When recording videos for your class, polish matters less than you think. Learn why and how to let go of the idea of a \u201cperfect\u201d video and embrace some jankiness in your teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re tentative about making videos for your students, this post is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I started making videos for my classes, I felt like I had to be \u201cperfect\u201d on camera. I was convinced that I needed to be a YouTube star to be a successful teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than a decade later, I am reflecting on just how wrong I was. You do not<\/em> need to be a YouTube star to make great videos that help your students learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need fancy, expensive equipment.<\/strong> You can use whatever you have lying around, including your phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need editing wizardry.<\/strong> You can make great videos while barely using any software at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need to be charismatic.<\/strong> You can make engaging videos even if you\u2019re not comfortable in front of a camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need to be flawless in your recording.<\/strong> You can make mistakes and be human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If any of these have held you back from recording videos, you\u2019re in good company. I want to encourage you, though, to let your reservations go and create some janky videos. I expect you\u2019ll be pleasantly surprised by how much of a positive change those videos can make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To understand why you don\u2019t need to create polished videos, we need to explore the question, Why record your own teaching videos in the first place?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Record Your Own Teaching Videos?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n