Using Video for Learning and Teaching

Videos are a great way to enhance your course, and you don't have to be a technical expert to create them. From quick and easy to advanced, there are plenty of different options. And while you might have to spend some time in advance planning and creating a video, you will save time later on:  a good video can be reused multiple times, might free some valuable class time for discussion, and will help students go over important content at their own pace.  

Before you hit record

Think about why you want to use videos in your course and what you want to achieve with them. The right type of video depends on the learning objectives and the design of the course as well as on the time and resources that are available. Have a look around these pages to get some inspiration for using video in your teaching, and to get some general tips for making good quality videos. 

Three Top Tips for educational videos

  1. Keep it short: 7-12 minutes are a good duration, with longer videos in the 12-20 minute range. One topic per video is recommended, so if you think you video needs to be longer than 12-20 minutes, consider if you can split one video into two. 
  2. To make your videos reusable for future iterations of the course, think carefully about the content and avoid vague temporal statements ("last week", "earlier this year", "the Rugby World Cup"). 
  3. Be human, be yourself, and don't worry too much about being a perfect presenter - showing a little bit of personality helps fostering a sense of connectedness between the students and the instructors of a course, especially if students take part in it via distance learning.

For further guidance and advice check out the Technical Tips section. 

Technical Tips

Do you want to look (and sound!) good in front of the camera? Check out our technical tips section to get advice on making good quality videos.
This includes advice on getting started, preparing slides, copyright, choosing a background, recording sound, what to watch out for when setting up lighting and camera angle, and tips for delivery and conducting interviews. 

Ideas and Examples

Get inspired by our ideas and examples section and read up on some tips for different styles and types of video suitable for learning and teaching.
This includes welcome videos, module summaries, concept videos, screencasts, interviews and panel discussions, and how-to demonstrations on a tablet, in the lab, or in the field. 

Getting Help and Support

​If you're not entirely sure yet what type of video would be best suited to your course, have a look at the Ideas and Examples pages. You can also contact a Learning Designer or Media Designer if you want some advice or feedback on your ideas – the earlier the better.