Digital Recording Handbook

Digital Recording Handbook

Contents Introduction 3 Before the video recording session 4 During the video recording session 7 Video recording requirements 9 Hardware and software requirements 12 Appendix 1: Camera arrangements 15 Appendix 2: Consent form 16 Appendix 3: OpenSpace video assessment 17 All terms mentioned in this text that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalised. Use of a term in this text should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark. Open Colleges Pty Ltd, 2013 All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Produced in Australia. Digital Recording Handbook 2

Introduction This handbook provides clear and concise guidelines on recording and submitting a digital recording in OpenSpace. To gain a full understanding of Open Colleges policy and procedures on digital recording, we recommend you read the entire handbook. Alternatively, you may wish to use the contents page to navigate directly to a particular section for immediate information. For further information If you have any questions after reading this handbook, you may contact one of our Open Colleges support teams below: Student Support Team (general assistance) By phone: 1300 650 011 By email: studentsupport@opencolleges.edu.au OpenSpace Team (technical issues) By email: openspace@opencolleges.edu.au Appendices The Appendix section located at the back of this handbook provides examples and sample documents to help illustrate some aspects of the material discussed. You will notice references throughout the handbook referring you to these when required. Digital Recording Handbook 3

Before the video recording session Determine your objectives and view the assessment requirements What is the likely outcome of your recording? What are your objectives? Carefully consider your objectives of what and how to record before taking action. Be sure to read all the assessment instructions before commencing any recording. The instructions to each assessment are likely to provide you with all the necessary objectives and/or requirements. Select the appropriate stage or location and ensure all workplace health and safety practices are met When recording your session, it is always important to consider your surroundings. Never take a situation for granted; always expect the worst. When involving additional participants in your recording, you need to be more conscious and alert to dangers that could affect their health and safety. Does your camera recording equipment require a long lead connected to the power point? If so, have you taped down the cable? Have you made it clearly visible so that participants avoid tripping and injuring themselves? Ask yourself questions like these to avoid a disaster or injury. Remember that prevention is better than a cure. Know the requirements for all recorded videos See the Video recording requirements section of this handbook. Organise and arrange any equipment required to record the session See the Hardware and software requirements section of this handbook. Digital Recording Handbook 4

Plan the presentation or training session you are about to record Take your time to carefully prepare your session by analysing what you are presenting and identifying the characteristics of your target audience. It may help to visualise your training plan in this way: Start by developing key themes or topics. You can do this by writing a list of bullet points or key words. Once you have your list, arrange it into a logical order with the intended outcome in mind. Research, gather and record reliable information in one specific location. Your information should be restricted to each particular theme or topic. As you gather the information, only use what is relevant and make sure you understand each point properly. Generally, five to ten minutes of discussable material per theme or topic is sufficient. Avoid covering too much material, as your audience may lose interest or find it difficult to remember all the information. Tips for preparing a session plan Prepare an introductory ice-breaker to engage your audience Determine the importance of your plan Gather all information relevant to your topic Identify the main points of your session Organise and structure your material; keep only what s best Conclude your session with a motivational ending and summarise your key points Review and refine your training plan Practice in front of a mirror or in front of a trusted friend or family member. Digital Recording Handbook 5

Decide on a self-recording or a camera-operator recording Self-recording If you choose to self-record, you will need to set up the camera and lens in a fixed position that is best for recording your planned session. If you choose a fixed position, you will need to be aware of where the camera is located and not move out of the camera recording range while recording. The Assessor needs to be able to see and hear you to determine whether you are competent for the unit. Practice, practice and practice Quality work in any field requires familiarity and competence gained through practice. Remember, practice makes perfect. Keeping this in mind will improve any work you do! American science fiction writer Ray Bradbury wrote: I know you ve heard it a thousand times before. But it s true hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don t love something, then don t do it. Camera-operated recording If you choose to have someone else record your session, you will most likely have a better recording outcome because the operator can, at any stage, pan and zoom while maintaining the camera in the right location. This gives you more freedom to move around and relax during the recording. Some assessment tasks may require the recording session to be continuous not to include stops or breaks in the recording or breaks, so that the entire session can be observed. Please ensure to check the individual requirements for each assessment task. For further information, see Appendix 1: Camera arrangements in the appendices section of this handbook. Digital Recording Handbook 6

During the video recording session Effective speaking To be an effective communicator, you must speak clearly. Your presentation may be very interesting and important, but much will be lost if you do not speak clearly to your audience. Using a voice recorder can help you to identify any weak points in your method of presentation. Record yourself and use this practice to correct any mistaken words, watch for any instances of repetition of particular terms such as OK, um, and find out whether you slur, muffle or clip any words. Listening back to yourself on a voice recorder can also help you try to determine the cause of these errors. Once you have identified any problems, you can learn to eliminate them as much as possible; this will make it easier for your audience to listen to what you are saying instead of what you are trying to say. Try to relax when you speak. If you are tense, this will be apparent in your voice and your audience will feel uncomfortable. This can lead to distraction and the focus being on you, rather than your message. Tip: To speak clearly, you should position your head up and straight (vertical to the floor) to ensure you can open your mouth properly. Remember to make eye contact with your audience as much as possible. Digital Recording Handbook 7

Pausing When you are presenting, be sure to schedule pauses after main points or points of interest. This helps your points be understood clearly and distinctly, rather than as unconnected rambling. Clear, concise points are more likely to make a lasting impression on your audience. Points to remember when presenting Use voice modulation to ensure your presentation does not sound monotone or boring. When reading out of a book or quoting, observe the punctuation and read accordingly to ensure the correct thought is conveyed. Observe good speakers; watch where and how long they pause. Try searching YouTube for some examples of good speakers. After you say something important or that you really want others to remember, pause to allow it to sink in. When asking a question in your presentation, pause and allow what others are saying to sink before making a response. Digital Recording Handbook 8

Video recording requirements If the submitted video recording does not meet the assessment requirements of the unit, it will not be assessed and will be returned to the learner. Approved video submissions The video recording must be submitted in one or more of the following approved submission types: 1. A DVD or mini DVD that is properly finalised and in a format/digital file that will play on standard DVD equipment. 2. A CD containing the recording in a format included in the list below. 3. A USB flash drive containing the recording in a format included in the list below. 4. OpenSpace video assessment Approved video formats The video recording must be submitted in one of the following video formats: WMV (recommended) MOV (recommended) MP4 (recommended) AVI (please note that this format is not always supported and may have a reduced quality compared to others). Digital Recording Handbook 9

Additional requirements that could contribute to your video recording being considered unsatisfactory for marking are outlined below. Video submission The submitted video recording must be the original work of the learner submitting it for assessment. If the individual in the recording is not the intended learner and is someone other than the intended learner, the assessment will automatically be placed under investigation as a breach of policy and procedures on plagiarism. Additionally, if the learner s video submission is substantially similar to another learner s submission, the validity of both learners work will be examined. For more information on Open Colleges Assessment Procedures and Student Code of Conduct, see our website under the section Key Student Information. Video editing Once the recording has started, it must actively cover the learner s performance throughout the entire required duration of the recording, without stopping or restarting. Once the recording is stopped, there must not be any enhancement or editing of the entire duration of the recording. Any interruptions or edits in the recording, including deleting audio, freeze-frames, or other special effects (unless otherwise advised by the assessment instruction) will result in a need for re-submission. Length of video recording The length of each recording must meet the individual assessment requirements. If the submission contains less than what is indicated, a re-submission may be required. If the submission is too long, only the specified length outlined in the assessment will be assessed. Clarity of video recording The video and audio of the recording must be clear and easily viewable by the Assessor. The Assessor will make a judgement regarding clarity, at his or her discretion and advise the learner to re-submit, if required. A clear and viewable recording is required to make a fair and just judgement of the learner s performance in the recording (i.e. the Assessor must be able to clearly view the learner s demonstration and be able to hear the learner and the participants). Digital Recording Handbook 10

Unrelated recorded content The submitted recording must relate to the assessment and not contain any additional material deemed unacceptable (i.e. swearing or abusive language). Any recordings deemed inappropriate will automatically receive a Fail (FA) mark, preventing the learner from any further opportunities to re-submit. Read aloud within your video recording to all participants: This session/presentation is being recorded for assessment purposes for my course with Open Colleges. This recording will be live streamed through Open Colleges online learning platform to the Open Colleges Learning Management System. These sessions may be used by Open Colleges for compliance purposes or within a course to demonstrate examples of best practices. Blank recording A submitted recording that does not have any visual image or audio in the first five minutes or entire length of any recording will be considered blank and a re-submission will be required. This video may be available publicly (this applies to the time the video is being streamed). After the recording, the video will be stored securely and will become the property of Open Colleges. If you do not wish to be recorded, you will need to leave the session now. Ensure the agreement of participants You will need to ensure that all individuals participating in your session agree to be a part of the video recording. All participants must sign the consent form located in Appendix 2 of this document. The consent form must be uploaded or included with your video submission. Student disclaimer You must advise any participants involved in the recording that they are being recorded. The disclaimer to the right MUST be read to participants at the beginning of your training session or presentation and included as part of the video recording. Digital Recording Handbook 11

Hardware and software requirements PC or MAC Whichever computer you use, just ensure that you are familiar with which video recording software you are going to use, an example of the two operating systems and their default recording software are given below: WINDOWS - PC In the case of a Windows Computer you may be using Windows Live Movie Maker. Please see the How-to videos located in OpenSpace: https://learning.opencolleges.edu.au/mod/ocvid/view.php?id=65438 OS X - MAC In the case of a Mac computer you may likely use PhotoBooth or QuickTime as your preferred recording option. Please see the How-to videos located in OpenSpace: https://learning.opencolleges.edu.au/mod/ocvid/view.php?id=65438 Digital Recording Handbook 12

Webcam or video camera CD/DVD/USB Ensure that the web camera is connected to your computer. A video and steps on how to install a webcam are located in OpenSpace: https://learning.opencolleges.edu.au/mod/ ocvid/view.php?id=65438 A standard CD containing the recording should be submitted for marking. The CD should be a data disc containing the recorded video file in one of the video formats shown in the Video recording requirements section of this handbook. Microphone When using a microphone, you should consider the following: keep the microphone ten to fifteen centimetres from your mouth be sure to speak only when your mouth is toward the microphone use a little more volume and intensity than you would in normal conversation if you need to clear your throat, turn your head away from the microphone. A standard DVD of the recorded video should be submitted for marking. The DVD must be playable in any standard DVD player. A USB flash drive should be submitted containing the video recording. The video recording should be in one of the video formats shown in the Video recording requirements section. Note: Your camera recording equipment may already have a microphone embedded and will record both audio and visual. Digital Recording Handbook 13

OpenSpace video assessment *Recommended video submission method The OpenSpace video assessment is the recommended video submission method, as it is a simple, fast and free way to record your presentation. You may already be aware that uploading your video manually could take a substantial amount of time and load on your internet account and could cause a timeout. By using this tool, you do not need to use any other third party recording software that can cause other issues. By using this tool, you will be recording your video direct into OpenSpace using streaming. As you record your video, the uploading phase is taking place simultaneously in the background without you even noticing. The video is then converted into a single, standard file format and is recorded within the assessment in OpenSpace. Your Trainer can then view each recording and provide feedback and a grade accordingly without the technical complications. Please find the set of instructions at the back of this handbook in Appendix 3, which details stepby-step instructions for using this tool. Important: You will need to record your session in increments of no more than ten minutes; this is a failsafe to ensure your recording is not lost in case of a connection failure or blackout. Additionally, there are other advantages to this method. If, for example, you had to re-submit your recorded presentation as a re-submission, due to not following the assessment requirements, you could re-submit the revised ten minutes without affecting the other portions of your presentation. A timer has been added within the tool to help you keep track of your session for each ten-minute increment. It is recommended to designate someone to assist you in the recording to keep track of your timing and help record the session. Clock or timer It is important to stick to your plan and your allocated time. Use a timer to keep track of where you are in your plan and to ensure your presentation flows from point to point at the right time. Do not go overtime! Digital Recording Handbook 14

Appendix 1: Camera arrangements Self-recorded camera arrangements A. Rear-view camera arrangement (row seating) Camera stationary with only the presenter in sight; no need to involve participants in recording. Y P P C P P P P P P P P P Key Y = You C = Camera P = Participants = Camera Field of View B. Side-view camera arrangement (row seating) Camera stationary to include some participants, depending on assessment requirements. Y P P P P P P P C P P P P Camera-operator recorded camera arrangements A. Front-view camera arrangement (row seating) Camera operator records presenter directly in front and may pan, but does not include participants in recording. Y P P C P P P P P P P P P B. Front-view camera arrangement (row seating) Camera operator pans side to side to record presenter and students from the centre. Y P P P P P P C P P P P P Digital Recording Handbook 15

Appendix 2: Consent form Video recording consent form Your name: Date: PARTICIPANT S NAME SIGNATURE By signing this form, you have consented to participating in a video recording in accordance with the disclaimer read by your Trainer/presenter at the commencement of this session. Digital Recording Handbook 16