Video TutorialsTECM 4180

Dr. Lam

Why Video Tutorials?

• Times are changing- Traditional tech comm must adapt

• Videos can convey information that words and pictures cannot (e.g., Spatial information, Procedural information)

• (Sometimes) they are more convenient for the end user (e.g., carseat)

Where does video fall?

• Video, and other multimedia, often falls outside of the purview of technical communication• Instructional design • Production • Content specialist

• A good communicator should be able to do all of these things

Process of Creating a Video Tutorial

1. Come up with a topic

2. Decide on type of video tutorial (screen cast, video demonstration)

3. Create storyboard for your video

4. Write script for your video tutorial

5. Record video and/or audio

6. Complete edits in post-production editing software

7. Upload to YouTube

Storyboarding

• A low fidelity prototype consisting of a series screen sketches

• Used to illustrate and organize ideas

• Similar to an outline for a written document

How to storyboard

• Brainstorm ideas, this may include lists, charts, doodles, and quick notes

• Select the best ideas: re-consider the project requirements, time and resource constraints, and the target audience and end users. Select the top ideas and try to get feedback from others involved.

• Sketch each screen, and describe any pictures, images, animations, sound, music, video or text.

General Tools You’ll Need

• Microphone for audio narration

• Video camera for visual display of information (optional)

• Screen casting software for visual display of information (optional)

• Other content delivery software (e.g., powerpoint) for visual display of information (optional)

• Video editing software

Screen Casting Tools

What do they do?

• Records video of your screen or a portion of of your screen. They also allow you to record audio to narrate your screen cast.

What do you need?

• Microphone (internal or external)

• Screencasting software

Free Software Tools

• Quicktime Player (“Create Screen Recording”)

• Cam Studio • Jing• Free Screencast

Post-Production Tools

What do they do?

• Allow you to edit multimedia files using a “timeline” interface. You can create transitions between scenes.

What do you need?

• Multimedia files (videos, images, introductory slides, instructional slides, etc.)

• Post-production software

Free Software Tools

• Windows Movie Maker• iMovie• AVS Video Editor• Kate's Video Toolkit

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/software/applications/best-free-video-editing-software-9-top-programs-you-should-download-1136264

Deliverables and Grading Criteria

Deliverables• Communication goals worksheet- Follow Anderson’s guide to

audience analysis on p. 62.• Script  - A written copy of your video script posted as a Microsoft Word

document or PDF document.• Storyboard - A hand drawn or computer-generated storyboard of your

video.•  Tutorial- A multimedia tutorial uploaded to YouTube. Be sure to

compress the file if it is too large.  Grading Criteria• Clear message - Your message should be clear and not confusing in

any way. Your job is to make a complex and/or technical idea simple for your audience.

• Production quality- Your multimedia presentation is clear and accessible to your particular audience.

• CTML Principles- The video adheres to CTML principles.• Preparation - High quality script and storyboard created and turned

in.• Overall quality- A holistic evaluation of your effort and how it was

reflected in your final document.

Complete Survey

http://tinyurl.com/4180video