STC Canada West Coast chapter offered an updated version of its hands-on workshop, Creating Instructional Videos, as a webinar.
Why use instructional videos: Many companies use videos to inform customers about products and services. Videos can provide information more efficiently than printed or online text; users’ attention spans are shrinking, and time is at a premium. Customer support, marketing, and sales departments also use video to communicate with clients. Whether you’re creating simple videos for YouTube or complex product demonstrations, a video can give your audience the information they need.
What you will learn: Learning how to create videos can seem daunting: instructional designers use terms such as “explainer videos,” “microlearning,” “e-learning,” and “LMS.” This workshop will decode that jargon.
Joel Basart, an experienced instructional designer, will introduce some inexpensive and easy-to-use tools (mainly using Techsmith Camtasia) and explain how to use those tools to start creating your own instructional videos. Learn how to work with video clips, screen captures, animation, and text captions to inform audiences in a way that is both engaging and effective.
The workshop included:
- Introduction to Instructional Video
Why is video a good idea? Learn about the types of video and the video creation process (scripting, production, editing); advice about suitable equipment; effectively blending visuals and text; and a brief overview of using tools to create your first video.
- Online Video Production (beginner to intermediate)
Learn some tips and tricks for: using Camtasia software; choosing a microphone; adding content, video clips, screen captures, and audio; editing and synchronizing your video; and adding a quiz to reinforce your content.
* Required equipment
- A computer equipped with a free 30-day trial version of Camtasia
- Free open-source Audacity software
- Zoom meeting software (free download)
- Headset or microphone
Registration
The workshop took place online on Wednesday February 3, 2021, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time.
A technical writer with over 25 years experience in aerospace, health care, banking, food, & horticulture. He is a Technical Content Specialist for Telemetry TV, an innovative digital signage company in Vancouver BC.