Tonight I watched Steven R. Crawford, the District Director Maricopa Center for Learning and Innovation, present again at Quality Matters (QM). The title of this session was “Beyond Video: Harnessing Multimedia for Engaging Online Courses.” Crawford spoke about video and screen casting. Immersive video was also mentioned as a way to share virtual field trips, for example. From audio only to 3D video, the potential complexity increases, noted Crawford. When working with a multimedia team, Crawford explained, they value the setup to avoid time-consuming post-production edits. Audio quality was explained in terms of omnidirectional, unidirectional (cardioid), and bi-directional microphones. For interviews, bi-directional microphones are more useful. Unidirectional microphones can be set up for a speaker. For quiet environments, electronic noise may be picked up. Crawford then spoke about video setup and visual design. Crawford asked: how do you include instructor presence without it being distracting? Crawford suggested that if using AI-created videos, consider using an avatar of you. Pausing and smiling at the end of the video is encouraged to help with editing. Crawford noted that the research suggests students don’t have strong preferences for professional vs. “homemade” videos. Crawford explained that five to seven minute videos may be the best length. Chunking content to logical pieces is advised. Crawford stressed being focused. Crawford described research studies in math education in which the video has the teacher presenting to and interacting with students. Captions and transcripts were then addressed, with Crawford emphasizing the importance of accurate captions and transcripts. Crawford shared numerous suggestions!
