Welcome videos are a great way to introduce students to a course and set a positive first impression. A short video can help humanize the course experience and foster a sense of community with students in the online environment. Think of it as an opportunity to spark excitement for the course and explain how the course will impact students. Feel free to add a personal touch, have humor, and have fun - while still keeping it professional!
For guidelines on drafting and recording your welcome video, click the tabs below.
Step One: Ensure Your Video is Reusable
We recommend keeping your introductory video evergreen (lasting). This means creating a welcome video that can be used for many future cohorts. To create an evergreen introductory video, avoid mentioning course specifics, as these elements have the potential to change and require re-recording.
Keep your video reusable by avoiding:
- Personal contact information
- Specific times and dates for office hours, zoom meetings, and assignments
- Textbooks and textbook editions
- Any mention of a specific course number
- Any mention of a specific term or course dates
- Any mention of specific details that may apply to only one iteration of a course
- Repeating the syllabus which may change in future cohorts
- Mentioning your schedule availability or office hours
Step Two: Plan Your Video Content
A good idea is to create an outline of the topics that you would like to cover in the video before recording. An outline will:
- Ensure that you cover all the essential information students should know about you and the course,
- Ensure a smooth and logical flow of information being delivered, and
- Keep the video at a reasonable length (2-3 minutes).
Sample Outline
- Welcome Students (10 seconds)
-
Instructor Introduction (30 seconds)
- Introduce Yourself
- Your title and field of expertise
- Your educational / work background
- Share why you love your discipline
- Optional: Fun information (hobbies, interests, fun facts)
-
Teaching Philosophy (30 seconds)
- Introduce your teaching philosophy or teaching style
- Share why you love teaching
-
Personal Hobbies (30 seconds)
- Share something outside of your field that you love to do
- Share something personal that allows for a human connection with others such as events or people that inspire you
-
Closing Statement (10 seconds)
- Wrap it up! That's a little bit about me, can't wait to learn more about you!
Step Three: Set Up Your Recording Environment
Take a look at the following tips and tricks for setting up your environment for optimal recording results:
- Clear away tabletop and background clutter: Clear out anything visible in the frame that you do not want to appear in your video. The focus of the video should be on you and not the things around you.
- Find a quiet place: Shoot in a quiet place (e.g., no children at play, electric fans, etc.) since your mic may pick up the background sounds and make your video difficult to hear/watch.
- Shoot in a good light: Film indoors in a well-lit room with plenty of light in front of you or to the side of you. Natural light is fine. Avoid strong lighting behind you or directly above you as these may cast shadows on your face. A tabletop lamp can help offset any shadows when placed directly in front of you.
- Frame Your Video: Place your camera or webcam directly in front of your eye line. Be sure to make eye contact with your audience by looking directly into the camera or webcam. Shoot from the waist up and make sure your face and hand gestures are visible as you talk.
- Dress the Part: Before you start recording, make sure you look presentable. We recommend dressing in neat work attire.
- Practice: Do a trial run of your introductory video to warm up and make sure your audio and video are clear and crisp. Once the camera starts rolling, be yourself and let your personality shine!
Step Four: Record Your Video in Canvas
The recommended method for recording your introductory video is to record it directly from your Canvas course. Review the following tutorials on how to record and embed your intro videos: