Following are a few good practical tips for making the video-based distance learning experience more pleasant and productive for both the instructor and remote students.

• Picture in Picture (PIP)
• Personalizes presentation for students to see graphics and instructor in the same picture.
• Enables eye contact with students.
• Consistent graphics format allows using PIP without a lot of movement.
• Composition
• Balance: Keep instructor in the center of the picture.
• Tight shots (head to chest): Allows students to see instructors facial expressions and lip movements which enhances understanding.
• Avoid a lot of movement, panning and zooming. Don't make the remote students sea sick!
• Use a tripod or a permanently mounted camera.
• Instructor
• Avoid clothing with patterns, thin stripes, or bright colors. (Earthtone colors are best.)
• Look into camera. Make eye contact with your remote sites; you have an audience out there!
• Avoid excessive movement (especially when videotaping for streaming video), like waving a pointer over a visual rather than placing the pointer on specific spots. Quick movement can show up as a blurred picture when the video is compressed.
• Use good quality microphone and speak in normal tone of voice. Attach microphone in the center of the upper body or chest area.
• Be careful not to swivel in a chair or play with a microphone or its cord.
• Common distractions: jewelry, hair, or clothing brushing against the microphone; dropping or excessive handling of the microphone.
• Quality Control
• Uniform lighting allows remote students to see facial expressions and body language of the instructor.
• Have easy access technology controls or let a technician control the equipment.
• Determine what works best for the instructor. Some feel more comfortable in front of an audience while others prefer presenting without students.
• Use original master or professional copies of instructional supplemental videos rather than copies.The quality of the picture will allays be degraded further.
• Be prepared; technology can break or malfunction at any time. Have backups of your materials in printed or other forms and be prepared to switch content delivery mediums.

For more information about this topic, check More Stuff: More About Technology for Teaching, Digital Cameras in the Classroom, Tips for Making Better Videos (http://www.assortedstuff.com/otherstuff/cameras/video/videotips/index.html).

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