Media: DIY Media Making: Educational Videos Made Easy

Introduction

Want to make an educational video but don't quite know where to start? Here are some important concepts for how to get started with creating your own educational videos, as well as key tips for actual filming. This includes: 

• Clearly identifying goals for creating educational videos
• A checklist for recording your video (better to be over-prepared!)
• Next steps after filming, including editing, publishing, and accessibility

Resources

• List of Steinhardt Asynchronous Video Types
• NYU Stream
• Effective Educational Videos: Principles and Guidelines for Maximizing Student Learning from Video Content (Brame, 2016)
• What Is A Storyboard and Why Do You Need One?
• The Effect of Context-Based Video Instruction on Learning and Motivation in Online Courses (Choi & Johnson, 2010)
• Everyday Attention:  Variation in Mind Wandering and Memory in a Lecture
• This article includes information from the workshop presentation deck, a printable PDF Storyboarding template, and a printable PDF list of DIY Media Making Pro Tips.

Why Create Educational Videos? 

Educational videos can be created for a number of reasons, all with the notion of fostering student engagement in the learning process. Compared to traditional lectures and learning content, educational videos provide students with flexibility in their learning, by offering another modality in which they can take in information (Brame, 2016). Educational videos also reduce the cognitive load on learners, involving their sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory (Brame, 2016). 

Additionally, studies have shown that video-based instruction is "more memorable for learners than traditional text-based instruction" (Choi & Johnson, 2010). So if you're seeking to truly engage your learners, then perhaps a video is a great option!

So now that you've seen some of the research behind the effectiveness of educational videos, consider how you'll plan for your educational video. 

Planning for Your Video

Setting Goals

All great educational videos begin with a clear plan and targeted goals for your audience. So some questions you may want to ask before creating your video could include: 

• What is the educational goal? 
• What is the purpose of this video? 
  • To convey a concept?
    To share a perspective from an expert? 
  • To provide information on a topic? 
• Why is video the right medium to meet that goal? 
  • Perhaps consider other mediums as possible alternatives, such as podcasts, PowerPoints, PDFs, etc.

Selecting a Style

Educational videos can have multiple styles or formats. They can be: 

• Interview Style
• Solo Recording
• On-Site Recording
• Vlog Style
• or more! 

What's important is to consider what will keep your viewers most engaged.  

Creating a Storyboard

What is a Storyboard? 

A storyboard is a representation of how your video will unfold in each shot. It could be a sketched drawing, images, or even just plain text--as long as you're able to establish the general flow of your video. See some samples of more visual storyboards below:  

Storyboards can be done in various formats such as pencil & paper, or maybe a slide deck with a collage of images--the choice is yours!

If you're unsure where to begin, take a look at our simple Storyboarding Template to get started. 

Recording Checklist

Before you record:

1. Remember to think about your recording location. 
   • Are you recording in a well-lit room? 
   • Is your recording space in a noisy or quiet area? 
   • Is the weather good? 
2. Check the storage space of your recording device.
3. Be mindful of the length of the video you are creating
   • We recommend keeping videos between 5-7 minutes in length

After You Record

Reviewing the video

After you've recorded, remember to review your video and ensure that you've met the educational goals planned for your video, and that the audio and visual quality of the video is clear. 

Remember, your final video does not have to be verbatim to the storyboard--that's just a rough guide! And most importantly, it’s better to re-record than try to fix errors later in editing!

Uploading & Publishing Your Video

We recommend you upload your final video to NYU Stream. In NYU Stream, you can set permission for your viewers and create assessments around the content you have recorded, as well as order captions and transcripts in order to make content accessible. Remember, Digital Accessibility is an important policy at NYU and allows all viewers of your video to feel included. 

Additional Support

For additional support or questions, feel free to email Steinhardt Digital Innovation & Learning at steinhardtDIL@nyu.edu.