Whether you're an influencer, a blogger or an academic, video production quality and on-screen presence matter for creating compelling and successful videos.
I, Dr Keith Pond, Director of EFMD’s Online Course Certification System, explain how educators should adapt to the "new normal". And which benchmarks they must hit to win an on-screen war against Netflix, Youtube and LinkedIn Learning.
Let me present a list of questions educators should ask themselves in order to create better video products:
- Can your students see you clearly if they watch your lectures on a mobile phone?
- Do you have a clear and appropriate background while shooting videos?
- How often do you experience technical difficulties? How often do you ask your audience, if they can hear you or see you?
- How hard or time-consuming it is for you to shoot and edit videos?
- Do you utilise infographics, 3D-graphics, animation and interactive elements in your videos?
To create compelling videos you need to:
- Check and adapt your videos, so they are equally understandable and decipherable on any screen: desktop, tablet or mobile
- Have an appropriate background and, ideally, 2-3 different backdrops
- Minimise the risk of technical difficulties
- Ensure you always have extra good quality sound and picture
- Find a professional yet user-friendly software to accommodate all your needs
- Incorporate infographics, 3D-graphics, animation and interactive elements in your videos
Join our Online Community webinar titled “Digital skills: Developing a screen presence”, which will take place on the 26th of November at 14.00 CET
We will expand on the issues raised in this article. The webinar is free, but you have to register in advance
How do you adapt to the New Normal?
COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated digitalisation of educational content. Educators were forced to quickly switch from offline to online classes, lectures and seminars. You've probably experimented with different cameras and microphones, tried various set-ups and embraced virtual backgrounds. Anything to enhance the quality of your on-screen presence. And maybe you've hoped that everything will go back to normal in a year or so.
However, now it's clear that the world would never be the same. Today the norm is hybrid classrooms and blended learning. Educators have to be flexible in their delivery, so they seek effective ways of online communication with their students.
And students have a lot of sources to benchmark educators against. For example, YouTube, Netflix and LinkedIn Learning. And even if the pandemic panic is over, you still have to hold yourself accountable to your audience and deliver a high quality performance.
But how do you go about securing resources to achieve a new level of quality? Not every educational institution can accommodate your needs by providing:
- A video studio
- A production team
- Remote resources
In 2020 during the lockdowns only certain schools were prepared to switch to online education completely. They provided teachers with lighting, chroma key screens, monitors, microphones and professional quality cameras. Other schools placed the burden of creating videos and streaming classes completely on the educators' shoulders. But not every desktop or laptop is suitable for such tasks.
And this is where Jalinga comes in. Their video studio technology allows you to create compelling educational products, including professional quality presentations for synchronous and asynchronous delivery. Jalinga videos exceed your students' expectations set by Zoom, Connect or Teams. You don't need a production team. You have an IT-expert, a videographer, a lighting technician and sound operator inside Jalinga software. And you as a speaker command them as you wish.
I do not promote this product, nor do I seek to get a sponsorship. I genuinely ask you to question the methods and technologies we use today. I want to spark an intellectual discussion about the quality of the educational products we create for our students.
How do you win against popular streaming and video services
Lecture is no different from a theatre or screen performance. What's more, you are the screenwriter, the operator, the director and the lead and only actor in this show. Quality of your performance depend on many factors:
- How well you've prepared
- How elaborate is your lecture plan
- How easily you communicate with large audiences
- How enthusiastic you are about your topic
- How approachable you are
- How charismatic you are
- Which topic did you choose
- How understandable and easily digestible you material is
You've probably witnessed academic performances worthy of Oscars. And much less mesmerising too.
However, with the new era of technology comes a new challenge to conquer and a new skill to master. Your performance will be televised :) And will be judged based on the precision and quality of video and sound just as much as your charisma and intelligence. Maybe more. Your on-screen presence, the level of engagement and interactiveness are paramount.
And it's natural that EOCCS reviews focus on these skills and Peer Review panels seek to understand the criteria for adopting a certain technology given the constraints the institutions have. And the goals they wish to achieve.
You cannot simply deploy the newest and the most expensive technology and call it high quality of education. Quality stems from careful considerations and smart decisions made by the schools and the educators. Your courses have the highest quality if they are consistent, accessible, adaptable and effective.
Utilise technology and motivate students to learn by creating high quality content neatly packaged in great design. Engage your audience as if you were a TV star while teaching fundamental disciplines. Brave new post-pandemic world with compelling blended learning courses and reach out to your students in the most effective way.
Join our Online Community webinar titled “Digital skills: Developing a screen presence”, which will take place on the 26th of November at 14.00 CET
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