More and more students are getting into virtual classrooms, whether by choice or necessity. To make the learning process productive, it is imperative to create effective educational videos. 

But you don’t need to be a video expert to make one.

Teachers and educators do not have to hire a professional videographer or video editor to record lectures, lessons, or creating visual presentations. Here is a four-point guide to help make the process easier and organized.

Write an objective

You don’t get in your car for no reason, you drive it. And you just don’t drive, you have a location in mind. Creating an educational video without an objective will only waste a valuable amount of time and energy. 

What is your video about?

What does it aim to accomplish?

Having clear answers to both will give you a goal to reach. Being able to provide details is even better.

Create a storyboard or script

A storyboard looks like a comic strip of scenes that you want to include in your video. It will help guide you in creating the video, making sure you are on the right track and that you don’t miss an important scene.

If you are adding voiceovers or captions, create a script. This will help prevent unnecessary or irrelevant information from getting included and it will give you or the narrator a guide on what needs to be said, mentioned, or explained.

Create a shot list

This is like a storyboard but a lot more specific. A film shot list outlines the list of shots you want for the entire video, including the kind of camera shot, movements, angle, action, placement of elements or subjects in the video, location (if shooting inside a classroom setting or outdoors), and more. It is basically the bible of the pre-productions stage.

Aside from helping break down the shots of every scene in your video, it is also a way to sort and organize the scenes. For example, if non-consecutive scenes need to be shot using a specific camera or at a similar location, the crew can line those up and shoot them even when it is not in the order that would show up on the screen.

It is also a guide for you and anyone who may be assisting you to know what needs to be shot next, thus, giving them a headstart instead of waiting around for what to do next.

Prepare essential equipment

It is important to have everything you need within reach. This will include a camera (or cameras, if you are using more than one type), audio equipment, props, backgrounds, and lights.

Familiarize yourself with how to operate them, how settings can be adjusted, and different ways of using them. This way, you don’t have to do the guesswork during production.

Hire or invite people (as actors or for manpower)

If you help planning and shooting learning videos, you should assemble a team. You can seek the services of professionals or invite volunteers who could act, help in moving or carrying equipment, or assist in the filming process.

Learning never ends

Even educators learn new things every day. Creating videos seem intimidating but it is simple once you break it down into smaller steps. We hope this guide will help you gain the confidence to create effective learning videos that will mold your students’ minds and equip them with powerful knowledge to face the future.