Effective Lecture Videos

Creating Effective Lecture Videos

As we reduce the amount of time we are physically with each other and try to make the most of the time we have - whether that is in-person or on Zoom - there are some parts of a class that are easier to shift out of official class time. It's much easier to listen to a lecture by yourself than it is to brainstorm with classmates or work collaboratively on a problem. Having lectures in video form also allows you to put comprehension questions with the lecture to gauge how well students are "getting it" without relying on puzzled looks from around the room. 

Using pre-recorded videos is also incredibly helpful for any sort of demonstration. They allow students to watch and re-watch as many times as they need to understand what you are demonstrating. Whether it's a painting technique, a coding process, building an electrical circuit, or using specialized software, the ability to re-watch and pause at critical spots can be very helpful for student learning.

Before You Begin

What To Do

Create a Short Instructional Video

Select a small part of the content of one module of your course. This is most helpful if you choose actual content you're teaching, as opposed to instructions on how to complete and turn in an assignment.

You can make a video using any combination of yourself, slides, your computer screen, a whiteboard or document camera, or "on location" video such as somewhere on campus or in the community. Please see the technical instructions on various video recording and editing options and feel free to contact the UITS Support Center at 317-274-HELP if you need technical assistance.

1. Your video should be less than 10 minutes long. While your videos may be somewhat longer at times, research has shown that students need to pause regularly to process what they have been seeing and hearing. Breaking down longer videos provides that pause and also an opportunity for you to explicitly ask questions about the video content using a Canvas or Kaltura quiz, Quick Check, or Canvas Discussion.

2. Make sure your audio is clear and as free of background noise as possible. Record a bit and listen before recording the whole video.

3. If you include video of yourself, make sure you have light in front of you. Recording with your back to a window or other light source will put your face in shadows.

4. If you're using slides, remember, people can't read something, listen to someone saying something different, and pay attention to both. Try to not ask students to listen to you talk while showing different text on the screen. If you want students to both hear what you are saying and read the text, see Making Your Own Videos for ideas. Generally speaking, the fewer the words on your slides, the greater the likelihood that your students are still listening. 

5. If you're using slides or a document camera/whiteboard, make sure your students can read and understand what you have on your slides or what you are writing or drawing. Are your images, charts, and graphs legible? Is your font or writing large and clear enough to read? Check to see if they are still legible when viewed on a mobile phone. You will very likely have students who won't have easy access to anything larger. 

Put Your Video in Kaltura

It's important that your video be in Kaltura for storage rather than Canvas files. You have unlimited storage space in Kaltura and your videos will automatically stream to the viewer at a rate appropriate for the device and internet connection they have (which Canvas files will not do).

See the technical instructions  on getting your video to Kaltura based on how you recorded your video. 

Verify and Edit Your Captions

Every video in Kaltura is automatically mechanically captioned. While the quality of the captions is getting better, it will never be perfect, so you need to check them before sharing your video with your students. Captions are important for students trying to watch your video in a variety of environments where they may not be able to hear your audio clearly, as well as students for whom English is not their primary language. Captions are also quite helpful if you have an accent that students find more difficult to understand.

Please see the instructions to verify and edit your captions when they appear in Kaltura. Note that captions don't appear immediately. They can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of hours to appear depending on the length of the video and the amount of other requests at that time.

Self-Evaluate Your Video

1. Is your audio clear with minimal distracting background noise?

2. If we see you on camera (which would be great, at least for a portion of the video), are you lit well enough that we can actually see you.

3. Are your captions correct?

4. If you use slides, are students able to concentrate on what you are saying without also needing to read something different at the same time?

5. If you use slides or handwriting, is the writing, text, images, charts, and graphs legible when viewed on a mobile phone?