Video is very much the medium of the moment. Not only do we spend many hours each day watching it on our TVs, it has become an integral part of the online experience. An ever-increasing proportion of the population does not only consume video, it creates and shares it with a worldwide Internet audience.
Whereas once video cameras cost many hundreds, if not tens of thousands of pounds, they are now integrated for no additional cost in computers, stills cameras and mobile phones. And where once video editing could only be carried out by skilled engineers in elaborate editing suites, it can now be accomplished, often with equivalent production values, with free or low cost software on PCs and even mobile devices.
In a learning context, video provides a compelling means for conveying content, particularly real-life action and interactions with people. Amazingly, it can also be quicker and easier to produce than slide shows or textual content. Sometimes you just have to point the camera, press record, shoot what you see and then upload to a website. Obviously it won�t always be that easy, and to make the best of the potential that video provides will take skill and experience, but there�s no harm in starting with the assumption that you can do it yourself, until proven otherwise.
Video is so versatile. It plays without difficulty on all sorts of devices, including smart phones and tablets, and adds a great deal to the classroom experience, virtual or physical. So what forms can it take? Here are seven suggestions:
1. Interviews
People love looking at and listening to other people, particularly if they are providing useful information concisely and in a relaxed, informal manner. At its simplest you can just point a camera at an interviewee and do the simplest trimming and titling to finish the job. For a more polished look, with the interviewer in shot, you�ll need to shoot at different distances and angles and cut between them. For a more free-ranging discussion, bring in a small audience to ask their own additional questions.
2. Presentations
If you�re lucky enough to catch an interesting presentation live, then that�s great, but if not, then video is a great secondary option. The simplest method is to have the presenter record a narration to their slides and export that to video, but you can achieve a more engaging result by alternating between the presenter speaking directly to camera and the slides.
3. Drama
Acted sequences are perfect for depicting interactions between people, perhaps to demonstrate an interpersonal skill, to stimulate discussion in the classroom, or as the basis for an interactive scenario. Drama is one form of video where you would be well advised to bring in the professionals, to work both sides of the camera. This will be relatively costly, but there are plenty of situations in which this is money very well spent.
4. Physical demonstrations
A very simple use of video is to have an expert demonstrate a practical skill or the workings of a piece of equipment, particularly when this would not be easy to accomplish in a classroom (you might be talking about a crane or a tank!).
5. Documentaries
A great use of video is to take the viewer to places they could not be expected to visit in person, perhaps to see how work is carried out in different parts of their organisation. Documentaries could provide a record of important projects and initiatives, or tell a powerful story. Like drama, the production of documentary video is not trivial and best left to experts but, again, the expense is often worth it.
6. Screencasts
A screencast is a demonstration of some aspect of a piece of software, usually with a voiceover. These can be extremely simple to produce using software such as Adobe Captivate, Camtasia and any number of low-cost alternatives. Historically, in a corporate context, these have traditionally been regarded as elements in e-learning programmes but, as we have seen on YouTube, they work well as videos.
7. Explainers
An explainer is an animated video that aims to clarify a concept, principle or process. The best early examples came from Common Craft (check them out on YouTube), who used a technique called �papermation� to present explanations of complex technical subjects. Now you can produce similar results using software such as PowToon.
Of course there are more formats and lots of ways of integrating several of these styles in the same programme. But don�t be overwhelmed by the choices available � if you are new to this medium, make a start by picking one of the simpler formats and having a go. Yes, use professional help if you can afford it, but take every opportunity to build your own skills as well. Video production is becoming as core a competency as writing.
Whereas once video cameras cost many hundreds, if not tens of thousands of pounds, they are now integrated for no additional cost in computers, stills cameras and mobile phones. And where once video editing could only be carried out by skilled engineers in elaborate editing suites, it can now be accomplished, often with equivalent production values, with free or low cost software on PCs and even mobile devices.
In a learning context, video provides a compelling means for conveying content, particularly real-life action and interactions with people. Amazingly, it can also be quicker and easier to produce than slide shows or textual content. Sometimes you just have to point the camera, press record, shoot what you see and then upload to a website. Obviously it won�t always be that easy, and to make the best of the potential that video provides will take skill and experience, but there�s no harm in starting with the assumption that you can do it yourself, until proven otherwise.
Video is so versatile. It plays without difficulty on all sorts of devices, including smart phones and tablets, and adds a great deal to the classroom experience, virtual or physical. So what forms can it take? Here are seven suggestions:
1. Interviews
People love looking at and listening to other people, particularly if they are providing useful information concisely and in a relaxed, informal manner. At its simplest you can just point a camera at an interviewee and do the simplest trimming and titling to finish the job. For a more polished look, with the interviewer in shot, you�ll need to shoot at different distances and angles and cut between them. For a more free-ranging discussion, bring in a small audience to ask their own additional questions.
2. Presentations
If you�re lucky enough to catch an interesting presentation live, then that�s great, but if not, then video is a great secondary option. The simplest method is to have the presenter record a narration to their slides and export that to video, but you can achieve a more engaging result by alternating between the presenter speaking directly to camera and the slides.
3. Drama
Acted sequences are perfect for depicting interactions between people, perhaps to demonstrate an interpersonal skill, to stimulate discussion in the classroom, or as the basis for an interactive scenario. Drama is one form of video where you would be well advised to bring in the professionals, to work both sides of the camera. This will be relatively costly, but there are plenty of situations in which this is money very well spent.
4. Physical demonstrations
A very simple use of video is to have an expert demonstrate a practical skill or the workings of a piece of equipment, particularly when this would not be easy to accomplish in a classroom (you might be talking about a crane or a tank!).
5. Documentaries
A great use of video is to take the viewer to places they could not be expected to visit in person, perhaps to see how work is carried out in different parts of their organisation. Documentaries could provide a record of important projects and initiatives, or tell a powerful story. Like drama, the production of documentary video is not trivial and best left to experts but, again, the expense is often worth it.
6. Screencasts
A screencast is a demonstration of some aspect of a piece of software, usually with a voiceover. These can be extremely simple to produce using software such as Adobe Captivate, Camtasia and any number of low-cost alternatives. Historically, in a corporate context, these have traditionally been regarded as elements in e-learning programmes but, as we have seen on YouTube, they work well as videos.
7. Explainers
An explainer is an animated video that aims to clarify a concept, principle or process. The best early examples came from Common Craft (check them out on YouTube), who used a technique called �papermation� to present explanations of complex technical subjects. Now you can produce similar results using software such as PowToon.
Of course there are more formats and lots of ways of integrating several of these styles in the same programme. But don�t be overwhelmed by the choices available � if you are new to this medium, make a start by picking one of the simpler formats and having a go. Yes, use professional help if you can afford it, but take every opportunity to build your own skills as well. Video production is becoming as core a competency as writing.
