There are many reasons one could want to record an online module - perhaps it is an overview of a topic you'll be covering in class, but you want to give the students some foundational material as pre-work; perhaps you want to explain a difficult concept that students are struggling with, and you think visuals would be beneficial in addition to your explanation; perhaps there is a public health emergency requiring social distancing and quarantine; perhaps the weather (or metro) result in cancellation of classes, and you need to provide your content to the students in an alternative way. These and many more situations are good reasons to consider recording an online module.
At GW SMHS, we have several tools available to use when recording an online module or presentation. The choice of which tool depends on what you would like to accomplish, and your familiarity/comfort with the tool or learning a new one. For example, you may want to simply record your voice-over static slides. Alternatively, you may want to be able to zoom in, highlight key points, annotate, or even include an interactive quiz. All of these are options depending on what tool you select.
We have developed the following chart to help you determine which tool might be the best fit for your content.
Tool Options to Record Your Lecture
Use this table to choose the appropriate tool for your lecture:
| PowerPoint | Panopto | Camtasia | VoiceThread | Audacity | Explain Everything | |
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| Computer Requirements | PC Only (do not use PowerPoint for Mac to record) | PC/Mac | PC/Mac | PC/Mac (iPad with app) | PC/Mac | iPad |
| Editing Abilities | Edit slides; Re-record narration on individual slides | Yes; remove segments, errors, etc; insert new recordings | Yes; remove segments, errors, etc; insert new recordings | Re-record narration on an individual slide | Edit audio in detail (remove pauses, errors, etc) | Yes: annotation, video, edit audio & video, insert new recordings |
| Posting to Students | Save as video; OME load into Panopto | Automatically uploaded to Blackboard once recording is finished. Contact OME to move as needed. | Save as video; OME load into Panopto | Post directly in Blackboard | Save audio file; OME will load audio and separate slides (if applicable) into Blackboard | Save as video; Can load into Panopto MD: OME will load into Panopto for Pre-clinical courses |
| Variable Playback Speed (Student preference) | Once loaded into Panopto | Yes | Once loaded into Panopto | No | Depends on playback tool used. | Depends on playback tool used. |
| Student interaction | No | No | Yes - can add quizzes/knowledge checks | Yes | No | No |
| App for iPad | No | View; not Create | No; Output can be viewed on iPad | Yes | No | Yes |
| Slide Annotation Recorded | Limited (can capture mouse movement while recording) | Limited (captures mouse movement while recording) | Yes; additional animations can be added after recording | Yes | No | Yes |
| Help/Training Guides |
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Note: If you have a tool that you prefer to use, and are comfortable using (e.g. Captivate, Quicktime), you are welcome to continue to use that tool and provide OME with the output video. This table is intended to help those who do not know which tool to choose. For more educational tools, check out this page: Educational Technology.
Recording Voice-over-PowerPoint
If you need to simply record narration over an existing set of slides, without any user interaction or additional features, you may already have the tool for that on your computer! PowerPoint can be used to record audio narration and export the final product to an mp4 video file that can be posted on Blackboard, or distributed to users in a variety of other ways.
What you'll need:
- Computer/Laptop
- PowerPoint software (available free to any GWU student/employee)
- Microphone - preferably a headset. If you need to borrow one, both Himmelfarb library and OME have them available for check-out
- Speakers or headphones to hear the output
Step-by-step instructions (be sure to select the correct version of PowerPoint in the selection tabs)
Video Tutorial - Recording a Video in PowerPoint
Panopto
Panopto is available for all SMHS faculty and staff to record videos. Pantopto allows you to record both slides/screen and your webcam simultaneously, as well as to turn the webcam on/off during recording.
Please visit the Panopto page for more information and instructions. See also the Web-Based Panopto Tutorial Series.
Zoom
Zoom is now available to all GWU faculty and staff. It will allow you to record both your slides/screen and your webcam simultaneously. Zoom recordings can be saved locally, or to the Cloud.
More information on recording using Zoom can be found on the Zoom Recordings support page.
Camtasia
Camtasia is a tool that allows for some interactivity, and more robust editing than is available in PowerPoint. In Camtasia, you can edit out any errors you make in your narration, as well as easily update the information on the screen. You can also zoom, pan, add highlights, arrows, or annotation. Finally, you can include basic quizzing so that students can self-test whether they understand the material.
Camtasia is a paid product and is available for purchase with an Educational license from TechSmith.
Himmelfarb Library has media laptops available for checkout that have the software already installed. It is also available in the SMARTLab at 2000 Penn, and on the Faculty Workstation in Himmelfarb.
- Computer/Laptop
- Camtasia software
- Microphone - preferably a headset. If you need to borrow one, both Himmelfarb library and OME have them available for check-out
- Speakers or headphones to hear the output
Articulate Storyline
Articulate Storyline is a tool that enables the creation of highly interactive modules, including branching scenarios. Modules created in Storyline can include audio, video, branching (e.g. based on the participant's answer, they are directed down a different "path"), quizzing/surveys with a variety of question types, and more. Storyline is a robust product that requires some ramp-up to use effectively. Staff at the SMART Lab and in the Center for Faculty Excellence have licenses for Storyline. If you are interested in a project that would benefit from the use of this tool, please contact the SMART Lab or the CFE to arrange a consultation.
Additional Resources
- Himmelfarb Library guide - Create Recordings
- Faculty Focus Article - Video Killed the
(radio star)Text-based Instructional Methods