Getting Started

Write a script
In the script, make a list of screencast and/or still image segments you need.
Record the voiceover first
Add the screencast and other visual elements
Save and export to either .mp4 or .MOV format: Both of these will work for Kaltura and YouTube. (YouTube also supports additional formats.)
Upload to desired hosting platform (IU Libraries YouTube (Links to an external site.) or Kaltura (Links to an external site.) recommended)

Best Practices and Practical Tips

Videos require regular upkeep. Plan for inevitable changes to interface and process. Recording in small segments helps.
You have 3 minutes, maximum, to get your point across. If your video is longer than 3 minutes, consider if you need to separate into more than one video.
Screencasting is excellent at teaching procedural tasks. It is much more difficult to craft a conceptual video that will hold attention.
- "How to use JSTOR" is a great candidate
- "What is authority?" is much more difficult
It is very difficult to narrate and record screen actions at the same time. Though it seems counterintuitive, it saves a lot of time and hassle to record audio and screen action separately and combine for editing.
- Done this way, you do not need a "clean" take of anything. You can stop, start, and restart as necessary in one take and edit out the parts you don't want to keep.
Audio quality matters. Good video with bad audio will always look amateur. When possible, use an external microphone, such as a headset with a microphone, to achieve best possible sound quality.
Always include closed captioning
- When writing script, provide descriptive narration for screen motion. This ensures that action on screen appears in closed captioning for better accessibility.
- Auto-generated closed captioning is often incorrect. Include a downloadable script for best accessibility.