Guide For Teachers: 10 Steps to Easily Create Your First Video Lesson Plan

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You are eager to start creating your first video lesson plan, but there are things that stop you from starting? Talking in front of the camera makes you anxious and uncomfortable, while video editing seems like a nightmare for you? You are not the only one. There are many teachers, professionals, and people who are simply indecisive to try and put themselves out because of these things.

Trying something new for the first time is always hard, no matter how old you are. However, if you are doing something that you love, and wish to show that to others, these small gaps can be easily bypassed. So, let’s talk baby steps and how you can actually start making video lessons easily in order to become a fully engaged online teacher. 

What you need is a little bit of guidance on how to define your topic and tech tips on how to start creating your first video lesson plan. 

Phase I: Define your teaching material 

Step 1 – Choose your topics and specify your approach 

Let’s presume you have a hobby you are willing to share with others. No matter what that is, your topic is a key selling point, so think carefully about it. The knowledge you are sharing has to be interesting, meaningful, and your lessons engaging for your audience. You also need to determine a learning outcome that you wish to achieve.

cooking video lesson

For example, let’s say you enjoy cooking and you are familiar with a specific type of cuisine or a diet.  Any rare or less common way of cooking some food is always a challenge for someone to learn something about it. You can record video lessons about making famous dishes from your cuisine or making simple recipes for the people that have some specific diet. The options are immense when it comes to cooking. 

Step 2 – Research, narrow down the topics you chose, and start creating  

However, you should not be exclusively guided by the popularity of certain topics. If you are passionate about apparel and accessories for pets, you will find your audience.  Once you choose what you want to teach,  it’s easier to create the concept. You can split the content into lessons or just small tutorials for the start.  

Step 3 – Find out your learners’ demands and needs  

Browse other video platforms to get some of the ideas and check out the students’ comments and reviews. See what they love to learn, and adjust your topics to those preferences. Be sure to check out other teachers from your niche and list all things they were missed and which you can include in your lessons.   

Phase II: Learn more about pre-recorded videos 

Step 4 – Learn the basics of video recording 

We know you need baby steps with this, to slowly build confidence, making one step at a time. That’s why we recommend you to start with pre-recorded video lessons. 

Video teaching is a type of teaching where your students buy and download your pre-recorded videos with different lessons. Each video can contain one lesson you want to teach. Once they download the video they can play it over and over which is why lessons need to be both comprehended and insightful. 

Step 5 – Find and create your video lesson style 

Remember that it’s important to create a style you feel is right for you and your teaching method.  You will always have time to re-record and compare your videos before you find the right approach, but you should also know consider the following: 

  • Choose to make pre-recorded video lessons If you don’t feel comfortable doing live tutoring in front of the camera 
  • Unlike tutoring that requires your time daily, pre-recorded videos are one time spent hours on recording and editing 
  • You can record videos in the comfort of your own home, edit and publish videos in the dynamic you please the most
  • Your lessons can watch much more students comparing to tutoring that is the most effective when is 1:1
  • Anybody can publish video lessons, unlike those platforms that require some certificates to add you as a tutor. 

On InfoDepot you can publish video lessons and also offer live tutoring with students on the subject you choose. That may be related to your previous video lessons or something completely new you can tutor others. 

Think bite-sized for your lessons 

Bite-size is 15 minutes or less video format and a great way to engage learners who prefer quick, accessible, and easy to remember content. 

Step 6 – Create quality video lessons and you will create a demand

People are eager to look for short videos that will show them a specific technique or method, a quick solution for some issues they have. 

If you, for example, want to teach knitting, there are many people who are struggling just to begin with and learn how to tie that magic knot. Therefore, your lesson might be how to do that easily. 

Simple, DIY, and attractive content that comes with the quick end product or solution is perfect for bite-sized videos.  See how CraftyChick on InfoDepot made a mask with a pocket in this short video. 

Step 7 – Think of the video duration

This is most certainly one of the very first things students look at before they click ‘play’. Keeping the video short and concise is good for both you and students.  By recording smaller, shorter clips, you can update the content easily without spending an extensive amount of time or resources. 

People, on the other hand, are more likely to be attracted to a short, 10-minute video compared to lengthy lectures. The recommended duration is between 10 – 15 minutes, where they can learn on any platform, anytime.

If you start teaching on InfoDepot, you can upload your videos for up to 30 minutes with no extra requirements except a solid quality of video and sound. You can teach anything you want. 

Step 8 –  Structure your video lesson plan

Most people do not have a long attention span so you need to mix the content up with fun and even playful parts to keep it interesting. When you start filming make sure you avoid reading from a script as that is less engaging for you and the viewers. An outline is ideal and still provides some spontaneity and energy. Try following this lesson structure perhaps: 

  • Introduction 

Say something about you, what, and why you have decided to show the specific thing in the video. Tell more about the technique and materials you are going to use and specifics that people need to pay attention to. Say for whom is the video for, for beginners or those with some and which experience.

  • The main part of the video

Set the focus on the work you are showing. You can explain each step and add only the necessary information. Let the focus be on the things you are showing. 

Be relaxed and insightful and try to show and explain every step. You can speed up this part by using the fast-forwarding option on your video editing app

  • Close up 

Take the last few minutes of the video to show the final product and give some more comments about it. Use it also to invite your students to leave a comment or review. 

If you want to write titles for each chapter, that would look something like this “Knitting for the beginner video lesson plan. 

Introduction 

  • Materials
  • Equipement  
  • Technique – theory 

Main part 

  • How to create a slip knot
  • Hot to start a chain 
  • How to continue with single crochet stitches
  • Tips and tricks 

Close up

  • Summary and showing the end product 

Phase III: Don’t let recording anxiety overtake you 

The biggest obstacle for people who have even thought about becoming an online teacher is recording a video. Whether you are a complete newbie or you have already recorded a video, creating video lessons can be a challenging activity. 

Step 9 – Create your own home studio for recording in a few steps 

This is what can make your video lesson looks professional.   

via GIPHY

  • Audio 

Find a space that is quiet and without any possible interruptions. Avoid recording outside or in a coffee shop as you won’t be able to guarantee the best possible sound. 

  • Stage 

Choose a background that is flat and neutral. Colors and the detailed background will only make your students pay less attention to what you are saying and more to what is around you. If you need a table, make sure it is also neutral, without unnecessary details. 

  • Light 

Natural light is the best option, but you won’t always be able to record a lesson using natural light. The second best option is to have an artificial light that mimics the natural one. A popular ring light is an affordable piece of equipment that is useful to have. 

  • Setup

If you are showing a making process, put your hands in the focus as well the materials you are using. Try to focus your student on the thing you are making, so zoom in the process. 

Step 10 – Keep on going no matter what 

There’s a high probability you will not create a video lesson plan that satisfies your needs the first time, and you will have to record it once again, or even several times. But this is how the process goes, and you should not be discouraged. 

Key takeaways 

Organizing and structuring your video lessons is an ongoing learning process. Be flexible and willing to try out different setups, applications and different tools to create a perfect plan. On one hand, if it does not work, try something else. On the other hand, just because something works does not mean you always need to use that tool or to record the same topic. 

Make sure only you have a quality video lesson with the right topic you would click as well. If you need any extra tips, join our community group on Facebook and some of the teachers will help you out. 

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