No matter your experience in teaching courses, transitioning to online learning can be somewhat difficult. To be successful in creating an online course, you need a variety of tools.
Additionally, you’ll need an understanding of the filming process and what makes a video course engaging and effective if you decide to create videos for your online course.
That’s why below, we have provided an outline of what you will need and what steps you need to take to be successful in creating an online course. If you feel uncertain as to where to begin, this guide will help you get a clear understanding of every step of the process.
After all, one of the most important aspects of an online course is to present your material in ways that are easy to comprehend.
Things You’ll Need
If you intend to create a series of online videos, you’ll likely need to have access to a variety of tools. Keep in mind that the higher your production quality is, the more likely you are to create a successful course. However, this does not mean you’ll need to spend hundreds of dollars on equipment to record.
Consider your course, its use, and who will be viewing it, and make purchasing decisions accordingly.
A Recording Device
Dependent upon the type, of course, you are creating, you may need to purchase a professional video camera and tripod. Alternatively, you may choose to simply purchase a high-end webcam, if most of your work will be done at your desk.
While ultimately the choice is yours, you should research camera quality and pricing before making your purchase to determine what type of camera you will need. For instance, though you may be tempted to purchase a GoPro for your project, you may find it’s an overabundance of features and the price point to be somewhat astronomical.
Instead, a simple HD recording camera – or even your phone’s camera, if you have a high-quality phone – may suffice.
A Microphone or Other Audio Recording Device
Many video cameras on the market today come with built-in audio devices. You may choose, however, to purchase your microphone for recording. This often increases the audio quality of your videos, which can be vital to course success.
If you purchase a microphone that has background noise elimination, for instance, any outside noises can be reduced and easily edited out of your videos. This is also great for reducing feedback and helps give your video an overall higher quality.
A Place To Record
Setting up the area in which you intend to record is going to help the overall presentation of your video. For instance, if you are recording at your desk, being able to see your bed in the background lacks professional appearance.
In this case, you may consider a green screen or other backdrops to provide a sense of professionalism throughout your videos. Furthermore, you’ll want to record in a relatively quiet area, free of other distractions, so that your learners can focus on the material you are presenting and you have less background noise to edit out.
Video Editing Software
For most users, something as simple as Windows Movie Maker will often suffice, however, if you are looking for something more professional, there are plenty of programs available on the market for you to choose from.
Review the different technical aspects of each software before purchase. Consider what the program has to offer, what features you need, and what features you may find useful throughout the editing process. These factors will help you determine which software will best fit your needs.
Alternatively, you might be interested in to help you with the editing process.
A Platform to Host and Sell Courses
Once you’ve created your online course and have it edited to your liking, you will need a platform on which you can host and sell this course to make a profit. When first searching for a platform, it can seem overwhelming as there are thousands of options available.
Popular options such as Teachable, Thinkific, LearnWorlds, or Kajabi will often be at the top of your search and provide useful tools for those who are just starting out sharing their skill.
One platform stands out among the rest through – Kajabi. If you’re wondering what Kajabi actually is – it’s a platform that allows you to upload your course videos and create a membership site so people can enrol into your courses.
It then provides a lot of features that are useful for marketing your courses. We have reviewed a few platforms and Kajabi seems to be one of the best choices. Another option is to list your course on a marketplace such as Udemy which is a great way to get started.
Recording Your Videos
Once you’ve gathered all the required materials, created your lesson plan, and selected a hosting platform, you’ll be ready to start recording the videos for your online course. While this may seem like the easiest part, some steps should be followed for creating high-quality videos and a great online course.
Step One: Get Ready To Record
This is likely going to be one of the most important steps in the process. Completing it properly will save you time later, as well. While getting ready includes multiple steps, here are a few key items you should do to prepare to record your video.
Get Dressed: Dressing professionally when you record your video is going to help your overall presentation, as well as give you the confidence you need to record successfully. Keep in mind the kind of video you are creating.
If you’re making videos on how to build cabinets at home, for instance, wearing a suit and tie won’t make the most sense. However, if you’re teaching a business course, it may make sense to wear a button-down shirt and tie. Presentation matters, so keep that in mind.
Set Up Your Recording Space: If you haven’t done so already, you’ll want to set up space you’re going to record in. Whether this means creating sound barriers to reduce noise, setting up your green screen or backdrop, ensuring that clutter and non-essential items are out of sight, or simply tidying your desk, this will help the overall presentation of your video.
Test Your Equipment: This is one of the most important steps before recording. Testing your equipment ensures the lighting is right, your audio quality is good, and the microphone can hear you.
You don’t want to start recording, for instance, only to realize that the work you just did wasn’t properly caught on camera. Ensuring your equipment is ready to go helps you save time and effort overall.
Record Your Videos
Once you are ready to go, you can start recording your video. Make sure you review your lesson plans and follow any instructions you laid out for yourself. Know that, at times, you may have to do multiple takes and keep in mind that’s okay – not everything will come out perfectly the first time you record it.
Edit Your Videos
Editing your videos will help ensure their overall quality. Review basic video editing guides, and consider some of your favourite movies, scenes, and short clips. This will give you an idea of the editing techniques you should implement during your course.
Upload Your Videos
Conclusion
Ultimately, creating an online course doesn’t have to be difficult. Once you have the supplies you need, it’s a matter of preparing and creating content. From there, you’ll simply edit your videos and upload them to your platform of choice.
Keep in mind that in many cases, the platform you choose will have a lot of impact on your course and if it’s an overall success.
Make sure you keep an eye on the course itself, as well as the material you present. In some cases, you may need to go back months down the line and make changes to the material, or corrections to the presentation.
This is okay, and not particularly problematic. Be sure you update learners with any changes, so they are aware and can review the material. Use the tools provided to you by your platform to push these changes and communicate with your audience.
And, of course, keep in mind that from time to time people will have questions, no matter how clear you are. Review common quests and prepare answers so that learners everywhere can be educated correctly and on the same page.
This will make your course an effective learning experience for everyone. If you’re passionate about educating others, this is a great way to get started.