Video refers to visual footage, with/without audio, including live action, talking heads, screen recordings etc.
Good practice guides and tip sheets
Good practice guides and tip sheets have been developed to support quality in both curriculum design and teaching practice. Good practice guides provide
a pedagogical overview and tip sheets provide you with practical strategies and ideas for implementation. Links to engaging content-related resources are provided below.
Camtasia is video recording and editing software that features simple drag and drop editing and libraries of effects and interactions. With Camtasia, you can record, then edit your computer screen activity, audio and webcam input. If you capture
video footage on mobile devices or digital recorders, you can import and edit it. Camtasia is available to all staff and can be downloaded via the IDS Support Portal. Home-use licences are available (request via Service One). Camtasia is available for both Mac and Windows.
The first time you start Camtasia, the program will open a tutorial video. You can find this video again later under Help > Open Getting Started Project within Camtasia. This built-in video provides basic instructions on how to use
Camtasia
Good for
Videos where you want to blend multiple multimedia elements like live footage, narration/audio, static slides or graphics and annotations, and in cases where you need to be able to do quite a bit of editing work on the video and/or audio you've recorded
Particularly effective for recording your screen and/or webcam and microphone to produce narrated lecture slideshows or 'talking head' video content, or instructional videos with screen recordings where you can demonstrate on screen (eg how to use your
FLO site or other online resources/systems)
An ideal editing tool for live footage you have captured on other devices, such as on a mobile phone or handheld camera, or via the Multimedia Recording Suite. Film lab demonstrations, fieldwork, interviews etc, and edit and enhance these using Camtasia
to produce a finished product that can include interspersed images, slides, annotations etc
Creating video with added interactive elements (hotspots, quizzing)
Useful features
Multitrack recording enables synchronous capture of webcam, microphone, screen and system audio
Mouse actions are recorded in video and can have effects added
Can import and edit video from other sources
Export as MP4 for uploading into Kaltura
Comprehensive editing possible
Simple to add annotations, transitions, behaviours (zooming, highlighting), animations, cursor effects etc in post-production
Powerpoint
Add-in (Windows users only) makes it very easy to record a PowerPoint presentation along with webcam and microphone
Limitations
Editing can become time consuming
Cautions
If table of contents, quizzing or interactive hotspots are included, the project must be exported as Web Page or SCORM (for Gradebook integration). It cannot be hosted in Kaltura. Different process to publish in FLO compared to standard video
You must manage the file assets you use within the video (e.g. raw recordings, narration audio files, graphics etc) very carefully. When you're editing a video project (called a .camproj file), Camtasia doesn't store the assets you add into the video
editing file within the program; it links to where they are saved on your computer. Therefore, if you move those files, the link will break and these items will be 'not found' in the .camproj file. You will need to then redirect the program to find
the files in their new location. Moving/deleting assets after you've published the final product will not affect the final exported version of the video, but be mindful that should you need to edit or update the video in future, you will need to access
the .camproj file again and will need to make sure those assets exist and can be located by Camtasia for use in the video
Tips
Keep video simple with minimal simple transitions, and limit effects to those which add value
When recording a PowerPoint presentation, make use of the slideshow pen and/or laser pointer to draw on or highlight content on your slides as you present. This will be captured in the video
Use the PowerPoint teaching template so that the appropriate copyright notice is automatically included in your video.
Camtasia project files can be large. While working on your project save your files to the hard drive of the computer. Working with your project files on network storage will slow editing down and can also cause crashes. Once complete, store them
on OneDrive or S: drive (your U: drive generally wont have enough space for these large files)
Snagit is screen capture and basic image editing software that you can use to capture on-screen images and record short videos. It has tools you can use to easily enhance your screen-captured images with visual effects, or highlight important information
with Snagit’s mark-up tools. You can also use Snagit to resize and annotate images from other sources. Download on University computers via the IDS Support Portal. Home-use licences are available (request via Service One).
Snagit is available for both Mac and Windows.
Good for
Quick 'one take and done' videos that don't require editing, such as basic screen recordings plus narration, or 'talking head' webcam videos
Useful features
Quick and easy to record short screen capture video
Record whole screen or selected area
Toggle between webcam and screen whilst recording
Video is saved directly to MP4 format, no publishing from project format to video file required
Limitations
Limited editing of video within Snagit – you are only able to trim ends and cut sections out, you can move segments of video around on the timeline
You cannot add transitions, graphics or annotations to the video
Single track recording only – you cannot separate the audio/video inputs to edit them independently
Tips
Best suited to short videos
More extensive editing of video footage taken in Snagit can be achieved by importing to Camtasia (but Camtasia has its own native screen recording and webcam recording functionality, which is generally more efficient to use if you intend to edit more
extensively)
Use for a quick informal weekly wrap-up or quick explainer
Kaltura is the University's streaming video platform and is integrated with FLO. Kaltura has a number of components – video storage and permissions management (My Media), publishing and embedding of media into FLO sites (Media Vault), engagement/viewing
analytics, and a screen and webcam recording app (Desktop Recorder).
Good for
Hosting and playback of all video learning content in your topic, regardless of which recording and editing tools you used to create the video. Using the Kaltura Media Vault to host your audio and video content gives you access to useful analytics on
how students engage with these resources
Useful features
Centralised University-supported video platform
Basic editing of uploaded video (trim ends, cutout sections)
Streams video at appropriate quality for viewer's bandwidth
Request auto-captioning (machine) of your videos, edit and download the generated transcripts
Publish same video in multiple sites without duplication
Integrated with FLO, easy to embed anywhere in FLO where there is an HTML editor
Optional student download of videos
Can allow other staff to view, edit or publish videos to other FLO sites (with your permission)
Kaltura Desktop Recorder (a component of the Kaltura platform) is a free tool you can use to make simple videos and upload directly to your My Media repository in FLO. You can use it to capture screen recordings, webcam and audio. When making screen recordings,
you can also add annotations like drawing and highlighting to the slides, webpages or applications on screen as you record. It also has a whiteboard mode where you can record yourself drawing basic diagrams and graphics.
Good for
Quick and easy recording of simple video content that uploads straight to FLO – no 'middle man' editing tools or complicated upload process
Useful features
Easy to record webcam, microphone and desktop
During playback user can choose side-by-side views of desktop and webcam or picture-in-picture (with either desktop or webcam as main)
Basic editing capabilities
In-built tools allow you to annotate (add drawing, highlights etc) the content on screen as you record
Includes a white board tool – a blank white 'canvas' that you can draw on electronically to create basic graphics and diagrams as you record
Can insert chapter markers, thumbnails, upload slides
Uploads directly to Kaltura (My Media) – see Kaltura entry for advantages
Limitations
Only suitable for content that you want to upload straight into FLO that doesn't need significant editing. You can't download or export the raw recordings you create in the Kaltura Desktop Recorder for editing or use elsewhere; the content is embedded
within the FLO ecosystem only
Only basic editing of video. Fade transitions only
Tips
If you intend to use the whiteboard or annotation tools, plan carefully. Annotations stay on-screen until you bin them
If recording a PowerPoint presentation, consider using the PowerPoint slideshow pen and/or laser pointer while presenting – these will be recorded as you go
A quick and easy option to create videos of a lecture or presentation; you can add narration to the slides and export the file as a video
Creating very simple screen recordings (eg to demonstrate how to use something in your FLO topic, or in a website, database or other piece of software). You can make the screen recording, trim the start and ends if needed, and display it within a slide
or export the screen recording itself as a separate .mp4 file
Useful features
Familiar interface
Can embed video within a slide and create triggers to start playing
Can embed/record narration audio per slide
Can create screen recordings and embed within slide or export as .mp4
Exporting presentation as video allows upload to Kaltura (My Media) and hence:
Streaming
Easy embedding in FLO
Request captions
Viewing analytics
Limitations
A PowerPoint with embedded video and/or audio is a very large file
For screen recordings, editing is limited to being able to trim the start and end of the recording only
Cautions
A PowerPoint file with embedded narration will be very large
Students can only play the audio within Microsoft PowerPoint software. Must be provided as .pptx or .ppsx files. Users must download and open
Mobile devices require Microsoft PowerPoint app
Tips
Export as video and upload to Kaltura (My Media)
Download the PowerPoint teaching template so that the appropriate copyright notice is automatically included in your slides
Microsoft Office website has a large amount of training and help resources and there are many third
party help resources, how-to guides, videos, tutorials that can be found by searching the web
(Note the linked Microsoft page is for windows users. The Mac PowerPoint software is so similar that these windows resources are still useful to Mac users. Mac help resources are also available)
Recording studios and pods
The University has 2 recording studios and 4 recording pods:
Sturt South - room S418
Central Library - room 109 (4 separate pods)
Social Science South - room 374
These rooms are available to all staff on a self-service basis. All rooms have the ability to do video and audio recording. The studio at Sturt also has green screen technology, which replaces the green wall behind you with a backdrop of your choice (PowerPoint
presentation, images, video, websites (live) or even Skype or WebEx calls).
No specialist skills are required to use these rooms, making high-quality professional-looking video accessible to everyone. If you
need to edit the video you create in the studio, Camtasia is the recommended tool.
Good for
Professional-looking video where presenter is standing in front of their presentation
Useful features
Purpose-built rooms
Good lighting
Good acoustics and sound proofing
Good audio microphones
Green screen technology (Sturt only) – system replaces green screen with your presentation materials as it records
Several preset modes and advanced options
Self-service and simple to use
Finalised video recorded to USB device
Limitations
The rooms do not have teleprompter capabilities
The duration of video you can record will depend on the space available on your USB drive. A 4GB USB will allow about 40 minutes of video recording
Tips
Upload recorded video to Kaltura (My Media) and trim ends as required
Import your video footage into Camtasia for editing if required
You will need a USB drive for your recording. Make sure there is plenty of space on the drive (see 'Limitations')
Ideally you want to create short, easily digestible videos for your student. If you are doing a long recording session to record multiple videos for your students, stop the recording and start a new one for each segment. Any editing you need to do will
be easier to work on small files
At the end of your video, you will be recorded going to the control panel to stop the recording. You will need to trim your video to remove this. Take an exaggerated pause after you complete your presentation before stopping the video – this will make
trimming the video easier
Lesson Quiz Active
Quiz Choice Feedback Book Page Glossary
FLO tools cannot create videos, but can be used to deliver/publish video to students.
Useful features
Video can be embedded in FLO tools wherever there is an HTML editor
Limitations
Avoid embedding too many videos in any single page or activity as it will slow down that page loading time. (Note: in FLO's grid format, the contents of all modules is considered as one page.)
Cautions
Video in quiz questions – when uploading video to Kaltura (My Media) a video title is required. When embedded into questions, viewers can see the video title. Ensure the video title does not give away the question answer
Tips
Upload your video files to Kaltura (My Media) and embed into your FLO tools
Video uploaded into Kaltura can have captions and usage analytics
The Digital Content Producer is a highly talented member of the Online Learning Team in the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching, who has an extensive skillset with multimedia and digital content, and can work with you on the development of
complex digital learning resources.
If your needs are not met by the existing tools or the resource you are looking to create is complex in some way, please speak with the Learning Designer in your college about your needs
as there is some capacity for digital content production for learning and teaching.