Blog Post

E-Learning Challenges
2 MIN READ

Using Webcam Video to Create Interactive Lectures #256

DavidAnderson's avatar
5 years ago

Webcam Video in E-Learning  #256: Challenge | Recap

In a recent workshop on interactive video, some participants asked me what I thought of using webcam videos in corporate e-learning. While I haven’t done a lot with webcam video, I think it’s one of the easiest ways for designers to make existing courses more engaging.

Course introductions are a great place to start. Rather than narrate a slide of learning objectives and bullet points, try personalizing your intro with a webcam recording. Chapter and summary slides are also another way to integrate webcam videos into your courses. Once your storyboard is approved, you have the content you need to webcam one or more slides.

Though my workshop folks weren’t entirely sure video would work in their organizations, there sure was a lot of interest in it. And that’s what this week’s challenge is all about!

Challenge of the week

This week, your challenge is to show creative ideas for using webcam video to enhance interactive lectures and online training.

You can set up your video anyway you like. Here are some possible ideas and examples:

Option 1: Short introduction

Open with full webcam and lower thirds to include your name and website. Switch to a PowerPoint slide with some info about you and your services.

Option 2: E-learning tips

Expand on the first option by showing us what you’re currently working on. Open a project and share a peek at a project or share an e-learning tip. 

Option 3: Project overview

Share your e-learning portfolio and highlight one or more projects. Tell us about a project you worked on or an e-learning challenge you shared. Conclude with webcam and lower thirds.

Last Week’s Challenge:

Before you ascend this week’s challenge, check out the mountain adventure games your fellow community members shared over the past week:

Mountain Adventure Games in E-Learning #255: Challenge | Recap

Wishing you a great week, E-Learning Heroes!

New to the E-Learning Challenges?

The weekly e-learning challenges are ongoing opportunities to learn, share, and build your e-learning portfolios. You can jump into any or all of the previous challenges anytime you want. I’ll update the recap posts to include your demos.

Published 5 years ago
Version 1.0
  • JodiSansone's avatar
    JodiSansone
    Community Member
    How to Catch a Mouse
    Demo: https://bit.ly/3669gdc
    This is really how I spent my day.....trying to catch a mouse and doing a webcam about it. I never do webcams so this was an interesting challenge.
    • JodiSansone's avatar
      JodiSansone
      Community Member
      Thanks everyone for the very supportive comments--they help build my confidence. This challenge came at a perfect time because Wednesday morning I have to do a webcam session with a new client group (lawyers) and I was feeling very self conscious about it. This challenge forced me learn my webcam tools and I have to remember to smile....not my "go-to" facial expression, but I'll practice!
    • JenniferEdgerto's avatar
      JenniferEdgerto
      Community Member
      Ok, I have a major mouse phobia (my hands are sweating right now), but this was great! Your music was perfect and I liked your humor.
    • JodiSansone's avatar
      JodiSansone
      Community Member
      Jen, sorry to trigger your phobia! Here's a picture of the intruder--he/she was some sort of chipmunk and much bigger than a mouse. https://bit.ly/2NmR1Yi

      The drama ended this morning when my neighbor Dave came over and helped me devise a strategy. He knew how to remove the cover off the fireplace and we put a trap inside, closed it up, then we waited. It was over in 10 minutes. I feel kind of bad about it, but I couldn't take a chance that it would get loose in the house, make a nest and have a litter. I still feel bad about it.
  • Hello! This is distinctly outside my comfort zone, but here goes nothing!

    A Behind the Scenes Look at FEAR AND LOATHING IN E-LEARNING
    http://bit.ly/elhc256

    I've filmed an intro and an outro video for this interactive guide to my entry for Challenge #248. Triggers and variables mean you'll only see the intro if you haven't read any of the six sections and you'll only see the outro once you've read all six. You should only see me once each time, assuming you listen to me until the end of each clip. Anything to save you having to watch me more than you need to!
    • JodiSansone's avatar
      JodiSansone
      Community Member
      How nice to hear your voice and see you in person...and I just drove through Barstow to get to Vegas, so your project resonates with me.
      • Jonathan_Hill's avatar
        Jonathan_Hill
        Super Hero
        Thanks Jodi. I recall you mentioning you would be driving that way for DevLearn in the comments for Challenge #248. Did you have a good time at the conference?
    • Jonathan_Hill's avatar
      Jonathan_Hill
      Super Hero
      While building the variables and triggers that determine whether you see my intro or outro video, it occured to me that a similar mechanism could be used to create a branching scenario with webcam clips.

      A 'found footage' story, with a missing spy or scientist talking to the webcam. If I was any kind of actor I would have done that!
    • Samuel's avatar
      Samuel
      Community Member
      Great example Jonathan! I wouldn’t have thought about creating a webinar using Storyline. Way to kick off this challenge.
  • Demo: http://bit.ly/ELH256
    Blogpost: http://bit.ly/ELH256blogpost

    Hi everyone! I'm back from DevLearn and inspired by a nice little chat I had with David Anderson about making the most out of what we do here.

    In August, I announced a mentoring challenge where I hope to help 100 women of color enter the Learning and Development space over the next 5 years. One of the ways I have been doing this is by livestreaming my Storyline builds for small groups of new e-learning developers. People are able to ask me questions as I build, and I answer them in real-time.

    I'm submitting a short clip from one of those livestreams. My first time using Rise, too! :)

    • alexjinca's avatar
      alexjinca
      Community Member
      I loved this, Nyla, very natural flow and a very useful tutorial. Great idea livestreaming these builds for people to get live feedback!
      • NylaSpooner-b0d's avatar
        NylaSpooner-b0d
        Community Member
        My favorite part is getting the live feedback. It helps being able to answer questions in real time.
    • JodiSansone's avatar
      JodiSansone
      Community Member
      What a great idea! I had forgotten about Kuler so thanks for posting it. It was nice to see Rise used for this too. It looks like you used something like Zoom to do this--I'll have to try out your technique. Thanks for sharing it.
      • NylaSpooner-b0d's avatar
        NylaSpooner-b0d
        Community Member
        Hi Jodi! You're right - I use zoom to livestream, and (when I remember) I make sure to record the session. I plan on uploading it to youtube eventually. I get to help people and create tons of content I can re-purpose at the same time.
    • Samuel's avatar
      Samuel
      Community Member
      Well done Nyla. Cool topic and technique :) I applaud your mission.
  • I really like the way you address the audience and I liked the advice at the end about building a portfolio. It is a really cool project that you are doing to help people break into the field. I am a big fan of Adobe Capture too because I can take pictures out in the real world. I am always trying to get hex codes for the beautiful autumn colour in MTL.
    • JodiSansone's avatar
      JodiSansone
      Community Member
      Thank you for the "behind the scenes" look at your demo!
      • Samuel's avatar
        Samuel
        Community Member
        Thanks Jodi :) That could make for a good blog title.
    • JeffreyRiley-9e's avatar
      JeffreyRiley-9e
      Community Member
      Samuel this was a great use of different techniques and past challenges like the cutout! I really liked the use of the spray can to show different photos of related art work.
  • Information such as creating and using a QR Code has been around for a while but I find it to be an inexpensive and useful way to communicate information. I use a QR Code on my business cards and have been discussing with clients how they can use it to inform employees about maintenance solutions, policy changes and many other ideas. Yes, augmented reality would be great but this is faster and cheaper!

    This is a link to the project and there is a link to my blog at the end in case people want to refer to the information on their own.

    I have to add, this was helpful in getting me to learn more about video and editing. http://jeffrfiles.s3.amazonaws.com/ArticulatePosts/ELH%20Challenge%20256%20webcam%20video/story.html.
    • Samuel's avatar
      Samuel
      Community Member
      Thanks for sharing Jeffrey. Now I know where to go for my QR codes. Very helpful.
      • JeffreyRiley-9e's avatar
        JeffreyRiley-9e
        Community Member
        Your welcome Samuel. You should be able to find resources for any mobile device.
    • JodiSansone's avatar
      JodiSansone
      Community Member
      So true! My solution to this problem was to hire someone else to cut our grass. Now I live in an apartment so my grass cutting days are behind me. I was smiling the whole time I was watching.
      • NickRussell's avatar
        NickRussell
        Community Member
        Thanks Jodi! Actually I was only inspired to do this challenge after seeing your entry. So thanks for that too.
  • David, I know you are traveling. Will you be able to update the Recap soon? Thanks.