Here are some things to think about as you plan your narration.
Talk to One Person
You probably have taught the majority of your lessons to a room or lecture hall full of people. Don’t treat your video lesson this way. Remember, most students will watch these videos on their own. Talk to that one student watching your video. Thank that student for joining you. Tell them what they should do in the next step.
Don’t use phrases like “Thank you all for joining me”, “Hey guys”, or other group terms. Talk to that one student.
Avoid Dated References, Jokes, or Puns
You should also avoid temporal references. Can you imagine watching a video and having someone laugh like Beavis and Butthead? How about warning your students to “Avoid the Noid”? Current politicians won’t be in office in ten years.
You should also try to avoid jokes and puns. Your audience will be global, and many jokes and puns don’t translate well into other languages or cultures.
Practice but Don’t Memorize
Practice, but don’t memorize what you are going to say for each slide. If you would like, you can write out a script of what to say. In some cases, this is preferred. In fact, the text in this document is a loose outline of what I plan to say on each slide of the videos accompanying this presentation.
Having a plan for your narration will help you create a better lesson.