So, you’re ready to move your live courses to a self-paced, online course format, and are ready to record your very first online course, but are looking for tips and techniques to get started. Sharing your knowledge and expertise with the world requires proper planning and organization.
First, you need to make sure that the content of your online course is engaging and interesting to make sure to grab the audience’s attention. You can thrive in this digital world of video-making if you are putting forward something different and unique.
Here we have put forward some ideas for you to organize your thoughts, gather the required gear and get started.
Getting Your Equipment
Some of the basic essentials include a microphone, a camera and a good lighting system. These items do not need to be very expensive high-end brands. You don’t need a high-end professional studio to make high quality videos.
Microphone
If the audio quality of your video content is not good, your audience will immediately notice, which can reduce your credibility. According to a survey conducted by a research analyst from assignment writing help UK, seventy-five percent rate a video ‘good’ if the audio is clear.
If using your computer to record your video, we suggest you use an external microphone instead of a computer’s built-in microphone since the quality is typically much better. If you are using your mobile phone, be sure to position it close to you, or use an external microphone if the camera is further away.
Camera
With newer phones, you really don’t have to invest in buying a high-resolution camera. You could use your smartphone to record videos from its high-quality camera.
For cameras, you have the option of a smartphone, a built-in camera, a webcam or a DSLR. However, it is important to note that you must keep all these portable cameras on a tripod to avoid unnecessary movement while recording.
Lighting
Lighting plays a major role in the overall quality of the video. If the lighting is not proper, your video will instantly look like it’s low quality. Sometimes natural light can work very well if it’s not too bright, but we still recommend you buy a lighting set-up to help you get started. O ring lights are very popular since they give a softer look and usually have several settings to choose from based on your room.
Choosing A Place
Your recording location should be a reflection of the content and topics you’re discussing. Think about having props behind you that are related to your industry or expertise.
Light and simple colors would be a better option since they are less distracting and will work better with the lighting. Be aware of anything that is in, near or far in the background to make sure it’s something you want to have seen in your video.
Plan Video Course Content
If you take time to plan and rehearse your course content, you will save a lot of time on your editing later. This also ensures that you look confident and don’t forget key elements of your presentation.
You should plan your overall structure and outline, including the beginning, middle and end of your video, so that you don’t go off-track. Sometimes it helps to have someone hold cards with words or phrases to help you remember certain parts of your lesson.
When recording a video, try not to read from a script. You’ll want to make as much direct eye contact as possible with the camera, and it’s difficult to do that if you’re reading from a script. Reading from a script can also reduce your credibility since it doesn’t look like you have the knowledge on your own.
Practice making yourself comfortable by speaking in front of a mirror to look at yourself and notice what improvements you can make. Also, record several practice videos before taking your final shot, and play them back to see if you’re doing anything noticeable and make the adjustments.
Conclusion
Anyone can easily produce their own video and audio content with simple equipment. The most important thing to remember is that you should just be yourself, act natural, and enjoy the process! Your students want to see your excitement and passion for your topic. Those qualities will overshadow any minor flaws in your video, audio, lighting, or background.
Author Bio: Claudia Jeffrey is currently working as an Assistance R&D at Crowd Writer, where she caters to students’ requests to write my coursework. Claudia is a tech geek and has been involved in online learning for the past seven years. She has been assisting so many students with their academic careers. Claudia loves to play the guitar in her leisure time.
