Dress professionally. Overall professionalism in appearance will ensure that your viewers will be focused on the content of your presentation rather than your appearance.
Avoid patterned clothing including pinstripes, herringbone, scottish tweed, small tight patterns.
Avoid saturated red and colors that highly contrast with your completion.
Avoid fabrics that make noise when they move or are pressed against a microphone (wool).
Mid-range solids or subtle patterns, navy, soft non-textured fabrics are suitable for video.
Be sure to wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
Don’t wear blue or green if you want to use the blue/green screen.
Pay attention to details – make sure clothes are ironed, be careful with jewelry that might distract.
Appearance
Brush your teeth.
Pay attention to makeup, ensuring that it is business/academic appropriate.
If your complexion shines or if you tend to sweat a lot, bring some tissues to blot or wear some light face powder.
Preparing your speech
Know your audience. Eliminate jargon from your presentation.
Keep in mind that the narrative is the most important part of your video. Don’t let a complex video shoot get in the way of telling it. Simple videos can be just as effective as complicated ones, if not more so.
Watch TED talks and other presentations to get ideas on how to present your topic effectively. (Provide examples on website?)
There are several ways you can create a presentation. Consider PowerPoint or Prezi!
Be sure you have the right to use any third-party content that you want to add to your presentation.
Give credit where credit is due.
When writing a script, write it in as conversational and as friendly a tone as you can. Use short sentences. Write for the ear – not for the eye. Most people will only hear video narration so you can be informal, using contractions, etc.
Presentations with dark backgrounds and extra-large white fonts are easiest to see.
Before recording
Manage your time; know what you plan to record before you start shooting. Make sure you add time into your session for the video to save to your USB drive.
Use the presentation monitor to display your notes to avoid holding note cards in your hands.
Gather presentation resources and props ahead of time (white boards, podiums, wireless slide advancer, etc.) and arrange the space appropriately. If you use props please put the room back to its original layout when you are finished. Wireless presentation slide advancers are available for check out at the Main Library Service Desk and the Hardin Library Reference Desk. USB drives are available for purchase at the Food for Thought Cafe in the Main Library.
Do a test recording to check voice levels and body placement. Use the Presentation computer to playback your recording. Be sure to give yourself some lead room and head room when positioning yourself in front of the camera. When a single person is the main subject of the recording make sure that there is a small amount of space above your head. You don’t what too much space but you don’t want to cut off your head either.
Read your script out loud so you can hear where you’ll need to make changes.
During recording
Look directly into the camera keeping your gaze as steady as possible. Imagine you are speaking to someone as you record your video. Avoid allowing your eyes to dart quickly from place to place in the room. Relax! Natural blinking is fine.
Use good enunciation as you speak.
Practice makes perfect! Use the One Button Studio to rehearse before you make your final recording. Endless re-dos on the same day might not improve your end product. Consider planning multiple practice sessions several days apart with viewing and practice in between.
Shorter recordings are better. If you have a long presentation consider breaking it up into smaller standalone chunks that you can edit later. 3-5 minutes is optimum, no longer than 10 minutes when possible.
Use the projector for practice recordings. Consider using the green or green screen for your final recording and then drop in presentation slides later.
When using the projector use a wireless slide advancer to advance your slides during your recording. Learn how to use a wireless presentation slide advancer here.
After recording
Consider captioning your video or offering a text transcript of the audio.
Books available in the University Libraries’ collection:
How to Design TED-Worthy Presentation Slides: Presentation Design Principles from the Best TED Talks, by Akash Karia
Faculty Resources
Book a consultation with the Student Instructional Technology Assistants (SITAs) in the Office of Teaching, Learning and Technology. Walk-in consultations are available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm in their office in 2800 University Capitol Centre. You can also schedule an appointment in advance by emailing sita@uiowa.edu.
