Preparing to record video
Video is a powerful tool to introduce and teach course content. Well-designed instructional videos can make abstract and difficult topics accessible, engaging, and memorable to students.
Stepping in front of the camera to record a lecture video is the culmination of a process of planning, scripting, storyboarding, and rehearsing. This is a time investment on your part, and your efforts to create a high quality recording will make a positive impact on your students. In our student satisfaction surveys, 1 out of 4 of students responded that videos were the aspect of their course that most contributed to their learning and stretched their thinking!
Continuum’s script writing guide covers how instructors can:
- Segment content into chunks for better cognition
- Begin writing a video script
- Use techniques like rhetorical questions and repetition to increase engagement
- How to use an outline instead of a script
Tips for reading scripts aloud explains how to activate your voice:
- Practicing reading aloud helps familiarize you with words and phrases in a script that are difficult to pronounce or convey with the proper tone. And offer tips for activating your voice to emphasize key points in the script.
- Practice until you feel comfortable with the way the words sound in your ears (not your head).
Setting up a recording environment ensures your recording looks and sounds great.
Keep in mind:
- Neutral backgrounds are best
- Pay attention to the light, whether its natural daylight, or overhead and lamps
- Pick a quiet location to record
- Get the best sound from the microphone
Take a few minutes to rehearse, warm up your voice, and run a test to check the lighting and microphone are set. These add up to a stronger presentation on camera.
Panopto is the UW’s lecture capture software that allows you how to record, upload, and edit video lectures and embed videos in your Canvas course.
- Download and record videos with the Panopto Application
- Open Panopto Capture in your web browser to record
- Edit recordings using Panopto’s trimming tool
- Embed Panopto recordings in a Canvas Page
Instructional
Videos 101→
Complete a 15-min course on planning your instructional videos, scripting and rehearsing, and what to expect at the Continuum Studio, link to self-enroll if this is your first time.
Recording
with Panopto→
Walk through the basics of recording lecture videos with Panopto, editing in Panopto, and adding Panopto videos into your Canvas pages.
Panopto Training Videos→
This series of training videos focuses on how to record Panopto videos on Mac or PC, one or two monitors, and incorporating slide shows into the recording.
Updated 10/16/26