Summer has wrapped. Cooler temps are on us, and I’m already looking hopefully forward to another insightful (and warm) National Association of Broadcasters Conference in Las Vegas in April, 2020! Check-out my short and keen Instructional Video Tips from NAB video on Carleton’s Academic Technology Blog!
Most ipads and tablets have a great built-in camera. The Little Prompter can slide neatly over your ipad’s center-mounted camera lens, so the camera can look through the Little Prompter’s glass. You still need a smart device with a teleprompter app to rest on the Little Prompter’s tray, and be able to stand your ipad up, but the Little Prompter is definitely able to help you have a flawless delivery using your ipad or tablet!
Often ipads have a wide field of view, too, so you’d need to zoom in slightly to avoid seeing the inside of the teleprompter. If your camera app doesn’t allow you to zoom, consider an inexpensive alternative app such as Camera Zoom 4 + Video Zoom . . . just $1.98 on the app store.
Effective instructional videos can vary in style. This short video, inspired by an Arizona State University study, reveals preferences and effectiveness in two different styles:
Should you teach to the camera/viewer or
Should you teach a student who is also on camera and film that interaction?
This video featuring Dann Hurlbert, Carleton College’s Media & Design Guru succinctly recaps a 2018 study from ASU’s Katelyn M Cooper, Lu Ding, Michelle Stephens, Michelene T. H. Chi, and Sara E Brownell. And, you bet, Dann used a Little Prompter to ensure a flawless delivery.
In my role at Carleton College, I work directly with faculty to help them plan, produce, and evaluate darn-good instructional videos. One topic that often comes up is “should I include my face in the video?” My gut answer is . . . “yes.” Various studies indicate videos with faces are preferred by students, and any chance we have to help students enjoy their learning, the better. Here’s a short video that brings all that research together into a single, easily consumable nugget: