Basic video content for teaching

Why use this guide?

Follow this guide if the content you are creating is either simple in terms of source footage (e.g. comprising a single video clip which may require some basic edits and titling), or, is likely to have only a short life and so will require revising/refreshing with each academic year (e.g. course introductions or where content is highly topical and subject to change).

Examples of content types where it would be appropriate to follow this basic guide and the approach it outlines, would include:

• Pre-recorded lecture content (either voice + slides or video + voice + slides)

• Course or Class introduction videos (possibly informal and/or addressing cohort specific considerations)

• Group Feedback (cohort specific)

• Simple Demonstrations (e.g. guided walkthrough for navigating an online resource)

Hardware and Software Requirements

Hardware

At a minimum, you will need to have access to a computer with a webcam and microphone; you may find you have these built-in, but this will depend on the computer.  For better audio quality when recording, consider using a USB headset with microphone.

LSE Press and Communications Film and Audio unit have produced a handy guide to filming yourself using a smartphone; this could be another easy means of capturing basic video recordings.  To be able to edit this content using Echo360, you will need to download the Echo360 app onto your smartphone (iOS, Android)

Software

There are a number of software options that are officially supported by the LSE Eden Digital Team within the LSE Eden Centre, and for which email support is provided by contacting eden.digital@lse.ac.uk, these are:

Echo 360 Universal Capture

Universal Capture is integrated with the School’s Echo360 Lecture Recording System, with which you may already be familiar. The Universal Capture software can be downloaded to your own computer and allows you to create a video presentation that includes computer screen capture (typically presentation slides) alongside a video of you speaking.  When viewed, the two are displayed side by side and students have the option to switch at will, between one or the other. 

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Click here to download Echo 360 Universal Capture.

Zoom

Zoom is a synchronous online meeting platform, integrated with the School’s Echo360 Lecture Recording System, which means that any Zoom meetings recorded can be automatically uploaded to your Echo360 personal library. It's also possible to use Zoom to produce pre-recorded content for asynchronous viewing. However, unless you intend to use Zoom specific features, such as ‘PowerPoint as virtual background’ or automatic transcription we recommend using Echo 360 Universal Capture as this provides a faster and simpler upload and publishing process.

To use Zoom to produce pre-recorded content, start an instant meeting with no participants, share your screen and capture whatever is on your computer screen. If your camera is on, it will record a small video of yourself in the corner. The final presentation combines both computer screen capture and speaker video in a single video clip and as such there is no option for students to choose which of the two sources they prioritise when viewing.

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Recording Content

Where to record

• Find a quiet space where you are unlikely to be disturbed and where there is no background noise (e.g. traffic passing, washing machine etc.)

• Ensure that the space is well lit. A north facing room is ideal as the light will always be soft and diffuse. Try to position your computer so that the window/light is coming from behind the computer and lighting your face.  If the light source is behind you and facing the computer, any camera will struggle to expose the scene correctly and you will likely appear in silhouette, as shown in the image below.

   

• If possible, try to position yourself in front of a neutral background (e.g. a plain wall). This will help to keep the viewer focused on your delivery.  You should aim to wear colours that standout from the background, but avoid fine weaves or patterns as this can cause problems on screen.

Adjusting audio levels

To optimise the clarity of your recording, you may need to adjust your audio levels before you begin recording. How you do this will depend upon which system and software you are using:

• Change the sound input settings on Mac

• How to set up and test microphones in Windows 10

• Fix microphone problems (Windows 7)

• Surface sound, volume, and audio accessories

• Zoom: Testing computer or device audio

Should I use a script?

• Whether you are planning to use just your audio or both your audio and video, it is better not to use a script.  Reading from a script can produce a rather flat and unnatural delivery and will divert your eye-line away from the audience when recording video.

• Prompt notes rather than a detailed script will produce a more natural and engaging delivery.

• If you stumble or make a mistake, it is better to carry on and correct yourself as you would in person.  If, at the end, you feel unhappy with the delivery, you can always do another take.

Where should I look?

• If you are using a built-in webcam, position yourself so that your webcam is either in line with or slightly higher than your eye-line.

• Many webcams (including those built-in to laptops and all-in-one PCs) will include a tally light to indicate when the webcam is active. This is usually located next to the camera itself and so is a good place to look when recording; it will appear to your audience that you are making eye contact and addressing them directly. Otherwise, looking at the centre of your computer screen should ensure your eyes meet the audience but it is advisable to record a couple test takes to check this.

• If you are using notes, place them below you, rather than off to the side, to create a more natural interaction with your audience.  When speaking to someone in person, it is accepted to look down and then back up at them.  However, if you look off to their side, it can appear like you are distracted and more interested in something over their shoulder. Instead of looking at your notes while speaking, try pausing, consulting your notes, bring your head back to the speaking position and then continuing. You can easily edit out the sections where you pause to consult your notes.

Recording to make editing easier

However comfortable you may be with self-recording, it is nevertheless good practice to anticipate having to edit your recording and there are some simple steps you can take while recording that will make your edit that much smoother:

• Record each part of your video in sequence as the editing tool in Echo360 does not allow you to re-order material. If you wish to do this, you should read our guide, Making more complex video for teaching.

• Each time you stop-start recording, try to add some kind of visual to indicate which ‘take’ you are recording.  This will allow you to find the beginning and end of each take much more quickly when you come to edit.  Similar to the clapperboards traditionally used on film sets, this could be as simple as holding up a finger/fingers in front of the camera to indicate the number of the take.  As you go, make a note of any takes that you feel are particularly good and then when you are editing, you can simply delete those that you do not wish to use.

• Once you hit the ‘record’ button, leave a few seconds before you start to speak. Similarly, after you finish speaking, allow a few seconds to pass before you stop recording.  These ‘handles’ at either end of your recording will make it easier for you to trim you video without clipping any of your actual speech. 

Editing Content

Once your recording (from either Echo360 Universal Capture, Zoom or smartphone) has been uploaded to your Echo360 Library, you can perform some very basic edits: trimming the beginning and end of the recording and cutting out unwanted parts of the video. 

You are not able to re-order material within the recording. If you wish to re-order material please see our guide, Making more complex video for teaching.  For detailed guidance on the editing tools in Echo360, please see their Editing Videos page.

Sharing Content

When you are happy with your content you can share it with students through your Moodle course. 

• First link it to the corresponding course within Echo 360.

• Once you have done this, publish your recording on your Moodle course.

Note: Some videos are not suitable for Echo360: for example, videos that you wish to use via an H5P app in Moodle, or videos that are not associated with a course and that you expect to be in use for several years. In such cases, we have an alternative publishing system called Vimeo Pro that you can use. Please contact us at eden.digital@lse.ac.uk if you need to publish videos of this type.