Creating Engaging Content

There are a few things to consider when creating online content. In face-to-face learning, you can immediately gauge responses from your audience, allowing you to easily change your content to be clearer and more engaging if need be. When delivering online content without this live response, you run the risk of being too verbose or obscure and your tone may be flat or robotic without you knowing.

To counteract this, when designing your content think about the engagement of your audience.

Think about creating your content in smaller ‘chunks’ or, if you have longer content, consider the best spots to cut it into smaller topic videos. Using R.E. Mayer's ‘Segmentation Principle’ of Multimedia Learning - People learn better when a multimedia lesson is presented in small user-paced segments.

Inserting varying content like quizzes, activities, or even interesting supporting video content, can both break the monotony of long content and provide further learning opportunities by requiring students to confirm or practice discussed concepts.

Check out Panopto to see a range of different tools to use to break up video content.

Inserting a Quiz into a Panopto Video

Inserting a YouTube Video into a Panopto Video (consider linking YouTube videos separately if appropriate)

Inserting a Webpage into a Panopto Video (consider linking webpages separately if appropriate)

Additionally, if you haven’t considered it before, booking in a consult with an Academic Developer or an Online Educational Designer is a great way to discuss your ideas, as well as receive feedback from those trained in creating online content.

Book a Consult with an AD or OED

If you are planning to use a variety of resources in your recording, like slides, animations, readings etc, then it is highly recommended that you practice before you record.

Read your presentation or script out loud at least once before recording. Focus on your articulation, clarity, flow, dynamics, and speed. Practicing out loud will also help you become familiar with your presentation, so when it comes time to record you will naturally come off more relaxed and conversational and thus more engaging.

When writing your scripts, consider preparing them based on how you speak, not how you would write. You want the performance to be as natural as possible, so consider your word choices, pauses, emphasis and sentence structure.

Once you have prepared for your presentation it is time to record. Understandably for most people, the recording and being on camera part can be quite daunting. Even if you are used to presenting face to face content, the fear of being on camera or recording your voice can cause even the most experienced teachers to worry and doubt their ability. The best way to overcome this is practice.

Being an excellent on camera presenter is a skill that needs practise to develop.

A good idea is to do some practice recordings and watch them back. You’ll be surprised at how much watching yourself back can help with developing your presentation skills. Always remember, you are your own worst critic, so try not to be too hard on yourself. It is also a good idea to get your peers to review your work so you can continue to improve upon your delivery.

Quick Tips:

• Warm up: Before commencing your recording, warm up your body and your voice to set yourself up. Take a few deep breaths to slow your heart rate and allow you to focus. Stretch through your torso, bend your knees, roll your shoulders and your neck. Do some tongue twisters, slide through your vocal registers like you’re imitating a siren. Prepare your body for the task ahead.
• Voice: Keep it conversational and natural. Consider your pitch, pace, articulation, emphasis, and overall energy. The more you engage with your content delivery, the more your students will engage.
• Hand position: If standing, keep hands in front of your body (possibly as if folded in your lap) instead of by your sides or behind your back. If you feel confident, choose points to emphasise with your hands.
• Body language: Keep energised. Try not to stand too stiff or sit slouched, as this will create excess tension in your body and voice, causing you to look uncomfortable and thus, effecting your delivery. Between takes, shake out your body and face to reduce tension, and don’t forget to smile!
• Eye line: Pretend the camera is a person. You can adjust your eyeline periodically to appear more natural, rather than sternly staring at the teleprompter/webcam.
• Nobody is perfect: If you get stuck, make a mistake, or feel uncomfortable, STOP! Take a break, shake out your body, give your voice a break, have some water, relax, BREATHE! Take as much time as you need, then reset and record.