Staff guide: top tips for recording learning and teaching content

Guide overview

This article is aimed at tutors and clinicians recording learning & teaching materials using a desktop computer or laptop.

This guide will cover the following information.

• Choosing the correct recording tool
• Organising your recording environment
• Setting up your equipment
• Media consent form and Hull York Medical School PowerPoint template for teaching content
• Recording transcripts

Choosing the correct recording tool

The medical school has a number of technologies that support the creation of recorded video content (lectures, presentations, seminars etc). The tool you decide to use for recording video content will be influenced by a variety of factors (the scenario, equipment and location). The descriptions for the type of recordings below will help you determine which technology best suits your needs.

Recording environment

• Location – find a quiet location to record. This will prevent any unwanted background noise from being picked up on the recording (which will be distracting for your viewers).
• Background – a cluttered background can be distracting for viewers. Try to record on a plain, clean background.
• Lighting – giving a little thought to lighting will greatly improve the look of your video. Don’t position the light directly behind you, unless you want to appear in silhouette. Avoid lighting from directly beneath or directly above your head to avoid unflattering shadows. Try to position yourself so your face is well lit.
• Privacy – remember to protect your privacy. Be mindful of what might be in the background of your recordings, avoid displaying anything private / personal or that may offend your viewers.
• Comfort – creating a recording can be stressful. Arrange your working environment in a way that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. Being uncomfortable will lead to you moving and fidgeting whilst recording, which may be distracting to some viewers. It may also generate some unwanted audio.

Equipment

• Camera position – try to line the position of the camera at eye level if you are recording picture in picture. This way the recording will look more natural to the viewers.
• Camera position – when framing the shot, try to position yourself so that everything from your shoulders to just above the top of your head is in the shot. Remember, you’re trying to make the shot to look as natural as possible.
• Sound – use an external microphone if possible. This will improve the quality of your audio.  If you are using the built-in microphone on your recording device, the quality of the audio will be affected by how far away you have to place it from yourself – too far and it may sound ‘tinny’.  
• Sound – turn off the speakers on your recording device to avoid any unnecessary audio interference (feedback).
• Do a test recording – to ensure you are happy with the quality of the audio, video, lighting etc.

Media consent form and Hull York Medical School PowerPoint template for teaching content

Media consent form

For teaching content delivered via PowerPoint presentations, please use the HYMS template. To ensure content is accessible, please be sure to enter text into the title text boxes on every slide. Click on the link above and enter your HYMS email account details to access the slides. From file choose to download a copy to save your own version on your desktop to edit. Please liaise with the school contact who requested content from you if you do not have HYMS log in details and need to be sent the template directly.

Recording transcripts

As outlined on our help page, creating accessible content, since the 23rd September 2019, all public sector bodies have had to comply with new government regulations to make websites and online resources accessible to all. All HYMS staff must ensure that teaching, learning and assessment content made available to students (via Blackboard or any other platform) conforms to this new legislation. Ensuring you provide accurate recording transcript content that has been checked for any errors is a great way to ensure your transcripts are more accessible to students. Please see the following help page for further guidance on transcripts (and improving Echo360 transcripts); upload / share recordings and generate transcripts in Microsoft Stream. Please also access the following link to more guidance on the student view of Echo360 transcripts; Student guide: using lecture recordings and viewing Echo360 transcripts.