Tips and Best Practices

Tips and Best Practices for Video

Create a Plan.

Developing a plan for your video project before pressing the record button can save you a lot of time and heartache. Consider the following:

• What do I want to accomplish with my video?
• Who is my target audience?
• Where will I film?
• What equipment will I use?
• How will I edit and share my videos after recording?

Some folks find it helpful to script out their video, including what they will say and what image/visual they plan to show on the screen. A storyboard template can help you map out your video project.

Choose a Location.

You can record a video almost anywhere: your office, classroom, or even your dining room. However, prime locations are:

• Well lit.
• Quiet.
• Free from distractions.

Your audience is much less likely to watch your videos if the lighting or audio is poor. Also, keep in mind that distractions can take many forms, including things happening behind you.

Set the Tone.

When communicating with others in any medium, it is important to consider not just “what” you are saying but also “how” you are saying it. All the following play a role in setting the right tone for your video:

• Tone/volume of voice.
• Demeanor.
• Facial expressions.
• Dress or outfit.
• Background.

Although we mentioned distractions in the last point, it is worth repeating that even though you cannot see what is happening in your background, your viewing audience can.

Also, it is generally a good idea to be authentic and real with your audience. Be nice, but also be yourself.

Select equipment.

There are several equipment options that you may already have or that are available for your use here at the University. In many cases, the webcam with embedded microphone on a laptop may be all that you need. However, you might consider using the following to take your videos up a notch:

• Additional lighting, such as a ring light.
• External webcam or standalone video camera.
• External microphone.

If you are planning to use your desktop, laptop, or mobile device for recording, keep in mind that recording video will generate a heavy computational load on your device. You will want to make sure that your chosen device is capable of recording video at a high quality.

Need Equipment? We can help. Visit our Equipment Library for information.

Select software.

There are several different software functions that you will need to consider for your project. Some products can fulfill all these roles, while others may specialize in one area. Software functions you will need to address are:

• Recording
• Editing/Producing
• Storing
• Sharing/Streaming
• Make it short.

While a standard classroom lecture may be 50 minutes in length, this does not translate well to instructional videos. Even if you record your entire lecture at once, you will want to go back and cut your recording into smaller chunks of 5 to 6 minutes or even less.

Learn more about recommended software →

Make it accessible.

Every video that you include in your course should be accessible, with the minimum requirement of having available closed captioning. Features like closed captioning can help all learners to better grasp the presented material.