Simple Tips on Making Videos

Why Make a Video?
As one of the most prevalent and effective forms of communication, videos are a great tool for teaching and learning.  Involvement in video creation provides students excellent skills that they can use through out their school career and beyond. Learning multimedia communication helps your students with group decision making, public speaking, critical thinking, literacy and interpersonal communication, not to mention they will meet ICT objectives.

Video creation in four parts:
1. concept - The idea
2. storyboard - The blueprint (Download a Storyboard Template)
3. production - Shooting the video
4. post-production -Editing the video

1. Concept: What information do you want to get across?
Students need to have a clear idea of what message they want to convey. These films are very short so it is important to be concise and not have too much information. 

[example] Proper pet care

Concept – A humane hero is someone who properly cares for their pet.  This video will show all the aspects of proper pet care for a cat: food, water, shelter, vet care, exercise and love.

2. Storyboard – After students have a concept clear in their mind they move onto the storyboard. A storyboard is a graphic organizer that helps to make sure the purpose or concept is clear and to visualize and plan the video.

Have students draw out each of the screen shots in their video along with the script that accompanies each shot. You can use a storyboard template to help your students create their storyboard. Note: Most students will need a few copies of this page as there are only three screen shots per page.

[example] Stanley the Cat Storyboard

3. Production – A simple digital camera capable of shooting video is ideal as transferring the footage onto a computer is the same as transferring pictures. Remember that lighting and sound are important aspects of film as well.  Adding some lamps to improve lighting, or having props to add sound effects can really enhance the quality of the film. Use to the storyboard as a guideline to create the video.

4. Post-production – To make a film look professional there is movie editing software readily available and simple to use. This software will allow students to add titles, smooth transitions between shots and the ability to add sound. Many computers now come with software to edit videos. Windows Movie Maker and Apple's iMovie are both popular programs that are very user friendly.

[example] What is a Humane Hero?

When videos are completed students can enter our Video Contest to win prizes and encourage other students around Alberta to be humane heroes!