How to make videos for your classroom

Some tutorials suggesting various techniques for making high-quality educational videos

If you can not find an already existing resource, then it may be time to make your own. But how to get started? Below are some tutorials outlining various techniques for creating videos.

Green Screen

Shaunt Kouyoumdjian
Media Services Manager at the University of California, Irvine

Paper and Pen

Jim Fowler
Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University

Microsoft Surface Tablet

Joy Zhou
Assistant Professor at Lafayette College

Voiceover Beamer

Petra Bonfert-Taylor
Professor and Instructional Designer at Dartmouth College

Lightboard

Tom Roby
Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut

Recording Audio

  • Use a good quality microphone.
    • CuratedCourses workshop used CAD Audio U37 usb Cardioid Condenser Studio Recording Microphone.
  • Use a p-filter/pop screen.
    • CuratedCourses workshop used CAD EPF15A.
  • Get a good pair of headphone to be able to listen to your recording.
    • CuratedCourses workshop used Sennheiser HD 202.
  • Try to stay away from background noises.
    • This may include but is not limited to:
      • air conditioner/fridge/etc. kicking on
      • dog barking
      • shared office space
        • etc.
  • If you do have background noise, a constant noise is better - it's easier to remove that way.
  • Drink lots of water.
  • Make sure you've selected the microphone as the input device (and not the built in microphone).
  • Record a small test recording (in your normal recording voice) and go back and listen to it (with your headphones) to make sure it is okay before recording the entire session.
  • If you make a mistake, stop talking for a bit, back up to the beginning of your sentence or thought and start again.
    • Note: the break you take from talking will help you to be able to cut out your mistake more easily. If you make it long enough, it will be a visual cue to where to cut as well.
  • If you are finding the recording sounds echo-y, pillows, blankets, and other soft materials around you help to dampen or soften the recording.
  • Audacity is a good free tool for editing audio.

Screen Capture

  • Turn off your email and other notifications while you are recording.
  • If you are writing on a tablet, make sure to pick an ink color that is dark enough to be legible to many people.
  • We have yet to find a perfect tool to be able to write on pdf slides. We would love recommendations if someone has found a better workflow. We found that you needed to cut between slide transitions for two reasons:
    • You have to change out of the pen tool to change slides and then turn it back on.
    • The slide transitions are animated and you just want them to replace what's there.
  • If you have a screen capture and you need to make edits, you don't need to redo everything.
    • If you said something wrong, you can rerecord a small section of audio and replace it. We recommend rerecording an entire sentence or section and not just the few words that need replacing.