Why use video?
For visual learners, the ability to see material and information will make a huge difference in their learning experience. To that end, incorporating video in a course may meet the needs of visual learners.
What to Consider
File Size & Bandwidth: What is Bandwidth? Total bandwidth is the upper limit on how much data can pass through a connection per second. To further illustrate this concept, bandwidth is analogous to a speed limit, and a video's bit rate is analogous to a car's speed.
Like driving, you don't always have control over your speed. With good road conditions and little traffic, you can normally observe the speed limit. However, you'll need to reduce your speed if the weather turns bad or the traffic increases. Likewise, with streaming video you have no control over server load and network congestion when a Web user views your presentation. You can, however, ensure that your presentation does not exceed the user's bandwidth. On the highway, breaking the speed limit gets you a ticket. On the Internet, exceeding bandwidth stalls your presentation.
Designing content suitable for viewers' available bandwidth is crucial to delivering compelling streaming video presentations. If your presentation is for high-speed intranet use only, you may be able to target a higher minimum bandwidth. With the increasing prevalence of consumer broadband internet connections, you no longer have to target the lowest possible bandwidth.
Software Options for Recording your own Content
Note: The following information is provided to assist those who desire to create and add a video component to their courses. Some tools have free demonstration copies or are offered free of charge--see the sites listed below. Some tools are updated frequently requiring downloads to ensure the most recent version is in use. Pearson does not endorse or provide technical support for these products.
Camera App (iPad & iPhone ) - Take snapshots and make short videos with your iPhone or iPad. Upload your videos to Youtube, or email them to your contacts.
iMovie (Mac) - This is free and comes bundled in your computer. Lanch iMovie from your Applications folder.
Camtasia Studio — A popular screen recording and presentation tool, especially well-suited for combining video, graphics and narration.
CamStudio — A no-cost application that is similar in purpose to Camtasia, though not as feature-rich.
Jing (Mac and PC)
Jing is a free software that adds visuals to your online conversations and content. Snap a picture of your screen, or record video of on screen action. Share instantly over web, IM and email.
Windows Movie Maker (PC)- This is FREE but not included on Windows computers anymore. Download the software from the Microsoft website. This download is for the Microsoft Live Essentials.
Tips for recording:
- Use a tripod.
- If possible, use an external microphone instead of the camera mic, and of course, check your audio levels prior to shooting.
- Test equipment before taping by rolling 10 or 20 seconds of video and viewing it on playback mode.
- Use a location without much background movement.
- If you are filming in a studio or a room, try not to sit near the wall. Lights normally cast shadows on the wall, and not only does this look bad, but the shadows move when you move, which causes more movement for the encoder to interpret.
- Wear clothing that sets you apart from the background.
- Wear solid colors. Video has a difficult time reproducing narrow stripes or checks, as these patterns appear to "crawl."
- Before you shoot yur video, prepare a script and practice your delivery.
- Keep movement to a minimum. Your television broadcasts video at 30 frames per second, but video on the internet shows between 4-15 frames per second.]
- Avoid zooming and panning the camera.
- Avoid hand held shots.
- White Balance your camera. What does this mean? Basically, different light sources produce different colors of emitted light: incandescent light bulbs produce an orange-ish color, florescent light bulbe produce a green-ish color, and sunlight produces a blue-ish color. Almost all camcorders are equipped with a white balance adjustment to adjust to the lighting conditions under which you are filming. Since different camera models have different adjustments, you will need to refer to the manual for instructions.
- Avoid "back lit" situations. A video is back lit when the submect is dark and the background is bright.
How Long should my Video be???
This is an important question. Your video should not be more than 6 minutes. Anything longer than this, you risk losing the attention of your students. You will also run the risk of creating a large file size, that becomes unmanagible to upload. Keep it short and sweet.
Tip: Write out your script in advance and place it in front of you to read, then when you are finished, you can use this as the transcript to upload into the course to be ADA Compliant.
On Campus Services for Video Recording
Koehler Center
The Koehler Center has USB webcams (PC) available for faculty to check out. They are very simple and easy to use.
We also have an HD video camera + tripod available for checkout. Center for Instructional Services
Studio production, video teleconferencing, portable field production, post-production editing, media duplication, and distribution services are available. For assistance in recording & editing audio, please contact the Center for Instructional Services.
Find Existing Video for your Course
We have a separate page for Internet Sites for Streaming Video
Embeding into Pearson LearningStudio (eCollege)
Adding Video: Similar to audio, you can easily link your video files from within the visual editor. You will, however be using third-party tools to develop your video files. Help in the use of these third-party video tools is provided by the companies producing the tools and not by the Pearson Help Desk.
Options for Embedding:
- Link your Video File: As mentioned above, you can link to your video file (How-to video for Linking content in Pearson LearningStudio), and your students can download the video and watch it in their preferred media player on their computer. Depending on the file size, however, this could take quite a while to download. This is not a preferred method for putting videos in your course.
- YouTube: The easiest way to do embed a player into your course so that the video plays directly on the content item or announcement, is to upload your video to YouTube. You have controls to not make the video public, and only allow those you send the link or who view the embedded video in your course view it. Don't worry, you don't have to become the next YouTube star! Go to our YouTube upload instructions & embedding into Pearson instructions for more information
- Embed a file-type specific player: We have many options found on our Embed Resource Page. The pro to this would be to have control overwhere your video is located. The con is that software would need to be maintained on the viewer's computer to see it, and potentially users of mobile devices would be unable to view the videos (if they are flash, for example).
Video & Web Conferencing
- Skype
free VoIP calling and one-to-one video chatting
- ooVoo
free video conferencing with up to 6 people simultaneously
- vRoom by Elluminate
Free two-way VOIP, interactive whiteboard, Application Sharing, File Transfer, Synchronized Web Tour, and Multipoint video for up to three people.
- TinyChat (web)
With TinyChat you can create your own chatroom and invite people through one simple link. You can also embed your chatroom on your blog, personal site and many other portals. And, you can invite people through simple mail notification and tweets.
- Ustream
platform that provides live interactive video for everyone; anyone with a camera and an Internet connection can use Ustream to broadcast to a global audience
Screencasting
File Conversion
- OnlineConvert - Free online tool to convert media files online from one format into another.
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Audio
Video
Collaboration Tools
Digital Storytelling
Graphics
Presentation & Slidecasts
Social Networking
Mobile & Tablet Apps
Other Web 2.0 Tools |
