Video Creation Tools

What are Video Creation Tools

Video is the electronic transmission of moving images. Video creation tools make it easy to record video material for conveying information via sound and motion.

What is the purpose of Video Creation Tools

Video recording can be used to create engaging material to supplement e-learning courses. It can also be helpful in building an authentic virtual classroom setting through video tutorials or ‘lecture capture’. Creations can further help create a sense of face-to-face interaction and strengthen the instructor-student relationship, which can be challenging in full online learning environments. Lastly, video may also be used to address accessibility concerns.

Video Creation for Teaching and Learning

Guy et al. (2014) emphasize a few key best practices for teaching online through video:

shorter videos that are less than 7 minutes in length are more engaging
An informal talking-head videos (i.e. webcam recording) is more engaging than a ‘Voice over PowerPoint’ presentation
Khan-style tablet video annotations add value to videos (for an example, check out this Introduction to Grammar by Khan Academy)
Pre-recorded classroom lectures do not make for very engaging online videos because there is a lack of direct engagement between the instructor and the viewer

How to use Video Creation Tools

Various tools associated with video creation can help you accomplish different tasks. The first step in using a video creation tool, is identifying the right tool for the job. Table 1 provides an overview of various tools associated with video creation and distinguishes between the functions they serve.

Overview of Associated Video Creation Tools

	Screen capture	Webcam recording	Microphone audio recording	Animation creation	Video Editing	Web hosting
Screencast-o-matic	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔
Explain Everything			✔	✔	✔
iMovie		✔	✔		✔
Camtasia	✔	✔	✔		✔
YouTube					✔	✔
Vimeo					✔	✔

Tools such as Screencast-o-matic, Explain Everything, iMovie, and Camtasia serve, in slightly different ways, the purpose of recording and creating video. Tools such as YouTube and Vimeo support video editing and web hosting functions. Generally, video recording tools enable you to start creating a video production either by using the tool’s own recorder (e.g.e screen or webcam recorder) or by uploading audiovisual material. The tools then allow some functionality for editing your video production. Editing functions may include clipping and organizing material, adding additional audio (such as music or voice over), adding transitions and annotations. Typically, video productions can then be saved and/or exporting the video in a standard video format (i.e. mp4). Exported videos can then be uploaded and shared elsewhere such as on your OWL course site, or on a video hosting site such as YouTube.

Web hosting sites such as YouTube and Vimeo add an interactive element as students may be able to ask questions or chat with teaching assistants and other students through a discussion thread linked directly to the video upload itself.

Comparison

	Explain Everything	Screencast-o-matic
Total Score	81%	79%
Functionality
Accessibility
Technical
Mobile Design
Usage & Account Set Up
Social Presence
Instructor Presence
Cognitive Presence

Literature

Guy, P. J., Kim, J., & Rubin, R. (2014). How video production affects student engagement: An empirical study of MOOC videos. Paper published in the Proceedings of the ACM conference on Learning @ scale, March 4-5, 2014, Atlanta, GA. DOI: 10.1145/2556325.2566239

Additional Resources

Vimeo Video School