coursework guide and video guides meaning

What is the difference between a subject guide and a course guide?

Subject Guides and Course Guides are just two different types of Research Guides. 

Subject Guides serve as a resource center for recommended resources for a major.  These guides allow a student to click on his/her major and see the most recommended resources for that major. These are broader in focus and organized by material type (books, articles, websites, etc).

Sample Subject Guides:   Education , Forensic Science , Business Administration

Course Guides are created for a specific course or assignment. These guides are most often created at the request of a professor. They are very focused, pulling together resources and directions to support students in a very relevant way.  

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• Last Updated Aug 14, 2018
• Answered By Lisa Crumit-Hancock

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Counting toward a final mark or grade, coursework considers one of the most crucial assignments during the class. It involves two main stages: doing research or experiment; presenting findings, and freshly acquired knowledge in a digestible form. While the first phase excites students, the second one strikes fear in the heart and causes real trouble. Let us get to the basics of this type of assignment to nail it no matter what.

What Is a Coursework?

Coursework is work assigned to students or trainees to improve specific skills and upgrade their learning experience. Basically, it involves two main stages. The first one includes practice, experimentation, or research. The second stage implies writing a coursework essay or completing writing assignments such as dissertations or book reports. It can be seen in all fields of study, from Business to Computer Science to Literature.

As a rule, coursework accompanies exams and is crucial when determining overall course scores. However, unlike final tests, it provides students with plenty of time for completion, from a couple of days to several weeks. On top of that, students are welcome to use any help they can find during this process.

Importance to Write a Coursework

Writing coursework is crucial for every student because of providing these benefits:

• It broadens knowledge.
• It enhances research skills.
• It demonstrates a person's ability to discuss, reason, and construct practical outcomes from learned theoretical knowledge.
• It improves communication skills since some work is done in groups, so students need to learn how to collaborate to achieve a common goal.
• It inspires confidence in a person's ability to do a grand job.

Main Obstacle of Producing a Top-grade Coursework

Recent surveys show that in the majority of cases, students do not find issued tasks challenging, even though some of them are daunting, tricky, and even controversial. What they have found difficult is the proper presentation of the final work.

Indeed, over 80% of postgraduates believe the first phase, which involves experiments, research, and acquiring new knowledge in the field, to be quite exciting. However, the second stage, which implies expressing your thoughts, presenting results, and convincing the teacher that you have done a great job using the only written word, is believed to be a true nightmare and a challenge. The reason for that is simple; not everyone has good writing skills. Plus, almost everyone experiences a writing block that slows down the process and causes stress.

To make matters worse, students have to handle some other bumps on the road to success, for instance

• They need to avoid accusations of plagiarism.
• They need to avoid focusing on external approval because it may shut down creativity.
• They need to meet strict deadlines.
• They need to balance education and personal life, including work or volunteering.
• They need to do extensive research.
• They need to finish other assignments.

Where to Get Coursework Help?

Coursework help may come in different forms. It can be coursework assistance provided by the teacher or instructor during lessons or special meetings in high school. Alternatively, it can be an online coursework help provided by tutors through digital means of communication.

Pandemic and its severe restrictions have boosted many services whose task is to provide coursework help online. Let us consider the classification of these platforms to know what help you might get.

Types of Coursework Help Services

Coursework help services come in all shapes and sizes to meet teachers' most sophisticated needs and highest expectations. Let us consider the most popular ones:

• Custom coursework help.
• Creating coursework from scratch.
• Rewriting coursework.
• Proofreading coursework.
• Review coursework to get vital feedback for improvement.
• Citations help.
• Creating supporting PowerPoint presentations.

Whatever problem or issue you have, you may undoubtedly get professional help with coursework regardless of its niche, subject, requirements, and deadline.

But, what if you do not need any assistance provided by coursework services and all you crave is just a little push and guidance to do this task yourself. Then you can opt in favor of an oldie but goodie collection of professionally written and edited coursework examples since they meet those needs and offer so many benefits without compromising your time, effort, and budget.

Benefits of Using Coursework Examples

Getting cousework help through exploring coursework samples offers a bunch of benefits. For instance,

• They show what you need to score that top-notch mark.
• They give insights on how to improve the reading experience.
• They help to infuse your work with some unique and exciting passages.
• They offer an alternative view of the topic that may generate new ideas.
• They display the ideal order of the content and adequate evaluation of evidence.
• They show how to organize arguments and counterarguments to support students' positions and opinions.
• They give insights on how to create a smooth transition between abstracts making one idea flow into another without tension and using words that are understandable by people at any level.
• They demonstrate more up to the point writing.
• They ensure no unnecessary deduction in marks that may occur due to incorrect formatting.
• They have correct grammar and the right tone of language that students may easily imitate in their papers to level them up.
• They stick to format rules showing the right way to implement instructions to meet university standards and teachers' instructions.
• They help students to focus on their tasks without losing nerves.
• They ease stress and help students avoid drama and mental issues.
• They save students precious time, letting them focus on more critical tasks or dedicate their efforts to experiments and social work that may improve their coursework with real-life experience.
• They give a much-needed boost to kick off the work and, most importantly, overcome writing block.

All you need to enjoy all those benefits is to find a reliable platform that offers college coursework help. Though, this is not a problem because there are a bunch of them in the wild.

How to Write Top-Grade Coursework? Best Practices

Completing coursework is a hard nut to crack; however, making it worth a top grade is even harder. However, no obstacle is insurmountable if you know what to do. Many teachers and top-level postgraduates suggest using as much help as possible and following the best practices.

Therefore, consider these tips shared by professionals to help you in this matter:

• Stop trying to write a good completely free essays online . Let your creative juices flow.
• Take your time and do extensive research.
• Ask yourself, "What surprises me about this subject the most?" Focus on your answer and build your story around this finding or discovery.
• Write three to five sentences covering your most crucial points.
• Quote sources liberally throughout your paper. If you are not allowed to quote, you can re-phrase what has been said in your own words and give proper credit. Also, make sure 60% of the content belongs to you, while 40% are quotes or paraphrases from your sources to avoid sounding too "source" heavy.
• When creating a draft, write in this order: first – body, then – introduction, after that – conclusion.
• Reach the required word count. Stay to the point but be descriptive and argumentative.
• Make sure your arguments flow smoothly from one idea to another.
• Last but not least, if you feel something is wrong with your paper or requires some polish, do not be afraid to check and proofread it on platforms that offer coursework online help.
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Taking Learning Seriously

The Science of Learning for Teachers & Students

Learning Guides

Teaching students how to learn in your classes.

Teachers often support student learning by providing study guides or guidelines for exams, assignments and projects. These typically focus on content, concepts and skills students should learn in the course. They may also include examples of exam questions, along with tips and suggestions about how to study and do well in the course. Guidelines may apply to the entire course or specific course requirements, e.g., exams, writing assignments, projects, lab reports, etc.

Study guides can be valuable resources to help students focus their attention on relevant course content and navigate unfamiliar course assignments. But abundant research has shown that college students also need explicit help and direction with how to learn the content and skills in their courses (Hartwig & Dunlosky, 2012; Kornell & Bjork, 2007; McCabe, 2011). To address the problem of teaching students to learn, I advocate the use of learning guides and guidelines that are closely attuned to the academic expectations, subject matter, and learning problems associated with courses.

A learning guide is a user manual about effective ways to learn the subject matter and skills in a course. Key features:

• Based on research in the learning sciences. Empirical research evidence informs the guide’s strategies and suggestions about how to learn in the course.
• Targets skills students need in specific course contexts. Guides address general learning skills, such as practice testing, that apply broadly within and across disciplines. In addition they focus on subject-specific skills. For example, key skills for learning organic chemistry may be different from those in accountancy or philosophy, etc.
• Promote metacognition and self-regulated learning. Learning guides support students’ metacognition—awareness and knowledge of their learning, and ability to regulate their learning more effectively. The guide helps students recognize when, where and why specific strategies can improve their learning. A learning guide can contribute to the development of students’ learning expertise.
• Incorporates change strategies. Learning guides are intended to change students’ understanding and practice of learning. Even if students understand the benefits of using different learning strategies, they may not be able to use them appropriately. Students need clear instructions about how to use strategies, and may also need help giving up old habits (ineffective strategies) and developing new ones (effective strategies). Instructors may need to use change strategies to help students adopt and maintain unfamiliar learning techniques.

Learning Guide Standard Content

Despite important differences across instructors, courses, subject matter, and course learning goals, learning guides include the following standard contents.

• descriptions of learning strategies relevant to the course
• explanations about how and when to use the strategies for academic tasks in the class, e.g., preparing for exams, reading assignments, working on projects and assignments, in class activities.
• explanations about why strategies support or do not support learning
• directions about how to establish and follow a study plan that combines and coordinates strategies
• descriptions of techniques and heuristics specific to learning the course subject matter and skills, e.g., special techniques for learning organic chemistry vs. reading poetry
• ongoing opportunities for students to learn how to learn and to regulate their learning more effectively.

Incorporate learning strategies in your course

One way to support student learning is to incorporate learning strategies in your courses. Extensive research has identified a number of effective learning strategies, including those listed below.  The section below provides guidelines to help teachers and students use strategies effectively.

• Retrieval practice involves trying to recall material one has read or studied without looking back at the material. In a course, retrieval practice can be implemented as low stakes practice tests and quizzes, text-embedded questions, flashcard practice, clicker questions in class, and students’ self-testing.
• Spaced practice (aka distributed practice) refers to a study schedule in which students distribute their study time over several periods instead of massing their study in one long session. For example, a student studies a total of five hours for an exam, in five one-hour time blocks spaced apart by 1-2 days between each, instead of cramming five hours the night before the exam. To implement spaced practice, instructors can hold practice test review sessions at specific intervals throughout a course.
• Self-explanation involves articulating the meaning of a concept, idea, solution or other type of subject matter to oneself or another person. Instructors can prompt students to self-explain through a variety of means, e.g., clicker questions and think-pair-share in large classes; small group exercises. Students can also use self-explanation as an independent learning strategy.
• Learning by teaching involves students in three broad cognitive activities — studying material in order to teach it to others (preparation), presenting and explaining the material (teaching), and clarifying and answering questions about the material (interacting). Instructors can assign students to teaching roles in a number of ways, e.g., small group activities, class presentations, review sessions, and preparing lecture materials for large classes.
• Interleaved practice is a study schedule in which students work on a variety of problem types during a study session. This contrasts with blocked practice where students practice one type of problem extensively before moving on to a different type of problem. Interleaving is particularly effective in helping students identify similarities and differences between closely related concepts and ideas.
• Worked examples are specially prepared problems that include the problem statement and a detailed explanation of the solution. The solution describes the thinking behind solving the problem and exposes students to the decisions and choices involved in solving new problems. When students are first learning a new topic they learn better by studying worked examples than by solving multiple examples of the problem.

The table below provides guidelines and background information for both instructors and students. The student tip sheets and guidelines are intended to be templates. You can use or modify these as handouts or incorporate them in your course to best suit your students.

Guidelines for learning more effectively from routine course activities

Another way to support student learning is by helping students learn more effectively through the routine teaching and learning activities in your courses. Below are guidelines for instructors and students about how to learn more effectively from common types of course activities such as lectures, review sessions, and study groups.

Instructors should feel free to adapt these to fit your courses, students, subject matter, teaching approach, and learning goals. For example, the guidelines describe a specific approach to reading, which research has shown to be more effective than rereading. However, the approach may be best suited to new students who experience difficulty with college level reading assignments. Students doing well in their courses may not benefit by switching from their current reading approach to a new one.

Guidelines for learning more effectively from . . .

Notetaking Student version

Reading Student version

Lectures Instructor version Student version

Discussions Instructor version Student version

Study Groups Student version

Review Sessions Instructor version

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The Ultimate Guide to Easily Make Instructional Videos

Danielle Ezell

Marketing Content Specialist at TechSmith

Table of contents

What is an instructional video, the most common types of instructional videos, the best software for making instructional videos, how to make an instructional video, instructional video mistakes to avoid, making instructional videos, the faqs, subscribe to techsmith’s newsletter.

Instructional videos are a powerful tool for anyone looking to teach colleagues, employees, and students. Whether you’re an employer, an educator, or a content creator, videos are an effective way to engage your audience and deliver information in a way that’s easy to follow along and understand.

After all, this TechSmith survey found that 98% of people who use video at work say it improves the effectiveness of their message.

While it’ll come as no surprise that instructional videos are a great way to teach people to do things like how to make a Youtube video , they can also help people learn completely new skills like video editing . 

However, instructional videos can be used for more than just educating viewers, as videos can also help you grow your business . By providing educational content to potential customers, businesses can establish themselves as industry leaders and earn the trust of their audience. Moreover, having video content on your website can work to increase traffic to your site and boost social media engagement. 

With such a wide range of uses and benefits, it’s no wonder that video content is the number one way people prefer to share knowledge and learn new skills. In fact, research shows that people prefer to consult video content when looking for answers to specific questions. Additionally:

• 83% of people prefer watching videos to accessing instructional or informational content via text or audio.
• More than half of online shoppers use video to help make purchase decisions.
• Two out of three employees complete tasks better when instructions are provided visually and absorb information 7% faster .
• More than 70% of YouTube viewers turn to the platform for help solving problems.

In this guide, we’ll discuss why video is important , what makes a good instructional video, and show you how to create different types of helpful videos — from explainer videos to video demonstrations — in ways that will captivate your audience. 

By reading this guide, you’ll also learn: 

• The most popular types of instructional videos
• Common mistakes people make when creating instructional videos
• The best way to make instructional videos in 7 steps
• The actual cost of making tutorial, training, and explainer videos

In a nutshell, instructional videos are visual tools that teach viewers how to do something, or explain a subject, process, or concept. 

The best instructional videos are designed to be engaging and visually appealing through the use of visual effects, text, and audio. An instructional video might also feature a number of animations, graphics, and on-screen annotations to highlight key points and make the information more focused and digestible.

Of course, the benefits of instructional videos aren’t solely for the viewers as they’re actually really easy (and pretty fun) to make. Once you start creating your own instructional videos , you might also find that they can help simplify your concepts, ideas, and processes while making both the teaching and learning process much more personal.

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The great thing about instructional videos is that there is no limit to the topics they can cover. For example, an instructional video could be a product demonstration, a how-to guide, a software tutorial, or a safety procedure – the possibilities are endless! 

So let’s take a closer look at some of the most common types of instructional videos .

Microvideos

Microvideos are brief and concentrated instructional videos that center on teaching a specific and narrow topic without going into too much depth. 

The term “microvideo” is really just a fancy word for “short video.” They’re designed to be super-concise and are typically less than one minute long. As with many types of video content, microvideos can either be highly polished or very informal, depending on their purpose and audience.

Plus, microvideoscan deliver a targeted message without an overwhelming amount of information. By focusing on one particular topic, microvideos help viewers quickly learn a new skill or gain knowledge on a specific subject. 

When to use a microvideo?

You might use a microvideo whenever you need to teach or explain a simple concept in a few steps. For example, a microvideo could be perfect for explaining how to use a new software feature. On the other hand, more complex concepts could be broken down into several logical steps with a series of microvideos for each one. 

Some instructors shy away from long-form videos as many argue that microvideos offer the same outcomes, but with better audience engagement . This strategy also allows for more control over the pace of learning and makes the content easier to consume.

While microvideos are most often used to teach a skill, they can be used to share knowledge or information or teach soft skills.

If you’re working on an online course, you might also want to check out the 8 Surprising Ways to Use Microlearning Activities in Your Online Training Course .

Tutorial videos

Usually between two and 10 minutes long, tutorial videos (sometimes referred to as “how-to” videos are the go-to instructional method for teaching a process or giving step-by-step instructions.

Unlike microvideos, tutorial videos typically explain more complex processes and will often give direct instructions and follow-along guidance. Sometimes, what makes the best tutorial videos are interactive elements, such as quizzes, which help captivate the viewer’s attention. 

As with all video content, understanding its purpose and the people who will be viewing it is key to knowing how polished it needs to be. 

For example, if you’re making a tutorial video for an audience outside of your organization, such as customers or clients, you’ll probably want to make sure it has a little more professional polish. On the other hand, if it’s a tutorial video for staff training or internal communication then it can be as formal or informal as you need it to be.

When to use a tutorial video?

Like microvideos, tutorial videos can teach just about anything and there aren’t any rules for deciding how or when to use them. Essentially, if there’s ever a time that you need to teach a process or share valuable information on how to improve a skill, a tutorial video will always be useful.  

Training videos

Training videos are a more specific type of instructional video to those that we’ve covered so far. They are a powerful tool for improving employees’ workplace skills and addressing interpersonal topics that are important for maintaining a healthy work environment.

While there are some clear similarities to tutorial videos, training videos are more focused on improving job-specific skills and covering work-related topics such as compliance and health & safety training. 

Training videos are also more likely to use footage of real people, which could be used to create examples of real-life situations. This could also help the trainer connect with the trainees. However, as with most video content, there are no set rules and this isn’t a requirement for creating a training video. 

Visual aids such as animations and graphics can be just as useful for creating engaging and informative training videos. The most important thing to remember is that the best training videos will help businesses improve employee knowledge and performance while promoting a positive culture of learning and development.

When to use a training video?

Employers, trainers, and HR teams might use training videos when onboarding new staff, introducing new processes or technology, and providing refresher training. 

However, businesses can use training videos to teach employees about any subject or process. This type of instructional video is used a lot in situations that lend themselves to live video, where the interpersonal connection can enhance knowledge retention.

Explainer videos

An explainer video is like a modern-day elevator pitch, and like an elevator pitch, the best ones are short (between 30 seconds and a few minutes). They’re also designed to quickly capture the viewer’s attention and simplify ideas, products, and services.

These videos are a popular way for businesses to introduce and explain complex (and sometimes even simple!) concepts in an entertaining and visually engaging format. While it’s not always necessary, some explainer videos will use a combination of animation, graphics, and voiceovers to help grab the viewer’s attention and convey information. 

One of the primary advantages of explainer videos is their ability to communicate information in a way that’s concise, engaging, and entertaining. By using a combination of storytelling, animation, and visuals, explainer videos can help to establish a clear and memorable message that resonates with viewers. 

Additionally, explainer videos can be easily shared on social media platforms, making them a cost-effective and efficient way to reach large audiences.

When to use an explainer video?

On a fundamental level, businesses use explainer videos to introduce a new product or service to prospective customers to help them understand how it works and why it’s valuable. It’s a simple idea but once you’ve got a well-polished explainer video ready, there are many different ways it can be used and shared. 

For example, great explainer videos can double up as marketing material and be used across adverts and social media. Businesses might also feature their explainer videos on their website so that it’s the first thing prospective customers see when shopping online. 

Lectures or presentations

A recording of your lecture or presentation is an effective way to expand the reach of your content and offer viewers the flexibility to learn at their own pace. 

With the added ability to revisit sections they may have missed or didn’t fully understand the first time, viewers can pause, rewind, or fast-forward as needed. By providing this level of flexibility, you can ensure that your instructional content is more accessible while encouraging a deeper understanding of the material.

This type of instructional video also doesn’t need to be complicated to create. You could, for example, create a simple visual and audio presentation featuring just your slides and your voice. Or, for something more professional, you could set up a camera (or cameras if you plan on recording your own TedTalk!) to complement your presentation.

When to use a lecture or presentation video?

There are a few reasons why you might want to record a lecture or presentation. First, you might want to make it available to a wider audience or be able to share it with people who couldn’t attend the live event. Second, you might want to review your content and presenting style at a later date.

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Screencasts

Screencasts are videos created primarily from screen recordings that aim to teach someone how to complete a task or share knowledge. For example, you could even create a screencast demonstrating how to make an instructional video with a screen recording! 

While screencasts aren’t a specific type of instructional video, they can be used to create all the videos mentioned in this article. Generally speaking, they’re usually quick, informal, and intended for smaller audiences than tutorial videos.

The beauty of screencasts is that they allow the instructor to quickly grab information from their screen to answer a question or clarify a concept. Because they can be produced so easily, with minimal production value, many screencasts tend to be considered “disposable” videos, serving a specific purpose for a short time.

But that’s not to say that screencasts can’t also provide long-lasting value. For instance, a well-crafted software tutorial screencast may prove to be useful for months (or even years!) and could be used to onboard new team members or educate customers.

When to use screencasts?

Screencasts are great for sharing quick instructions in an informal format. For example, if you know your audience is going to be small and the stakes are low, making a quick screencast is a great way to visually communicate an idea or help answer a question or solve a problem.

With so many different software packages to choose from, finding the right tool to capture your screen and edit your videos can be a daunting and difficult task, especially if you’re new to creating instructional videos.

However, tools like TechSmith Camtasia are perfect for beginners and professionals alike as it’s easy to use and provides a range of advanced recording and editing tools. This makes Camtasia great for creating all types of instructional videos, as it’s easy to get to grips with. 

With Camtasia, you don’t need any advanced video editing skills, but if you do want to learn how to edit like a pro, we’ve got plenty of helpful tutorials to get you started. You can even download a free trial of Camtasia to start recording & editing and get a feel for the software. 

If you’re wondering how to make an instructional video, there’s one thing you need to remember: Always have a video plan . 

As with any creative process, ensuring you have a well-thought-out plan for what you want to create and how you’re going to create it is crucial to making a successful instructional video . 

Taking the time to really think about the purpose of your video, your audience and the information you want to convey will help you get started, but let’s take a look at some of the other steps you should consider before recording your footage:

Step 1: Find the right software and equipment

Firstly, you’re going to want to make sure you have all the tools you need to actually record and edit your footage – this is an important step in making sure you’re happy with the final version of your instructional video.

Understanding your audience and the purpose of your video will help determine the hardware you need. For example, you can probably create a 30-second screencast with the built-in camera and microphone on your computer or laptop. However, if you’re going to film an hour-long presentation for hundreds of people, you might want to consider investing in more sophisticated recording equipment. 

When it comes to the software you use to edit your video, Camtasia is great for recording and editing both short and long-form video content.

Step 2: Determine and get to know your target audience

The more you understand your audience, their needs, and their interests, the better equipped you’ll be to create an instructional video that engages and captivates their attention. 

Things like age, interests, language, and even geographic location can all play a part in knowing how to best communicate with your audience. For example, an educational video about dinosaurs is going to be very different for a class of 10-year-olds than it would be if it was for a group of paleontology students. 

While it sounds obvious, you can always learn a little bit more about your audience. This is another important part of creating instructional videos that your audience not only learns from, but also enjoys watching.

You might also consider asking your audience questions to better understand what they need help with or are most interested to learn, as this can help you focus your content on the very topic they want to know more about. 

Step 3: Write a storyboard and script

Once you have a topic and know your audience, create a storyboard to outline and visualize what you plan to show.

Creating a storyboard ahead of time will help you make an instructional video that is clear, concise, and interesting to your audience. 

Some people get creative and draw detailed pictures, but you don’t have to be an artist. Your storyboard can be as simple as this:

Quick sketches and stick figures are perfectly fine for live video. If you’ll be recording your screen to demonstrate a process, use a series of simple screenshots to show what you plan to display with the narration.

After storyboarding is done, it’s time to write a script . 

Even a simple script will help you be more efficient, saving both yourself and your viewers time. Plus, you’ll also be far less likely to forget something.

It’s helpful to match your narration to what will be happening on screen during your video. If you were creating an instructional video about using the default calculator on a Mac, your script might look like this:

You don’t need to start with a blank page. Using a general script template can help you write a successful script in less than 10 minutes.

Step 4: Record your narration

With your script in hand, it’s time to record the narration . Camtasia comes with a built-in, easy-to-use voice recording feature that is a great option. Still, you can take your voiceover and narration recording to the next level with TechSmithAudiate .

Audiate transcribes your voice in real-time – as you record. This means you can edit your audio just as you edit the text in a document.

With Audiate, you don’t have to stare at a waveform all day to figure out exactly what you said and where. Audiate even automatically finds and deletes all of your “ums,” uhs,” and other hesitations for you.

Already have a voiceover recorded? Import it into Audiate, and the program will transcribe it for you. 

You can save your edited audio file and import it right into Camtasia. You can even export the edited text as a transcript or SRT file for captions.

Even if you’re comfortable using professional audio recording software like Adobe Audition, Audiate is the best (and easiest) way to record voiceovers.

Next, get your hands on the best microphone you can find. Even a middle-of-the-road mic (like the one connected to your headphones) will provide much better sound quality than the one built into your computer.

Step 5: Record your video

Depending on your instructional video’s topic, you might need to capture a recording of a process happening on your screen, demonstrate something in real life, or both.

Recording your screen for an instructional video

First, clean up your computer screen and close any unnecessary applications. Turn off notifications that might pop up before you start recording. Follow these directions to get a crisp, clear screen video .

Then, open the application you want to record and conduct a few practice walkthroughs of exactly what you want to show your viewers. This practice will help you get smooth cursor motions, and you’ll have less editing to do in the end. 

After a few run-throughs, open the Camtasia recorder and capture your screen just as you practiced. Remember, if you make a mistake, pause and start again from that point. You’ll be able to smooth things out when editing later on.

TIP: When you choose a screen capture or screencasting software , pick a tool with built-in recording, editing, and sharing features. It will save you time and let you do all of your work in one tool.

If you want a simple way to increase engagement and help viewers connect with your content, try adding a camera recording to your screencast. 

Recording an instructional video with a camera

There are a lot of similarities between recording your screen and creating a training video with a camera. You still need a plan, a script, and the right tools, but stepping in front of the camera brings new challenges.

Here are a few things to consider when creating an instructional video that includes camera video:

• Don’t get overwhelmed by equipment. In the video above, we only used five tools: a tripod, smartphone, phone clip, a clean backdrop, and lights.
• Make sure your recording space is well-lit. You’ll either want to record in an area with a lot of natural light or add some video lighting to your equipment list.
• Place your camera on a tripod, and position it as close to your subject as possible while still getting everything you need in the shot. Being close to the subject will help you get the best possible audio when recording with a smartphone camera.

Step 6: Edit your video

Most people feel like they need to be a professional video editor to make a nice-looking video, but the truth is that you don’t need expensive editing tools or a lot of knowledge to get started.

In Camtasia, you can cut out mistakes by selecting them with the playhead, then clicking cut. To trim extra footage from the ends of your recording, drag the end of the clip in.

Add your audio narration to the timeline when you finish editing your video. You can use clip speed and extend frame to sync the audio and video in your project.

Here are some simple video editing tips to improve your instructional videos:

• If you need more time explaining a concept, split the clip and use extend frame to freeze the video.
• To speed up a boring part of your recording, add clip speed, then drag the handles to speed it up.
• Add interactive elements like callouts, arrows, shapes, lower thirds, or sketch motions to highlight key points in your video.

Step 7: Add a video intro

Use a video intro to lead viewers into your content, but don’t get too crazy. Keep your opening simple and to the point. 

Viewers want to get to the substance of your video. They don’t care about anything other than what you promised to teach them.

A good intro clearly lays out the topic and quickly explains what viewers can expect to learn.

To create your own video intro in Camtasia, you will need to add some space at the beginning of your video. Hold the shift key on your keyboard and drag the playhead to the right.

Then, open the media bin and select the Library tab. From the “Motion Graphics – Intro Clips” folder, drag the intro you like onto the timeline.

Step 8: Promote your video

After you’ve spent all that time preparing, recording, and editing your video, you’re probably going to want to share it with the world – and you should! 

Posting your videos online, sharing them on social media, and sending them to your friends, family, and colleagues are all great ways to promote your instructional video. However, there are other ways to expand the reach of your videos and grow your audience.

Here’s a quick round-up of just some of the ways you can promote your instructional video: 

• Create an engaging title, ideally one that’s optimized for search engines, and try adding relevant keywords to the video’s description.
• Promote the video on your social media with links and short clips.
• Share the video in forums related to your video’s topic, but be sure to explain why it’s relevant in your comment.
• Share the video with your email list and give some insight as to what went on behind the scenes.
• Include links to your new video in your past videos, both in the old video descriptions and on the videos themselves.
• Embed the video on your website or blog and write a post that either summarizes or expands on the topic.
• And finally, tell people about it! Sometimes the best way to promote your content is with some good old word-of-mouth, so share it with your friends and family, and encourage them to share it within their own circles.

By following these steps, you’ll be sure to maximize the reach of your video content. Who knows, your next video might become a viral sensation and people might start coming to you for the best instructional video examples.

While creating videos is, in many ways, easy and straightforward, it’s still possible to make mistakes. If you’ve read this far you should be more than ready to go and make your first instructional video, but you should also consider the most common mistakes people make so that you know how to avoid them. 

• Focusing on equipment: Don’t get distracted or overwhelmed by fancy equipment if you’re just starting out. It’s much more important to master the basics and focus on developing your video creation skills.
• Striving for perfection: While it can be hard to let go of your need to perfect every little detail, being a perfectionist can also cost you a lot of time and we believe it’s much better to release a video that’s engaging and creative than to spend an unnecessary amount of time on things most people probably won’t notice.
• Targeting the wrong audience: Make sure you know your audience and create your video with them in mind.
• Explaining steps too broadly: The point of an instructional video is to provide clear, concise, and specific instructions. So be sure to thoroughly explain each step and include visuals to make everything easier to understand. 

Now that you know the most common mistakes to avoid, you really are ready to start creating successful instructional videos .

Make instructional videos today

If you’re wondering how long an instructional video should be, research from Techsmith found that viewers generally prefer shorter videos, between 1-6 minutes long. However, longer videos of up to 20 minutes may be more effective for certain topics and audiences.

TechSmith Camtasia is a user-friendly screen capture and video editing tool that offers a range of features to help you create high-quality tutorial videos, from simple demos to more complex projects. With Camtasia, you can easily create and edit your videos with a variety of tools and effects, making it a great choice for both beginners and experienced content creators.

You don’t need professional equipment to create a professional-looking and effective instructional video. All you really need to get started is a computer, a camera, and a microphone – in fact, the webcam and microphone built-in to your computer will usually be good enough for most instructional videos.

The costs of creating instructional videos can vary widely depending on the equipment and software you use. However, it is possible to create high-quality instructional videos on a budget — or even for free! — by using basic equipment and affordable software, such as Camtasia.

Additional Resources

A guide to using the rule of thirds in video editing, how to create a video storyboard, how to make a youtube channel: step-by-step guide.

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Differences between "tutorial", "guide" and "how-to"

The categorization on Android Wiki looks pretty arbitrary and redundant to me contemplating the single articles in the categories. In every one you find a tutorial , guide and how-to on for example How to root an android phone , so these are mostly step-by-step instructions or a numeric list on how to proceed. This differentiation seems kind of pointless to me. Aren't they all synonyms?

Only guide and how-to imply to me something like a written manual, while tutorial can also be verbal instructions in a seminar or a YouTube video. But on a webpage with only written articles, does this differentiation make sense?

• differences

• I would add that a great many people misuse "how-to", particularly in discussion forums, using it as an equivalent for "how do I…" which, properly, it is not. –  msanford Commented Nov 15, 2011 at 16:23

3 Answers 3

Based on experience with the terms in computing/technology, not necessarily the same as general usage:

A tutorial is a step-by-step walk-through for someone with no experience.

A guide gives basic information, not detailed instruction. Think "pointers".

Particularly for computers, a how-to is more of a list of detailed steps for particular operations. Here's a list from the Linux Documentation Project

Just my interpretation, but

• tutorial: teaches you what to do, but stays focused on the scope given in the title
• guide: teaches you all the steps from zero to done including very simple basics
• how to: just tells you what to do when you generally know what you're doing

• 2 I think you have an off-by-one error in there: either move the terms down one, or the definitions up one, so that tutorial = all the steps, guide = general instructions for someone already familiar with the subject, and how to = focused tutorial. –  Marthaª Commented Nov 15, 2011 at 21:35

Just my interpretation from Wikipedia descriptions:

• Tutorial: Set of videos, quizes or wizards may work.
• User guide: Product manual, set of instructions, warnings, etc.
• How to: Specific task descritpion. May be one step-by-step instructions to complete a task.

Short descrition of each:

• Tutorial: Interactive set of instructions to teach by example in certaing area of knowladge.
• User Guide: A manual written by technical writer intended to give assistance to users. May include include screenshots and diagrams.
• How to: Simplified and short description of how to accomplish some specific task meant to help non-experts.

References:

wiki:Tutorial

A tutorial is one method of transferring knowledge and may be used as a part of a learning process. More interactive and specific than a book or a lecture; a tutorial seeks to teach by example and supply the information to complete a certain task. Depending on the context a tutorial can take one of many forms, ranging from a set of instructions to complete a task to an interactive problem solving session (usually in academia).

wiki:User_guide

A user guide or user's guide, also commonly known as a manual, is a technical communication document intended to give assistance to people using a particular system.[1] It is usually written by a technical writer, although user guides are written by programmers, product or project managers, or other technical staff, particularly in smaller companies. User guides are most commonly associated with electronic goods, computer hardware and software. Most user guides contain both a written guide and the associated images. In the case of computer applications, it is usual to include screenshots of the human-machine interface(s), and hardware manuals often include clear, simplified diagrams. The language used is matched to the intended audience, with jargon kept to a minimum or explained thoroughly.

wiki:How-to

A how-to or a how to is an informal, often short, description of how to accomplish some specific task. A how-to is usually meant to help non-experts, may leave out details that are only important to experts, and may also be greatly simplified from an overall discussion of the topic.

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COURSEWORK GUIDES

You have art coursework and need to research artworks for it. Where do you start? How do you find relevant inspiration? How have other artists approached the themes?Our thematic coursework guides provide ideas and inspiration to get you started. Try our 'Have A Go!' section at the bottom of our guides for activities to keep you motivated!

2023 Coursework Guides

Past coursework guides, we recommend, closeness and simplicity to nature coursework guide.

From the gardens and paradise to land art, discover the artworks in our collection that explore the themes of closeness and proximity to nature

Complex and simple movement coursework guide

From machines to humans, discover the artworks in our collection that explore the themes of simple and complex movement

Simple processes, complex outcomes coursework guide

From optical illusions and repeating forms to instructions, discover the artworks in our collection that explore the theme of simple processes, complex outcomes

Details and the uncanny coursework guide

From photoreal to dreams, discover the artworks in our collection that explore the themes of details and the uncanny

Layers Coursework Guide

From stacking and painting to collage and hidden layers, discover the artworks in our collection that explores the techniques of layering

Objects Coursework Guide

From the uncanny and personal to advertisement and politics, discover the artworks in our collection that explores the themes of object

Senses Coursework Guide

From touch and taste to sight and smell, discover the artworks in our collection that explores the themes of the senses

Reflection Coursework Guide

From mirror and glass to water and fractals, discover the artworks in our collection that explores the themes and techniques of reflection

Weather Coursework Guide

From sun worshipers, cloud gazers and storm chasers to artists who use the weather to explore broader themes and ideas

Materials Coursework Guide

From 'usual' to unlikely art materials: explore textures, qualities, techniques and symbolism of things artists use to make their work

Still Life Coursework Guide

Not just fruit and flowers, explore still lifes from realistic to abstract and familiar to unexpected

Dynamism and Movement Coursework Guide

Explore how artists use marks and colour to suggest motion or make kinetic, performance and video art to explore movement

Landmarks Coursework Guide

From art about landmarks to art that is itself a landmark: get some inspiration on the theme of landmarks

Diary Coursework Guide

From sketchbooks to video diaries and the everyday to big life events, explore how artists use diaries to record the world around them

Mark Making Coursework Guide

Explore the different ways artists use marks and expressive qualities

Outline Coursework Guide

Discover surprising ways artists use outlines in art from graphic to graffiti or abstract and animated

Clothing Coursework Guide

Explore art and fashion, from clothes and identity to shapes, patterns and textures of clothing inspired by art

Masks Coursework Guide

Explore how artists have used masks in their work, to protect, disguise, hide and amuse

Trees Coursework Guide

From atmosphere and symbolism to textures and abstract shapes, explore how trees have inspired artists

Memory Coursework Guide

Explore memories of the past, memories of people and fading memories to see how artists recall and reminisce in art

Food Coursework Guide

Can a humble bag of chips or slice of pizza become a masterpiece? Explore some tasty art about food

Colour Coursework Guide

Explore how different artists have used colour in their work and sketches

Form Coursework Guide

What exactly is form? And how can you explore it in your sketchbook?

Play Coursework Guide

What does play mean for you? Is it sports, or music? Perhaps it’s drifting into a personal imaginary world, or maybe it’s social – board games, card games, or just meeting others

Underwater Coursework Guide

About 70 percent of the Earth is covered in water. It’s probably the least-explored part of our planet - we’ve explored more of space than the oceans. But maybe because of that, for artists, water has been a theme, a subject and even a medium to work with

Line Coursework Guide

See how artists use the power of a line and try some ideas in your sketchbook

Tone Coursework Guide

Learn how you can use tone in your sketchbook

Transmission Coursework Guide

Discover works in which artists explore the complex ways humans spread thoughts and ideas

Isolation Coursework Guide

Recently we have all had to deal with long and short periods of isolation. How have artists explored the ideas of isolation in their work, and what can you learn from those experiences?

Mother and Child Coursework Guide

Discover tender images of new mums and babies and artists' in-depth explorations of mother and child relationships

Journeys Coursework Guide

From physical journeys and migration to journeys of self-discovery, get ideas and inspiration about journeys in art

Relationship Coursework Guide

Exploring relationships in art, as a connection or association between people, things or ideas

Letters and Words Coursework Guide

Discover how artists use letters and words in their art

Force Coursework Guide

From forces of nature and forceful feelings to force as a method, explore how artists have used force in art

Ritual Coursework Guide

What is a ritual? Discover how ritual has been used as a theme in art

Self-Image Coursework Guide

Explore how artists have represented themselves, and others, using portraiture

Transformation Coursework Guide

Explore how artists have transformed objects and ideas through their work

Details Coursework Guide

Explore the theme of details through works in our collection

Human Figure Coursework Guide

Explore people drawn, painted or sculpted from life and art that explores abstract ideas about being human

News and Event Coursework Guide

Look at artists responses to news, from headline-grabbing events and social or political issues, to stories of the extraordinary everyday

Light and Dark Coursework Guide

Look at artworks made from light and shadow to the symbolic use of light and dark to make powerful statements

Interwoven Coursework Guide

Explore art that interweaves materials, ideas, experiences and histories

Perspective Coursework Guide

From vanishing points to points of view, explore perspective in art

Spaces Coursework Guide

Busy crowded streets, eerie empty rooms, explore spaces in art

Habitats Coursework Guide

From art about home life to art that highlights the impact of climate change and pollution on natural habitats

Texture Coursework Guide

Explore textures in art from woven textures and textured fabrics and materials to gestural marks and patterns

Toys Coursework Research

From pop art to gender politics, see toys in a new light and get some inspiration for your coursework

Myths and Legends Coursework Guide

Be inspired by myths and legends – or create your own!

Changed Identity Coursework Guide

From changing their own identities to changing the identity of objects, how have artists explored the theme of changed identity?

Space Coursework Guide

From the space race to heavenly bodies, find some coursework inspiration

Plastics Coursework Guide

Explore plastic in art for some research inspiration

Old and New Coursework Guide

Uncover ways of thinking of Old and New in art

Circus Coursework Guide

Uncover ways of exploring the theme of Circus for coursework inspiration

Rhythm Coursework Guide

Explore artworks with rhythm for some coursework inspiration

Geometric Coursework Guide

Maths meets art to inspire your coursework

Moments in Time Coursework Guide

See how artists respond to moments in time to inspire your coursework

Crowded Coursework Guide

Pack in tightly for some inspiration for your coursework

16-25? Join Tate Collective for £5 exhibition tickets

Student resources.

Discover more for students from Tate

Create Like an Artist

How to make art inspired by artists like Rachel Whiteread, Andy Warhol and Frank Bowling

• Free essays

What is Coursework

What Is Coursework: A Helpful Guide

What is coursework? This is a common question that students ask. Here is a common coursework definition: practical work or assigned research that students are required to complete as part of their training or in order to obtain a degree. Coursework requiring fieldwork, designed studies, and lengthy coursework writing is not uncommon. Independent coursework is also typical, although different types of coursework can also involve group projects. Finally, high school coursework or college coursework can also involve arts and crafts, speaking tests, and demonstrating an understanding of coursework topics related to your area of study. If you are still asking yourself, “What is coursework in college?” We have a student’s guide to coursework writing that you are sure to find helpful.

Coursework Structure

Understanding the coursework structure is essential if you want to succeed in your academic coursework. The first step is to pick a topic and determine the objectives of your college or university coursework. When thinking about creative writing coursework ideas, make sure to choose a topic that is of great interest to you and something that you understand well or are motivated to learn more about. While you want to avoid choosing a topic that is way too obscure or for which there is a lack of information, you also do not want to select a topic that has been researched over and over again since you are not likely to make any new discoveries.

If you are stuck, look through high school, college or university coursework examples to serve as a guide. You could also opt for a coursework writing service if you are willing to spend a bit of money to receive customized coursework from a freelance academic writer. If you prefer to write it all yourself, get in touch with your instructor, particularly the advisor who will be supervising your coursework. They should be able to provide you with creative writing coursework examples and can help you pick a topic that is relevant and constructive. Note that every academic institution and even departments have their own coursework service requirements, so you should familiarize yourself with the guidelines even before you get to the “what is coursework writing” question.

How to Do Coursework

Not sure how to do coursework? Here is how to start a coursework. Here are some general tips that can help you stay on the right track:

✎  Pick a general topic and do some research on ideas that you find interesting

✎  Narrow down the topic to something more specific but for which you can find enough information

✎  If you are writing a lengthy paper project, make sure to plan the structure well

✎  Write the proposal or summary for approval from your advisor or instructor

✎  Make sure you do a thorough job of researching your topic. Collect relevant data and record important facts.

✎  Even as you start writing, keep in mind that the research is always on-going, especially if you find information that alters the direction of your research.

✎  Edit, proofread, and check for plagiarism.

✎  Properly cite all sources based on your advisor’s formatting preferences.

Coursework Examples

As you think about coursework examples that will ultimately become your project, focus on these conceptions:

• Keep it Original. There is no point in doing coursework on an idea that has been beaten to death. It is bound to be boring, it will not undercover anything new or interesting, and you are not going to get a very good grade. Original ideas will provide strong motivation and make the project fun! You might even make an important discovery in the process!
• Identify the Problem. If the purpose of your coursework is to find solutions to a problem, it is important to identify those specific issues that need to be solved. Obviously, it is important to clearly understand the problem well.
• Avoid Plagiarism. Every coursework research project has to be unique. Make sure to properly cite every source. If possible, do as much primary research as possible, which includes designing questionnaires, surveys and other data collection methods.
• Provide Insights – This is perhaps the most important aspect of your coursework. The purpose of your paper is not to merely write down what you find, but to apply it. This means expressing how you believe the findings are impactful. You can even speculate or make arguments as long as it is based on logic, reason and credible sources.
• Discuss the Outcome and Make Recommendations. Once you have reached your conclusions, make sure to discuss the usefulness of the outcomes. Provide analysis and present data. You can also make suggestions for future research based on what you have uncovered. In this way, not only are you making a contribution, another student or even a researcher can apply it for another important and useful purposes.

Final Thoughts

When students are assigned coursework, their reactions can differ greatly. Some savor the opportunity to make a contribution and make new discoveries. On the other hand, there are students who are not all that thrilled with the idea of doing coursework, especially since it involves so much research and writing. But keep in mind that once you get out into the real world, your related coursework will be extremely important. What is related coursework? It is the academic work that you will include on your resume related to the job you are seeking. Since you are not likely to have much work-related experience, your coursework will be immensely important.

• Plagiarism and QA report
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With that in mind, put as much effort as possible into the public opinion polls, surveys and other observational work that you might incorporate into your project. Focus on things like appropriate sample sizes, the methodologies that work best for your research, and make sure to phrase questions in a way that do not result in bias. Likewise, if you coursework involves a lot of secondary research, you will want to be as careful as possible. This means making sure to choose scholarly journals and peer-reviewed journals so that your coursework is as credible as possible.

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A Guide to Creating Training Videos and Video Tutorials

Home / User Onboarding / A Guide to Creating Training Videos and Video Tutorials

Would you rather learn a skill by reading a manual, or by watching a Youtube video?

According to Google’s study , users are 3 times more likely to watch a YouTube tutorial video than reading the instructions of a product.

Regardless of your industry, instructional videos can be the best method to deliver knowledge. In this guide, I'll go over the whole video creation process step-by-step, so you can create amazing videos that carry your message.

But before we go through how to make informational videos, let’s look at the tutorial video meaning to have a clear understanding of the concept.

What is a Video Tutorial?

A video tutorial is an instructional video that demonstrates a process, explains a concept or how-to of a product or service to transfer knowledge to the viewer. Today, any industry can create instructional videos or video tutorials. Two of the instructional video examples you can make include:

1- Tutorial Videos

Sometimes referred to as “ how-to videos ,” tutorial videos are instructional videos that are often used to teach a process or provide step-by-step instruction. Tutorial videos are usually between 2-10 minutes long.

What Makes a Good Tutorial Video?

The essential elements that help make any training video, tutorial video, or software demo a good one include:

• Correct pace
• Friendly & inviting tone
• High-quality presentation

Note that it is crucial to deliver value with your video tutorials. Just because someone explains something doesn’t make it a good tutorial.

2- Training Videos

Training videos are the type of instructional videos designed to train employees and improve their workplace skills . Most companies create training videos to train employees about topics such as harassment and compliance training or job-related issues such as software or hardware training.

These videos can be interactive videos, and they are often the footage of real people to create a connection between the trainer and the trainee.

To learn more about employee onboarding, we suggest you read our article, Onboarding New Employees - The Definitive Guide .

There are other types of instructional videos as well, including:

• Explainer videos
• Presentation videos
• Micro videos
• Screencast videos

However, in this blog, we will discuss only tutorial videos and training videos in detail.

So, if we go back to square one, how do you make a good tutorial video?

About to use videos to onboard your new users/employees to your new product?

Tutorial videos can be utilized to onboard new users and employees to a new product.

If you are going to do so, make sure you check out our guide to onboarding users with videos:

Read: A Guide to Video Onboarding + 10 Examples

How to make tutorial videos.

Most people start making tutorial videos without having a well-thought plan in mind, and, you guessed it, they end up with poor-quality tutorials that users don’t find helpful at all.

If you are new to being the creator of tutorial videos rather than a viewer, you should consider that screencast videos are the easiest way to start out your journey. As you improve your skills, in time, you can think about creating other videos, too, such as a talking head video where you mainly show your face and explain a concept.

Or you may take our tips as your guide and plan your videos to achieve the best results.

But what is the secret of 2-10 minutes long video tutorials that engage viewers till the end and help them learn?

The essential steps to creating good tutorials include:

• Know your audience
• Write a script & storyboard to outline
• Select the right tools
• Choose the right location for recording
• Rehearse your script
• Record your narration
• Record your screen
• Edit your video
• Add an intro to your video
• Share your tutorial video with the world

Let’s go through each step to help you learn how to make tutorial videos successfully.

Step 1. Know Your Audience

The first thing to do before you hit that record button is to get to know your audience.

Who is your audience?

What do they need help with?

If you provide a service or product, ask your customers where they struggle with your service and how you can help.

If your aim is to teach your students or give a course, ask your students what they hope to gain from your courses.

Are you training new employees ? Ask yourself what they need to know to provide the most value to your business.

In short, to create the best tutorial videos, answer the questions below before moving onto the next step:

• Who is your audience? Have demographic information of your audience, such as age, education, professional organizations, and then learn their goals, interests, and concerns.
• What is your topic? You should have only one topic per video. Narrowing down the topic will help you create more focused tutorial videos. Know your audience’s learning objective and why they should invest their time in watching your video.

Step 2. Write a Script & Storyboard to Outline

Once you determine your audience and topic, you can move onto writing a script and creating a storyboard to visualize what your tutorial is going to be like.

Having a thorough script helps keep what you say on track, saving your viewers’ time and yours.

Here are some script writing tips for your video tutorials :

• Use simple language and avoid jargon. Speak with a friendly tone.
• Try to get feedback about your script to create a better version.
• Read your script aloud before you start recording—practice, practice, and practice.
• Say what you are doing and why you are doing it, instead of just saying something like, “And then I click here. Next, I click that.”

Creating a storyboard before you record your video can help you visualize what you plan to show in it.

Your storyboard drawings don’t need to be elaborate. Quick sketches or stick figures are also fine. Just make sure you understand each scene and plan your tutorial well. For screencast tutorials, use screenshots to plan what you will display during your narration.

When you plan what to display and what to say, you will be less likely to face mistakes while recording your video tutorial.

Step 3. Select The Right Tools

It is essential to select the right tools to create a quality tutorial video.

Ensure Audio Quality with a Microphone

If you’re planning to create screencast videos, training videos, or how-to videos on a regular basis, it’s best to invest in a USB microphone . Built-in microphones on computers are often insufficient to capture quality sound.

Your voiceover may still have noise despite a USB microphone. In that case, we will go over which software you can use to reduce noise and delete silence and mistakes later on. Just stick with us till the end, and you will learn all you need to know about making online video tutorials.

Select a Screencasting Software

Screencasts are one of the most popular options for tutorial videos. A screencast tutorial video is an instructional video done by recording a screen with screencasting software.

Mainly SaaS services use screencasts to explain service features step-by-step and how to complete specific tasks in the software to the users.

So, what is the best software for making video tutorials?

Some of the most popular screencast software include Loom, Camtasia, OBS Studio, and Snagit.

Training Video Equipments

• Correct lighting
• Smartphone/camera
• A clean backdrop

Step 4. Choose The Right Location for Recording

Try to choose the right recording location before you start recording your tutorial.

Avoid a noisy environment or where your sound will echo. You wouldn’t want your viewers to hear background voices or echoes. Select somewhere with good acoustics so that you can save time while making the final edits.

When recording your computer’s screen, make sure all of your private data is hidden . Controlling your recording environment beforehand is always a time-saver for post-production.

Step 5. Rehearse Your Script

Rehearse your script once you have completed all the tasks above.

Attach the microphone to your computer, keep your script in front of you and start to practice.

The way you speak matters a lot in tutorial videos.

• Hold your microphone in the right position.
• Make sure you are not speaking too slow or too fast. Find the right speaking pace.
• Listen to how your voice sounds. Does it sound dull, tired, or impatient? If so, try again.
• Maintain the same pace throughout the video.
• Sound natural rather than sounding like you reading right off the script,
• Take note of where you encounter metal blocks during rehearsal and fix them.

Step 6. Record Your Narration

Some screencast software comes with a built-in voice recording feature. But if you want to edit your voiceovers separately and in detail, you can use a free tool like Audacity .

• Find the parts where you said “ums, uhs, and errs,” as well as long awkward silences and delete them.
• Always keep recording even if you make a mistake. Don’t start over. Just repeat and continue from the last correct line to save your time.
• Cut out the mistakes in a voiceover editing tool once you are done.
• Remove extra noise from your audio.

Step 7. Record Your Screen

The next step on how to make tutorial videos is accurately recording your screen.

Start by closing the unnecessary applications on your screen and hiding personal data. It’s best to turn off the notifications to prevent them from popping up on your screen while recording.

Practice some walkthroughs of what you will show on your screen to get smooth cursor movements later on.

Then, open your screen recorder and start recording just as you practiced. If you make any mistakes, just pause the video and start right before the mistake. You can always edit the footage later on.

Tip: You can add a webcam recording to your screencast tutorial video to engage the audience more and create a connection.

Step 8. Edit Your Video

You don’t need to be a professional video editor, expensive tools, or a lot of knowledge to create good tutorials.

Simply cut out the mistakes in your video and trim extra footage from the beginning and the end of the clip. Once you finish editing, add the audio. Make sure to sync the audio with the footage, using techniques such as adjusting the speed. 

Some examples of simple edits:

• If you need more time to explain what you need to say but can’t sync your voiceover with the short footage, split the clip, extend the frame and freeze the video until it syncs.
• Speed up the boring parts or cut them out.
• Or shift the viewers’ focus by using zoom animations in the more important parts of the video.

Step 9. Add an Intro to Your Video

A video intro draws viewers’ attention and leads them to your content.

But, try not to overdo your intro. Keep it simple and to the point, because viewers care more about what you promised to teach them, not your intro.

A good intro simply explains what the audience can expect to learn from the video and lays the ground for the topic.

Some screen recorder tools like Camtasia come with built-in motion graphic templates that you can use for your intros. While it is not required, adding some music to your intro is also a good way to make it more engaging and fun.

You may choose upbeat and positive music for your how-to videos or video lessons. This way, viewers can enjoy and feel positive while learning.

Step 10. Share Your Tutorial Video with The World

Finally, it’s time to think about where you will share your video . You can share your online video tutorials to a video platform like YouTube or Vimeo or choose to save it to a local file to share on social media.

We recommend asking for video feedback from a few people before sharing it online with the world.

In today’s fast-paced world, tutorial videos are everyone’s go-to source for grasping information fast.

Considering that, you should plan your videos well and conduct the tips above to produce successful training videos, screencast videos, how-to videos, or any type of instructional video.

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