Course syllabus
Hello all!
What and why
This Canvas course will guide you through the process of preparing a microlecture.
In this course you will be working on a short microlecture. You will need this "proto"-microlecture during your studio training session. At the end of the course you will
- understand the nature of the microlecture format
- be able to objectively decide if microlectures are appropriate for your
- intended goals
- intended audience
- subject
- be able to estimate the time needed to develop, produce and record a microlecture or a series of microlectures
- know how to prepare your materials needed to record your microlecture(s)
- be ready to book the green screen studio and/or the DIY studio to record your microlecture(s)
Training setup
This training is set up to guide you through the process of producing a microlecture:
- Choosing a subject and drafting an outline
- Start scripting and making slides during a two hour workshop getting tips and templates
- Producing your actual practice lecture script and slides
- Practice your presenting skills on camera in a half-day training in the green screen and DIY studios
During the final studio training session, you will work with the lecture you prepare in steps 1-3. You will need to produce a script and slides to bring to the studio. For this practice lecture, a length of 3-4 minutes suffices. This is shorter that a regular microlecture.
Materials
When following the steps in this Canvas course you will be provided with several materials to help you prepare.
1. The ‘Microlectures: How To’ video microlecture series
Throughout this course you will find the microlecture series: ‘Microlectures: How To..?’.
The ‘Microlectures: How To..?’ series has been designed to show some best practices; not only by telling, but in its structure and presentation as well.
You may spot several of the tips and practices being used in the actual microlectures. You can take lessons form this meta-layer of information too...
True to the concept of microlectures, our subject is divided in bite-size parts of approximately 5 minutes each.
- A general introduction on the subject
- The educational rationale for choosing microlectures
- Tips on writing your script: why and how
- Develop simple but effective visual slides
- What to expect in the recording studios
You can watch all of these in no particular order and at your leisure; you will be asked to have watched specific microlectures in preparation of certain key moments during the course.
For each microlecture, the script and slides are provided too, so you can see how they were made.
2. Templates
In due course along the way you will find
- A Word-template you can use for your outline/script
- PowerPoint-templates you can use for your slides.
The use of these templates is an important part of the two hour workshop, but please be curious and have a look before that.
What you will be doing
A. First preparation work
Duration: about 2 – 3 hours
Before the workshop (step B, below), please watch at least the ‘Microlectures: How To..?’ videos Why? and The right choice?.
Following that, you'll have to come up with a subject on which you can give one short lecture.
Then, you compose a first short backbone outline of your lecture.
B. Workshop: scripting your lecture
Duration: 120 minutes
Before you attend the workshop, watch the ‘Microlectures: How To..?’ videos on Scripting and on Visuals to get acquainted with the basics of scripting and producing quality slides.
During the workshop, you will use your backbone outline from step A above to take the next step: writing your script and producing your slides, in preparation of your studio training session. Templates for both are available, and the workshop will offer hands-on practice with both, so that you get the most out of them.
Bring a laptop!
C. Developing your lecture
Duration: about 3 – 4 hours
After the workshop, but before your studio session, you need to develop your short lecture and visuals further so you can bring them to the studio. Between the workshop and the studio session there is ample time to do this.
D. Studio training
Duration: half day
Watch the ‘Microlectures: How To..?’ video on Recording your lecture.
You and 2-3 fellow participants will spend a couple of hours in both studios. Your trainer and your technician will help you getting used to the recording procedure. Because you did the content related work (steps A-C) beforehand (you did do that, right?), you can use all the studio time focussing on finding and defining your personal microlecturing style.
Bring your script and slides!
So now:
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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