"Look what I'm doing!"
“When I'm in front of the group I feel at ease and I can connect well with what students ask, in front of the camera it's really different!”
This lament comes from a teacher who is watching her own knowledge clip that she has made for her students.
She is young, full of energy and speaks quickly and with gestures. In the video, she speaks more slowly and looks a bit uncomfortably at… yes, who exactly?
“Making such a video is really a profession,” she says with drooping shoulders. I object. It is certainly a profession to make professional videos, but with some useful tips and pointers you can go very far. Students connect more easily with the material when their own teacher tells about it, it becomes more personal and at school it is easier for them to make the link between what you have said and what they are working on.
What does it take to be good in front of the camera, what do you tell, how do you tell it, how do you ensure that your background reinforces your story, how do you tell your story? It starts with a good story, short, powerful and meaningful.
Think carefully about what topic you want to tell, certain knowledge or a skill. Choose a topic that is relevant not only this year, but also the years after. Which topic is critical, difficult, or keeps coming back and is worth the investment?
And then, how are you going to portray that? There can be more than just a 'talking head' for a powerpoint, that's the beauty of a video! How can the image support, strengthen, or perhaps tell the story for you? Which background do you choose, which objects are needed in your story, how do you integrate image and sound and ensure a 1+1=3!?
When you have done this preparation, the recording can begin. Preparation is half the battle. You should be able to do it by now.
Do you want help with this or do you want to learn how to stand in front of the camera with more confidence so that you can look back at yourself with pride? Come visit us and register for a Creator Campus. We make you a professional! Look at me now!!