Basics for Creating Videos

Creating instructional videos doesn’t need to be complicated.  Through the college, you have several options available to quickly create videos for your classes.  This guide will walk you through one option, using PowerPoint.

Before you record

1. Find a quiet area in your house
2. Write a script
   • You can either write out a script word-for-word or have bullet points in the order you'd like to cover the information
   • You can use the "Notes" included in a PowerPoint as a script
3. Set up your webcam and microphone
   • Avoid over-head lights, lamps, and windows from being on camera
   • If you're using a headset, adjust the microphone to be just below your chin
4. Ask everyone else in the house to avoid using the internet while you're recording and uploading your video
5. Record your video

After you record

• Upload your video to Panopto (if recording using PowerPoint or TechSmith Camtasia) (PDF Link)
• Share your video using a link or embedding into Blackboard (PDF Link)

PowerPoint

(Printer Friendly Handout)

You can create instructional videos directly from PowerPoint, using PowerPoints you’ve already created or ones from a publisher.  Any PowerPoint you can use in a classroom can be used to create an instructional video for online classes.

• Start with having a webcam and microphone connected to your computer. If you’re using a Northwood Tech laptop, you already have a webcam and microphone built in.
• Create or open a completed PowerPoint presentation

• From the Ribbon, select the Slide Show tab
• Click on Record
  • Click on From Beginning...

• From the recording screen
  • You can control the recording from the top
  • You can turn on your microphone, camera, change your view, and export your video from the top

When setting up your web camera:

Avoid overhead lights, lamps, and windows from being on camera

Sit so your head is in the middle of the frame looking straight forward

• When finished recording, hit the Export button to create your video

• After you've exported your video, save your PowerPoint

• Upload your video to Panopto (PDF Link)
• Sharing your video (PDF Link)