"Video production is now a portable venture," writes author Stephen Haskin in the October 2013 Infoline, "Using Video in E-Learning." Workplace learning has been considerably altered by trainers' newfound ability to produce low-cost, low-tech, yet high-quality video in a relatively short timeframe. Here are four quick tips for doing so.
Create a script. Whether it's just an outline or detailed dialogue, keep it simple, and accept that it may change a bit during filming. A good script is like a good story, with a beginning, middle, and an end.
Take stock of your equipment. You need a camera (your smartphone might do the trick), a device to capture sound (not your phone's built-in microphone), lights or reflectors if you're shooting outside, and a tripod or some device to keep the camera steady.
Get a crew. As the person who is developing the training, you likely will want to play the role of director. You'll also need a camera operator, possibly a sound person, and actors.
Edit away. There's a variety of low-cost, user-friendly video-editing software out there. One basic piece of advice is to make sure not to shoot the person the entire time—close-ups are a great way to vary the scene.
These tips were adapted from the October 2013 Infoline, "Using Video in E-Learning." For more information, go to www.astd.org/infoline.