I get asked quite a bit to give feedback on video tutorials that were created by aspiring educators. Some turn out great, while others could use some tuneups. This article will hopefully give you an insight as to what steps you should take to create great screencasts!

Producing Quality Screencasts

Choose Your Topics Wisely

Educators shouldn’t start teaching simply because the topic at hand is ‘popular’. Before making the conscious decision to teach, you should not only be familiar with the topic, but you also need a sense of passion to go along with it. I’ve sat through hundreds of video tutorials and live sessions, and one thing is for sure. If the instructor is truly passionate about what he/she is teaching, the lesson will be that much more enjoyable.

Of course, once you’re certain that you know the material well enough to deliver to an audience, the question always comes up:

“Well, what should I focus on?”

Even after 6 years of online training, I still ask myself this question. The easy answer is to teach what you know best. Especially if you’re just starting out, you want to show the world that you have what it takes to create amazing screencasts, so the more knowledgable you are on a specific subject, the stronger it should come across in an instructional video. Later on in this article, we’ll cover using social media to build up your idea base.

Planning

So now that you’ve decided what you want to teach, it’s time to plan! Just like a school teacher creates lesson plans for their students, you should consider mapping out your videos and courses. Too often do I watch tutorials that contain a stumbling instructor that stems from lack of direction. If you’re not sure how to deliver your tutorials, create a few samples before unleashing them to the world.

- Scripted VS “Live” Screencasts

Throughout the 6 years I’ve been screencasting, my delivery method has flip-flopped quite a few times.

- When I first started out, I would simply start recording, and go with it. No scripts, no planning, nothing.

- After realizing that my content was suffering, I started to script my videos to give me direction while recording. While I wasn’t reading the script word-for-word, the notes were there if I needed them. This method boosted my presentation, but still left me stumbling from time to time.

- Finally, after becoming very comfortable in front of the microphone, I started to not only script my videos, but I was able to read word for word, while keeping the recording sounding natural.

Of course, everyone works differently. I’ve come across instructors who can record a 10 minute video in one take, without any error. I simply can not. On the other hand, reading from a script may result in a very ‘unnatural’ sounding video, so it’s definitely a good idea to test out which delivery method you like the best.

- My Current Workflow

For those who have asked, here is my current workflow:

- Gather ideas! Whether it’s from Facebook, Twitter, or email, questions from my audience is a great place to start!
- Experiment! Once I’ve settled on the idea, it’s time to experiment. I usually will have a ‘basic’ idea on how to achieve the requested effect, but I must now figure out how to simplify it for training purposes, even if that means spending a few extra hours in the experimentation phase.
- Script it! Now that I have the final result simplified, it’s time to write the script. Each tutorial is written, line by line, unravelling each step in the tutorial. To ensure that I don’t run into any surprises once I start recording, I rehearse each paragraph after it’s written.
- Audio Recording! Once the script is written, it’s time to record the audio. Recording the audio first allows me to make all the mistakes that I want. They can easily be edited out once the recording is complete.
- Screen Recording! When the audio is recorded and edited to perfection, it’s screen recording time! Once ScreenFlow starts to record my screen, I play back my audio in the background, and follow my own, recorded direction to complete the tutorial. I also have ScreenFlow set to record my computer’s audio, so that everything lines up perfectly.
- Final Edits! Finally, once the screencast is complete, I finalize it by adding in any intros and zoom effects to the video using ScreenFlow’s built in editor.

Ditch the “Filler” Words

As an instructor, it’s your job to know the material you’re teaching. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’ve been teaching for 25 years, you need to come across as confident! One of the biggest negatives that I come across in videos, is the use of ‘filler’ words. These are short words that are usually spoken while your brain is figuring out what to say next.

“Um, uh, hmm, eh, ah”

I know, I know. These words ‘just come out’. Most people don’t even realize that they are using filler words until they listen to themselves on a recording. It’s a difficult habit to break, but there are ways around it, depending on the delivery method you feel most comfortable with.

- If you are taking the natural route (start recording and go with it), you need to to be aware of the mistakes that you make along the way. The occasional filler word can easily be edited out in post, but any major slips may require you to stop recording, back up, and give it another shot.

- Scripting your videos can help eliminate the use of filler words, but like mentioned above, if you’re not 100% comfortable with your microphone, the results can sound very unnatural.

Whichever method you choose, it’s very important to reduce or eliminate filler words from your educational videos. Not only are they frustrating to hear, but to many, they are a sign of weakness, and as an educator, that’s the last thing you want your viewers to think. Confidence and fluidity is a key aspect to successful instruction.

Monotone, Smonotone!

I’m sure you will all agree that monotone instructors are boring! My first videos were pretty boring, as well, and if you’ve had the chance to hang out with me in person, I’m not very up beat like I am in my videos. However, as someone who knows how painful it is to sit through a monotone instructional video, I make sure to put the extra effort into my voice while the microphone is on, and so should you! You may need to break away from your everyday voice, but trust me, your viewers will appreciate it!

Equipment

So you’re now ready to dive right in, but you may be wondering what equipment to use. Let me give you some suggestions!

- Computer

I’m going to avoid the Mac VS PC war by saying that you should use whatever system you feel more comfortable with. I happen to use a Mac, as I’ve found that it handles my design applications very smoothly. However, whether you’re using a Mac or a PC, especially when working with screen recording applications, you want a nice amount of RAM. This will allow your computer to handle multiple, intense tasks at once. By today’s standards, 8GB of RAM should be the minimum you should consider.

- Microphones

While built-in mics are getting better and better, they still shouldn’t be used for ‘professional’ screencasts. There are plenty of very good and affordable USB mics that will take your recordings to the next level, giving you sharper audio, and drastically reduce background noise. Here are just a few:

Blue Microphone Mics: I’ve had very good experience with Blue Microphones!

Blue Tiki – Perfect for podcasting on the go with your laptop! $52
Blue Snowball – Great desktop mic for everyday podcasting. $68
Blue Yeti – This is what I currently use. One of the best professional USB mics. $104

Other Mics:

Rode Podcaster – One of the most expensive USB mics, but provides great, sharp audio. $229
Audio Technica AT2020 – Another great, affordable USB mic. $67

Accessories: While many of these mics come with great stands that reduce vibration, if you’re looking to take your recordings seriously, it may be a good idea to invest in a swivel arm and a shock mount. As the mics above are all different sizes, you may need to buy a shock mount that’s specifically made for your mic.

Software

There are many different applications that will record your desktop and audio, but from my experience, there are only a few that stand out.

ScreenFlow – $99

If you’re a Mac user, and serious about screencasting, there’s no question that ScreenFlow is the best screen recording application around. Not only does it allow you to record your desktop, but it allows you to record your audio, and from your built-in webcam, if you wish. On top of that, once the recording is complete, ScreenFlow comes with full on video and audio editing. If you’ve watched any of my tutorials, you’ve probably seen some of the zoom effects that ScreenFlow is capable of. All of the editing is done after recording, so I don’t have to worry about zooming while I’m trying to teach.

Camtasia – $99

On the other side, Windows users who are looking for a powerful screen recording application may want to try out Camtasia. Similar to ScreenFlow, Camtastia allows you to record audio and video, and includes a built-in editor to polish your videos to perfection! Camtasia is also available for the Mac, but I would highly recommend ScreenFlow if you’re a Mac user.

- Cheaper Alternatives

If you don’t have the budget to pay for high end applications, you may want to check out these alternatives:

CamStudio - Free for Windows users.
Screenr - Web based screen recording service. Free for Mac and Windows users.

Other Software

Handbrake - Handbrake isn’t an application that can record your screen, but for those looking to drastically reduce the size of your exported files, you may want to give this a try. I have a video on how it works, too!

Socialize!

There was a point, not too long ago, where I refused to start a Facebook “Fan Page”. I thought it was a waste of time. Boy, was I wrong. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter allow you and your viewers to engage in discussions that may not be possible on your website or YouTube. On top of that, it gives your viewers a place to ask questions which you can field in your future videos.

- Cross Promote!

Very few people will magically find your social media pages. It’s very important to drive traffic to Facebook and Twitter. Not only will it serve as a source of traffic, but it will also serve as a source for ideas. Once you start to engage your audience on these social media sites, the questions will start flowing. It’s a great way to build up your topic base!

- Push Them In The Right Direction!

Many users will not simply “Like” your Facebook page without reason. Offering exclusive content, or contests is a great way to build up your social media fan base. And once they’re there, you need to keep them coming back! Consistent content, polls, and questions will keep your users engaged, and coming back for more!

Don’t Give Up!

I’ll be straight with you. There’s a good chance that your first few screencasts will suck. I can proudly say that mine were terrible, but I took the extra time to gather feedback from the comments, and made changes where necessary. Just like anything in life, the more you practice, the better you’ll get. If you go back (please don’t) and compare my first tutorials with what I put out now, you’ll see a huge different in my presentation. I could not have done this without practice and determination.

- Prepare For Hate!

Something else that I can almost guarantee, is that you’re going to receive hate comments. It’s inevitable. Even if your content is amazing, there will still be the childish viewers who can’t live without trolling your video.

IGNORE THEM!

Those comments are there for only one reason; trolling. Unless the comment contains constructive criticism, delete, block, and continue on with your work. Letting these negative comments get to you will only deter you away from creating amazing content.

- Constructive Critisism

Amongst the negativity, there will be the occasional constructive comments. It’s hard to believe, but there are actually users who do their best to make suggestions on where you can improve.

Do NOT ignore these!

Whether the comment states that you’re speaking too quickly, too slowly, or that your microphone is ‘popping’, take note of these comments, and compare them with others you may have received. If enough users suggest that you slow down your presentation, make the change! After all, it’s your audience that you’re making these videos for. You should be doing everything in your power to make them happy!

Stay Passionate

I cannot stress it enough that you need to be truly passionate about what you’re teaching if you want to be a successful educator. Your viewers will know if you’re teaching for ‘fame’ or simply for the money. Enjoy every second of it, and keep on pushing forward!