Multimedia for Course Developers

If you’ve landed on this page, you’re most likely developing a course or revising a course for CUNY SPS.  As part of this work it is an expectation that you will create video(s) to introduce the course and yourself as the instructor.

As a best practice, it is recommended to make two separate videos; a Course Introduction Video and a Faculty Introduction Video.

  1. Course Overview (some call this a course introduction): The goal of this video is to highlight what the course is about and excite students about the new learning. It is delivered in a way that no matter who is teaching the course the video can be placed in multiple sections. It should not include a tour of the course site in Brightspace.
  2. Faculty Introduction (some call this a Faculty Bio): The goal of this video is introduce the teacher for the course by providing academic/professional background, teaching philosophy, and any other points of interest that might connect with the students. This video is used by the faculty teaching the course so won’t be placed in sections where you are not teaching. You might consider creating the video in a way that it could be included in any course you’ll be teaching.
click to open playlist:

A list of 4 course overview videos

Faculty Introduction (Example)

Why Make a Video

Making a video in your class is about making a connection with your students.  You’re contributing to the community of the classroom through your presence.   If you’re hesitant, start small.  Make a 30 second video at first. It doesn’t have to be news anchor quality.  Even a short video can build a connection with your audience. The technology can be overwhelming, so pick tools and a workflow that you are comfortable with and get started.

We made this 2-page guide of common Do’s and Don’ts:  Making Video for your Online Class. The links below expand on the 2-page guide.

Three Major Stages – click below for details

Pre-Production

Get prepared for your recording. Here are resources to write a script and plan visuals in a storyboard. 

 

Production

Lights, Camera, Action! It’s time to record, find a technical solution that is manageable.

Post-Production

Now that you’ve made your recording, does your video need a trim? How about captions? How will you share it?