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RESEARCH GUIDES

Keep Teaching: Virtual Library Instruction Resources

When recording your screen...

When recording your screen for a lecture keep in mind the following tips:

  • Opening an incognito or private window in your browser will allow you to do so without sharing the search histories of those who have used your device. 
  • Closing any tabs you do not intend to use in your screencast is also a good idea. This will both protect your privacy and help keep your screencast uncluttered. 
  • If using a mobile device, turn on “Do not Disturb” while filming.

Tips and Tricks for Capturing Video and Audio

Visual

  • Sit in a well-lit space
    • Lighting should come from in front of you or from the side
    • Avoid being backlit from windows or a lamp
  • Pay attention to your clothing and background
  • Put your camera at eye level or higher

Audio

  • Utilize the best microphone you have, it may surprise you but the headphones from your smartphone may be it.
  • Try to stay away from background noise
  • Test your Audio/Video before a meeting
  • If you are worried about sounding natural, make sure your surroundings put you at ease, have a beverage of choice nearby. If you have some, put on headphones with a microphone to allow you to zone into the project. 
  • You are not an audiobook narrator so don’t stress about perfection, students just want to be able to hear you clearly.

Technical

  • Test how to share your screen if you plan on it. Closeout all extra windows to ensure the privacy of you and your students.
  • Find a mostly quiet place when you are ready to record, be sure to turn your phone on silent. Nothing is more frustrating than having almost finished your final video and your phone is suddenly bombarded with alerts. 
  • Have your notes or outline printed or on another screen in eyesight while recording. 
  • Learn the shortcuts, most recording software uses the space button as a quick way to pause, use the pause button to recollect your thoughts if need be and then un-pause to continue your recording at ease. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Asynchronous Instruction

Advantages:

  • Accessibility and Equity: Creating and sharing asynchronous instructional materials can make it easier to ensure that all students will be able to access and utilize the materials. 
  • Reusability: When you teach asynchronously, you can create content intentionally that is reusable. Make one video, and hundreds of students can see it, for multiple courses or semesters. Make one Carmen course module or LibWizard Digital Object and thousands of students can work their way through it.
  • Expanding Your Reach: You are only one person, and can only be in so many places at the same time. Developing asynchronous content can allow your face and knowledge to reach far more students than you might be able to reach with in-person instruction. Find your way into classrooms that weren't feasible before by sharing pre-packaged materials that engage students, while addressing the content they need.

Disadvantages:

  • Immediate Student Interaction and Feedback: It is possible to design asynchronous instruction that is engaging and allows for student to student and student to instructor interaction, but this may require more planning on your part, and you may not be able to provide the type of immediate support and feedback that you would in an in-person classroom. 
  • Preparation Time: Creating asynchronous instructional resources may initially take more time. However, once materials are created, they can often be reused with minor modifications. 

For more discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of asynchronous instruction, see the Consideration for Instruction and Outreach. 

Recording Content

Recording content:

Recording yourself/objects:
Recording your screen:
Creating an animated avatar:
Creating interactive asynchronous digital objects:
  • Libwizard, available through Springshare, to create tutorials that can be embedded into a Canvas course or accessed as a stand-alone object.

Editing content

Editing Content:

Editing video/screencasts:
Editing audio only:
Editing images & creating graphics:
Free to use graphics:
  • Pixabay 
    • Royalty-free stock photos, clip art, and other graphics
  • Vecteezy
    • Free vectors and clip art
  • Clipart Etc 
    • ClipArt ETC provides students and teachers with over 71,500 pieces of quality educational clipart.

Captioning

Closed Captioning resources:

Otter AI

Google docs

Editing subtitles created in Zoom

Note: Most of these options will create captions from prerecorded audio that will need to be played again or uploaded AND that will need to be edited.

Tips for Accessible Video

Making the content you create universally accessible is a good habit to form. When creating a lecture recording or screencast, remember to be descriptive in your narration. This, in addition to captions, will help ensure that your video is easily understood by your viewers.

For example:

  • Describe what you are doing as you go. For example, say something like "I am now clicking on the article from the New York Times titled 'How to Become a ‘Digital Nomad’" as you demonstrate a search.

  • Do not be tempted to fill every moment; it's okay to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts before carrying on.

  • Speed is not of the essence, clarity is.

  • Avoid the term "we see," instead be sure to describe the action you are taking or the item on the screen that you are referencing.

  • Listen to your video/audio before publishing it. This is the audio equivalent of proofreading.

  • Don't be afraid to show that you're human. Mistakes happen; perfection isn't what we are aiming for. Done is better than perfect.

Don't reinvent the wheel! Check out these resources

Content Storage

Content Storage:

Video:
Everything else:
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