Before you create your video, it’s important to take time to consider your learning objectives. It’s best to first map out what you want your students to learn from your video, and then decide what to cover. You can also decide how to support your learning objectives with other course materials and activities.
The following questions and steps may help you decide if/how you want to create an instructional video.
1
Is video the best option?
The Multimedia Learning principle and Modality principle assert that people learn more deeply when information is presented as a combination of words, images, and sound. Universal Design for Learning is an approach to designing educational content by focusing on the diverse needs and skills of learners. It enables individuals to choose from multiple types of content, and empowers them to learn from the content that best suits their abilities. A video may be a helpful way to communicate some of your course content for online or blended courses, but consider if there might be better and more active ways for students to meet your learning objectives. And consider whether you’ve chosen the right content for your video.
2
What are your goals for making a video?
What do you want students to learn? Determine your learning objectives and make them clear to students from the outset. It’s also important to communicate how the video will be complemented by other content including readings and activities within a lesson.
Keep in mind that instructional videos may also contribute to learning because they can be designed to encourage critical thinking and develop media literacy. Encouraging students to produce their own videos and communicate what they’ve learned through activities and assignments may be a valuable way to reinforce your learning objectives.
3
How will learning be reinforced?
Your video is just one component of a learning experience, or course, that should consist of readings, activities, assessments and assignments.
4
Identify your content
Once you’re clear on your learning objectives, identify what content you have and what concepts you want to explain in your video. We will work with you and walk you through five easy steps that focus on identifying learning objectives, instructional design techniques, and storyboarding your content so that you can plan and record your videos without post-production work, i.e., editing.