanding essential equipment 3:56
    • Setting up a home or office shooting environment 3:50
    • Understanding color temperature (2:49)
    • Creating a basic lighting setup in a home or office (6:11)
    • Creating an advanced 3-point lighting setup on a budget (7:59)
  • LinkedIn Learning: Create Screen Capture Training (Oliver Schinkten)
    • Recording Equipment (2:53)

Microphone

For cell phone recording:

  • Audio-Technica Omni Lavalier Microphone for Smartphones (available through Amazon.com ~ $20.00)
    • iPhone users will most likely need a 3.5mm adapter
    • If using out-of-doors a windscreen is recommended (available through Amazon.com, 5 pack for ~ $6.00)
    • Most iPhones and smartphones these days come with a TRRS port for the headphones. If your headphone jack has 3 lines (4 rings) on it, it’s a TRRS, which means it can act as a microphone as well as headphones. Before you attempt to connect an external microphone via the headset port, make sure it is a TRRS port.
    • Audio Recording with a Cellphone
  • Canon WM-V1 Wireless Microphone (available through Amazon.com ~ $176.00)

For screen capture, a noise-canceling microphone is your best bet:

  • Do not use the built-in computer or webcam mic
  • There are a variety of headset and desktop USB microphones ($30 and up)

Storage

Video files take up a lot of storage space. As much as it is possible, you’ll want to keep your raw footage, because you may be able to reuse it. Check with your IT department to determine the best storage solution for your needs.

Screen Capture

  • LinkedIn Learning: Creating Video Training (Garrick Chow)
    • “Choosing a Recording Location” (3:08)
    • “Dos and Don’ts” (5:51)
    • “Handling Mistakes” (2:48)

Cell Phone or iPad

How to record with a cell phone:

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Post Production

If you did a good job of planning your video, the editing job will be much easier. There is a variety of editing software depending on your skill level and how much time you have. Starting out, it’s best to keep it simple.

Editing

Accessibility

Closed Captioning for video course content is required by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that all organizations that receive federal funding to make accommodations for equal access.
  • Videos that are housed in Mediasite can be Closed Captioned fairly quickly and easily.
  • If your department/college uses a different video storage system such as Kaltura, contact your IT folks to determine how to get CC.
  • For registrar courses, request closed captioning through accessibility.ufl.edu.
    • Fill out the Captioning Request Form on the homepage.
    • Units offering self-funded or non-registrar courses are responsible for closed captioning costs

Closed Captioning Tips

  • Providing the video script can significantly reduce CC costs
  • YouTube CC is generally too full of errors to meet Federal requirements

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More Resources

Video editing can be VERY time-consuming. Unless you feel that you would enjoy learning to using the specialized software, this work is best left to professionals who do this every day. Contact Academic Media Productions (part of UFIT/CITT)  and fill out the Request Assistance form. Faculty who are creating materials for UF Online, self-funded, and non-credit courses should work with the Center for Online Innovation and Production (COIP). Self-funded programs can also work with the Creative Works team ( this is an auxiliary unit that is part of the College of Pharmacy, but they are available to support other units.)

To access LinkedIn Learning materials (formerly Lynda.com) you must enter the site through elearning.ufl.edu. Once you are logged into the site, enter the video title into the search window.

  • LinkedIn Learning: Ashley Kennedy: Introduction to Video Editing
  • LinkedIn Learning: Norman Hollyn
  • LinkedIn Learning: The Art of Editing
  • LinkedIn Learning: iMovie Training: iMovies 10.0.2 Essential Training

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References

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License

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UF Instructor Guide Copyright © 2017 by Jennifer Smith is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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