Definition A recording of visual images and sound. 
Key Characteristics
Video is an asynchronous tool. It is often used to capture special content which participants can view on their own time, within their workgroup, or in a facilitated session. Videos can contain key messages, interviews with experts, demonstrations of best practices, or highlights of a conference or event. Videos can help you to “get it right”, as they can be edited and/or re-recorded. Videos can effectively be used to prepare participants and to stimulate ideas and questions, prior to a face-to-face activity. Videos are a convenient, easily transportable, and reusable media. They are usually distributed on videotape, in VHS, NSTS, or PAL format. However, videos can also be digitized and archived for future use. They can be streamed over the Internet, embedded onto a web page, and/or packaged on a CD-ROM or DVD. Videos can also be translated into multiple languages. An effective video program/topic is no more than 10 to 15 minutes in length. » Back to top
Our Experience Course teams have found video useful for recording interviews or presentations with key resource persons; capturing highlights of conferences, workshops or events; or converting slide programs and adding sound. Recorded interviews or presentations, depicting key messages, can be distributed to local facilitators and participants and reviewed prior to a videoconference. This can assist in preparing participants for the videoconference discussion, stimulates better discussion, and make more efficient use of the face-to-face time. Video is also useful for capturing highlights of conferences, workshops, or other activities that cannot be attended by all. When edited, these videos serve not only as an archive of the event but also as a means of allowing others to “participate”. Slide programs can be effectively converted to video. Then they add audio, motion footage, or interviews to enhance the final product, as motion and audio are the most important advantages. You can also consider adding graphic elements such as maps, charts, diagrams, illustrations and even animation. Use it if… - You want stimulate discussion or your viewers’ imaginations
- You want to make more efficient use of valuable real time
- You want to communicate a clear message
- You can reuse the video in other courses, workshops, on your website, etc.
Forget it if… - You do not have the time or budget to professionally produce the video
- There is not a single, clear message to communicate
- You do not have a plan for reusing the video
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Examples Sample video on topics relating to the Global Conference in Shanghai, May 2004, on Scaling Up Poverty Reduction: A Global Learning Process Pro-Poor Growth and Inequality Series 2002: In Search of the Holy Grail: How to Achieve Pro-Poor Growth » Back to top
Resources Copyright and ownsership issues in Distance Education. » Back to top
Design suggestions In our media-saturated societies, viewers often expect the same polished productions they see on TV. Thus, producing a quality video involves more than just using a videocamera. It means putting together a team, which includes a video producer, who will work with you not only to film the video, but also edit it and prepare it for distribution. 1. Develop the message – Before filming any footage, it is vital to determine the message of the video. Do this by defining the main points that need to be emphasized. Then think of images that will support that message. If the message is not clear, even the most beautiful film will not help to communicate the goal. 2. Write a script – Once the goal/message is clear, write an outline. If you will be filming an interview with an expert, write out questions that will assist the expert in expressing the message of the video. If you are filming an activity, determine scenes to capture and people to interview. If you will be filming a demonstration, write down the key points and prepare a draft script ahead of time. In all cases it helps to go through your script ahead of time with your team. 3. Determine the participants and setting – Decide if there should be a narrator or interviewer. If so, should this be a neutral professional or a member of your team? Determine if the video will always be shown with a person there to explain it and answer questions or if it will be a stand-alone piece. 4. Shoot the video - Be sure to have your team get the highest quality possible of original footage for the master copy so that distribution copies will be better quality. Then, with script in hand, you and your team can shoot the raw footage, collect existing stills or moving images, audiotape sounds, conduct interviews, select and record music, tape the narrative or voice-overs. 5. Postproduction - This final step can make the difference between an amateur and professional product. The video should be lively, visually interesting, and focused on the key points of the message. During postproduction, your video producer can add existing photos, recorded music, narratives or voice-overs. Be sure to check for issues of copyrights for any images or background music selected.
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