Our process for creating elearning videos

I will be talking at the Technical Communications UK 2014 conference (TCUK14) next month about creating videos for technical communication and elearning videos.

It covers how to embed video in a course. The delegates see, in each recorded module, a video of the trainer on the right of the screen, with the slides, application walkthroughs or images on the left of the screen.

This format is more engaging for delegates than a disembodied voice talking over a slide or image.

For the presentation, we’ve created a few video clips to illustrate some of the things we mean. One is a one minute overview of our process for creating elearning courses:

Our process is use Keynote or PowerPoint to develop the storyboard and create the slides the course. We then record a rough cut narration of the course. The reason for doing this is to develop a script that’s has more natural spoken dialogue, and to get an assessment of each module’s duration. This means we have to transcribe the narration, which does take some time. The script and slides are sent out for internal review, and amended where necessary. Having the script helps if we need to re-record any modules, as we can ensure the presenter says the same thing each time.

We transfer the script to a teleprompter, which sits below the camera when we record the videos. The presenter progresses through the slides as they speak, which means the slides are synchronised with the video of the presenter. The videos are imported into the software application (usually Camtasia or Captivate) and edited. When a video module has been produced, we send that out for review. We sometimes need to re-record some sections or modules, as a result of the reviewers’ comments.

Once the amended modules have been passed by the reviewers, we upload the videos and add the new elearning course to our website.

In the TCUK14 presentation, I’ll explain this process in more detail, describe the challenges in creating video, and talk about the equipment we’ve used in the past and today. If you’re attending, we look forward to seeing you there.