Videotaping Student Presentations

 
       
  • Evaluating student presentations on videos that have poor sound quality is very frustrating. If at all possible, ask for an external microphone to be used during the shooting. The microphones that are built into the camera are typically of poor quality. The best procedure would be to put a wireless lavaliere microphone on the speaker.

  • Don't turn off the lights just to have an optimal view of the Powerpoints.

  • Let the camera operator know several seconds in advance when the presentation is about to start so that s/he does not miss taping the opening remarks.

  • If at all possible, have the student introduce him or herself by name on camera so that scorers other than the course instructor can later on identify which students were assessed.

  • Discuss in advance with the camera operator what to focus on during the student presentations. Guidelines for the operator should include the following:

    • Start with a wide-angle shot that establishes what the physical environment looks like in which the speakers move around.

    • Zoom close enough into the speaker so that facial expressions can clearly be seen.

    • Don't zoom in so close that body behaviors happen off-camera.

    • Make sure to catch a full view of each visual (Powerpoint) in the presentation. Typically, some panning between the speaker and the projection screen will be required for that.

    • If students present in a group that generates interaction between the group members and/or the student audience, make sure to capture some of that interaction by panning and zooming in or out.

    • If there are questions from the audience, try to quickly adjust the microphone so that those questions can be heard.

 

       
   

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