Not Just the ‘Talking Head’: Creating effective and engaging online instructional video

Guiding Questions/Ideas:

1) What do we mean by “video”? (Think beyond the ‘Talking Head’ to a wide variety of recorded instructional multi-media – RIM)

2) Why create video vs simply finding what you need? (It is not that hard, honest!)

3) What are the keys to creating EFFECTIVE video/RIM? (Planning, SHORT, and work with what you have)

1) “Video” now generally means ANY Recorded Instructional Media (RIM) with visuals

Narrated (or silent) slideshow – published to self-play (also called enhanced podcasts).
Examples: http://youtu.be/XVQ1ULfQawk or http://vimeo.com/16837327
Narrated screencasts – uses software that films what is happening on your computer screen.
http://youtu.be/_UBGCQJ1NtU or http://mathtrain.tv/play.php?vid=146
Full motion video
- Typical – http://vimeo.com/16510245 or http://youtu.be/fTe9SE2tcDw
- Narrow focus – just hands/paper/objects and narration
  http://youtu.be/W0FvwWz0ulI or https://youtu.be/oCl1zoxs3Zo [More on Common Craft]

Animation – uses software or special techniques to “animate” still images/objects.
http://ictacrossthecurriculum.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/618/
http://youtu.be/i68a6M5FFBc
A combination! http://youtu.be/T4wzS-KODe8

2) RIM/Video should match Purpose and Audience and ENGAGE the Learner (Steps 1 & 2)

Audience: Who is this for? How do they learn best? What interests them? How can it connect to the real world? What tech skills do they have? What tech access do they have?
Purpose: Why create this RIM? Convey a critical concept? Demonstrate a skill or process? Motivation/create a set for learning? Spark discussion/ideas/thinking? Provide a real world example or problem? Access for struggling or absent learners?
Engagement: How will you involve the learner – make this NOT passive, but active learning? How will you KNOW they watched it? Ask questions, require a survey, provide a worksheet, start a project, give a quiz, require a writing assignment?

3) ALL effective RIM/Video creation REQUIRES planning! (Steps 3 – 7) Saves time & frustration too!

Choose a General Approach – What will best suit Purpose and Audience? What will help engage the learner?
Storyboard your RIM Structure – Plan the flow of instruction (we recommend ON PAPER).
EDIT & Revise Your Plan – Does it effectively and efficiently address purpose and audience? Goal: 2-5 minutes!
Create/Find Media Elements – What ‘stuff’ do I need to create this video?
PRACTICE! Even one or 2 run-throughs can make a HUGE difference!

NOW CREATE! (step 8)
Then Edit, Revise and Disseminate (Steps 9 & 10)
Note Steps 1- 7 are ALL PLANNING!!

Stuff we used in creating this presentation, or thought you might like to read.

10 Best Practices for Creating Quality Videosby Dena Leggett [republished on flippedlearning.org in 2018]
Effective educational videos. Brame, C.J. (2015). [A more scholarly look at multiple modalities.]
Best Practices in Making an Instructional Video by Federaltion University, Australia [cites additional studies]
Explainer Tip: Creating Simple Storyboards, by Lee LeFever at Commoncraft.com
The ideal length for instructional screencast videos by Ellis Pratt, Thursday, 14 November, 2013 [Great charts and graphs!]
Six Steps to Creating High Quality Video Training by Jeremy Vest, December 2, 2009 [Good advice, but over 10 years old – some details are dated (.flv instead of mp4 format, cost of a camcorder, etc.)]
How To Videos – 10 Tips to Making More Effective Training Videos by Jennifer O’Rourke, October 05th, 2012
[need screencasting tips resource]
Stop Motion Animation by Catherine Elliott, Sheffield South City Learning Centre, UK.

Center for Literacy, Education & Employment