Learn tips and tricks from equipment to filming space for recording even better videos for your classes at home or in your office.

As the Multimedia Design Specialist in the Division of Online and Strategic Learning, I use my video and design skills to help Ball State University faculty upgrade their class quality in several key ways. I am passionate about filmmaking but not in an “I wanna make amazing movies someday” way. I recognize the importance of creating great videos for education. They can help connect learners and educators in powerful ways and help market your ideas and content in an engaging and innovative manner.

Let this blog article be my first piece of helpful advice, specifically when recording your course videos at home or in your office.

The Benefits of Creating Videos for Your Class

So, let’s talk about the benefits of creating videos for your classes at home or wherever your office may be. Creating videos for your classes is good practice for all teaching modalities, whether you are teaching strictly online classes, in-person classes, or a combination of the two.

Let me put on my learner-experience hat for a moment to help humanize the power of recorded videos for students. I recently took an Emerging Media Design and Development (EMDD) class called “Nonlinear and Interactive Storytelling,” with Professor Fisher at Ball State University. Early on, Professor Fisher asked us if we would like to have lectures available on Canvas (Ball State’s learning management system) every week so that we could spend our time in class working on projects. As students, we all agreed it would be best to get more hands-on time working in class, while having Professor Fisher available as a resource.

For many of us, it was great to be able to listen to the lectures at our own pace and process the information throughout the week before class. I’m not a pedagogy expert, but my Division of Online and Strategic Learning colleagues tell me that this is called a flipped classroom. It creates more time in class for students to do the work with their professor present, ask questions, and get more done in a focused environment. Of course, this looks and feels different for online asynchronous courses where learners rely on the video content and other materials the faculty member provides.

So, what are the key benefits of recording lectures and giving students access to them outside any synchronous class meeting time? Here are my top reasons for recording videos regardless of the modality in which you are teaching:

1. Students can access helpful course resources while simultaneously watching asynchronous video content to support their learning.
2. Students build independent learning and study skills when they access asynchronous video content.
3. Students can adjust the speed of the video to their listening preferences.
4. Students can pause, rewind, and clarify material they encounter along the way. 
5. Faculty can spend more in-class time with students, answering questions, providing feedback, and additional guidance.  
6. When students have to be absent from class, they can access content and have a better chance of keeping up with the class. 
7. Faculty can reuse content repeatedly! Especially if the information is timeless and the video quality is high.

Record With Confidence

Let’s talk about stage fright, or in this case, filming fright. It can be daunting when you aren’t used to making videos of yourself. Let me share some tips on how to get over the nervousness of filming yourself and how to present yourself in the best way possible. 

Part of being a teacher to a group of people involves some levels of performance. A teacher has to write a lesson for a class and then they have to go speak in front of a group of students to teach it. Writing a script is a lot like writing a lesson plan. Recording yourself is a lot like teaching a class. It can seem awkward at first but just imagine your students are there with you as you talk through key concepts.  

Like thinking through key talking points in a video, you need to think through your equipment and setup. Do some research on the webcam, lights, and mics you want to borrow or buy. The following are a few suggestions. 

Build Your Own Recording Kit

The following are suggestions for building your own self-recording kit on a low budget. Some of these tips will cost under $40, and some of them are totally free. I provide several different budget tiers for tools below.

The $50 Kit (+ or -) 

• Webcam and Mic – NEXIGO HD Webcam with microphone 
• Light – Clip on Ring Light 
• Teleprompter App: CuePrompter or GVM teleprompter (I use this one in mirror mode with my camera, but it can also be used on an iPad, not mirrored. You can and should use teleprompters for your videos, even if you know the lesson by heart. I highly suggest writing a script for every video you can.)

The $100 Kit (+ or -) 

• Webcam – Nexigo 1080p HD camera with a built-in light and mic   
• High-Quality Mic – ZealSound Stand up mic with usb, usb-c adapters (I suggest a high-quality microphone with a stand if you are able. It will pick up your voice very well and have noise reduction abilities.) 

The Dream Kit 

• Camera – A 4k camera with a tripod (This type of camera with a tall tripod is great if you want to set up an area to film a practical how-to video. For example, you might be an art professor making a video showing how to use specific tools in the wood shop. You might be an instructor recording a more traditional lecture using a physical whiteboard to show formulas for an accounting class. A 4k camera with a tripod is ideal for connecting to a laptop and recording anywhere.) 
• Wireless Mic – A JBL wireless clip-on mic with a USB-C receiver (Depending on your computer you may need a USB-C to USB adapter to plug the receiver into your computer.) 

Set Up Your Recording Space

The space you record your videos in is also an important component to creating better-quality videos. There are a couple aspects you should strive for when picking/setting up your spot to film. Here are the simple suggestions.

1. A quiet space. 
   • Find somewhere you won’t be interrupted often.
   • Make sure there aren’t any annoying environmental sounds that the mic will pick up, like a loud fan or a busy room next door. If you aren’t sure if a sound will be picked up, do a simple test. Start recording, be silent for 10 seconds, and talk for 10 seconds. Watch the video back and see if the noise is picking up. There are some editing software that can help get rid of background noise to a point, but don’t depend on that.
2. A well-lit space.
   • Natural light is beneficial to us who don’t have a ton of equipment or money for extra lighting.
   • Sometimes, adding two or three white paper lantern globes with cheap holiday lights to a room will help create ambient lighting.
   • Adding a lamp to your desk to help light your face is also an easy solution.  
3. A nice background.
   • Try set dressing your recording space. Add personality with art and fun things connected to your class.
   • Do not have any brands or unprofessional words in your background.
   • A bookshelf with relevant books or plants. These things help with sound to reduce reverb and just plain look nice.
   • If you are recording an activity, make sure the work area is clean and well-lit. 

Write a Script

I highly recommend writing a script for every video. If you don’t have the time to do that much prep work for your video, at least make an outline so your video stays succinct and clear. Here is a sample Video Scripting Template-DOWNLOAD.docx you can download and make your own.  

Shorter videos (5-10 minutes) are best practice for many practical reasons. For example, some students do not have great Wi-Fi download speeds, so shorter videos are easier to load. Shorter videos also force you to break up ideas and key topics, so it’s easier and quicker for your students to reference your learning material. It’s not always easy to break lectures into smaller chunks of time. If you have a lecture that usually lasts one hour, break it up into four 15-minute videos. You can create naming conventions, for example, part 1, part 2,..etc or more descriptive titles (ie. Viking Clothing: The Smokkr, Viking Clothing: The Skjoldehamn Hood, …etc. -l like Viking history…) ahead of sharing video content with learners. Giving videos more descriptive titles makes it easier for students to reference ideas and concepts when studying and completing assignments.

Minimal Post-Editing and Finalization

Minimal post-editing for videos is a great way to enhance your content without getting overwhelmed. The key is to keep it simple and efficient. Following are a few steps to follow when editing your self-recorded videos:

1. Trim unnecessary parts. Most basic video editors, like iMovie (Mac), Clipchamp (Windows), or CapCut (free for both), allow easy trimming to remove mistakes or long pauses. 
2. Adjust lighting and audio. Many editors have an “auto-enhance” or “adjust brightness” feature that can quickly improve video quality. For sound, use noise reduction tools to minimize background noise and ensure clear audio. 
3. Add text and simple transitions. These can make your video more polished. Avoid excessive effects — stick to smooth cuts or fade transitions. Titles and captions improve accessibility and can be added easily in most editors. 
4. Export your final video in the correct format. MP4 with H.264 compression ensures compatibility and good quality without large file sizes.

Record with good lighting and clear sound to streamline the process and minimize editing needs. Keeping a consistent workflow will help make video editing fast and efficient. As you gain confidence, you can explore more advanced techniques and equipment, but these simple steps will produce professional-looking results with minimal effort for beginners.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Improving your video setup doesn’t have to be overwhelming — small changes can make a big impact! With a little attention to lighting, sound, and background, you can create engaging, professional-looking videos that enhance your students’ learning experience. Remember, you don’t need a perfect setup to be effective — your passion and knowledge truly make a difference. Keep experimenting, keep refining, and most importantly, keep recording with confidence!