After you have weighed the pros and cons of using video in eLearning, it is time to make a list of steps for putting your recorded video online. These are a few steps you may need to accomplish:

1. Decide which content will be presented through the video.
2. Decide if you will DIY or hire a professional videographer.
3. Script and create a storyboard.
4. Schedule the videographer, guest speakers/actors, location, sound and lighting technicians.
5. Record the video.
6. Edit the video using editing software (Adobe Captivate, ScreenFlow, etc.)
7. Compress and render the video.
8. Insert video into the course via learning management system.

Key Factors to Consider

When planning your video recording, you may need to consider a few additional factors:

• • Scripting and Storyboarding: Scripting may seem easy, but it can actually be quite difficult and time-intensive to create realistic dialog. Do you have a storyboard for all the shots you need to capture? Do you need a close-up shot of a product or of a specific demonstration? Be sure to plan it out, shot by shot.

• • Video Equipment and Technology: Do you have the equipment needed to shoot the video? – Camera, editing software, microphones, lighting, backdrops, etc. If you don’t already have the equipment, will you purchase/rent it? If you hire a professional, which equipment will be brought? Equipment can get expensive quickly, so be sure to set a budget.

• • Editing: Do you have the necessary software to edit the recorded video? If not, will you hire a professional or purchase the software yourself? What kind of timeline should you expect to have the final edits done?

• • Guest Speakers/Actors: Will you be using employees, guest speakers, or paid actors for your video? Do you need to schedule them weeks in advance? Be sure to think about a back up plan as well as any particular dress code that needs to be followed.

• • Location: Where will you be filming your video? Can you film in a public space or do you need a sound proof location? If you need to book a location, make arrangements early.

• • Lighting/Sound: Professional looking videos are usually well lit with crisp, clear sound. Think about how you can accomplish this with DIY or hiring a professional.

• Scheduling: Once you have your equipment, location, sound and lighting technicians, it is time to schedule everyone to be at the same place at the same time. Now, you can start recording!

With these simple steps and key factors to consider, you should be well on your way to adding video to your online courses. These are a few pros and cons of videos in eLearning and stay tuned for more tips!