If you're in the market for creating an online course, chances are you'll want to use video. Why? Because while the written word is great for books and printed guides, the web simply lends itself to video. People love to consume visual content online, and video is one of the best ways to deliver training… especially when you can demonstrate how to do something right inside your course.
There are a few things you’ll need before you get started, depending on the type of videos you want to create:
1. A camera that shoots HD video, such as a good mobile phone camera, your webcam, or a traditional video camera, if you intend to actually film traditional video.2. A good microphone if you plan to use your voice. A decent microphone costs between $50 and $150 on Amazon. Here's the one I use.
3. A decent computer with internet access.
4. Video processing software.
As I said, you’ll need these depending on the type of videos you want to create. You won’t necessarily need all of them.
So let’s take a look at the types of videos you might want to create for your course.
Live Video
By live, I don’t mean actual live streaming videos. I’m just referring to videos featuring video shot with a camera, either featuring you or someone else instructing the class, or video of the actual process of whatever you’re teaching.
If you don’t mind appearing on camera, this is one of the most effective types of video, because you can really connect with your students on a level you otherwise might not be able to if they can’t see you, or at least hear you.
Now, if you’re teaching something technical that is done on a computer, you might not want to use this kind of video. But if you’re teaching something like cooking, crafts, or other types of content that require a demonstration that can’t be done on a computer, this might be the type of video you should use.
Your videos should be shot with a good quality HD (high definition) video camera and using a quality microphone, because the audio quality of the built-in microphone in most camera is very poor. You need quality audio for your videos.
There isn’t must to this other than making sure you have good quality equipment, using a tripod to keep the camera still, providing good lighting, and framing a good shot with a clean but non-distracting background.
Screen Recording
If you want to teach something that can be demonstrated on your computer, like using software or creating graphics, then you can use a screen recording program. There are lots of them available for different operating systems.
Screen recording is a really simple way to make videos, but you will probably want to include some audio in your videos as you demonstrate, so you’ll at least want a decent mic.
If you really hate your voice or speak with a thick accent, you could create a script and hire someone to read it for you, adding the voice in post-processing. Or you could use a digital voice program. Or you could just put subtitles (like closed captioning) on the screen. Just keep in mind that most people would prefer to have a human voice telling them about the process they are watching, so it’s best if you just use your own voice if at all possible.
People really don’t care what you sound like as long as you speak clearly enough for them to understand. If you have a very thick accent, you can always add subtitles to help.
Slide Presentations
Slide presentations won’t work for every type of lesson, but they can work for many. For example, if you’re teaching a language, slides would work perfectly well, because you can create slides that contain different words, along with photos that represent the word, and then you can add your voice pronouncing that word.
Slide presentations are arguably one of the easiest types of video for a beginner to create, because you’re just making basic graphics and adding sound.
If you need help learning to use the various types of software, there are thousands of tutorial videos available for free on YouTube. Just choose a video creation method you think would be best for your situation and watch a few videos. You’ll get the hang of it in no time!
Creating Your Course
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