2. 2
Table of Contents
About Slidecasts...................................................................................................................................................3-4
Slidecasting Tool Options ....................................................................................................................................5-10
Length and Number of Slides .............................................................................................................................11-12
Creative Brief........................................................................................................................................................13-14
Writing the Script ..................................................................................................................................................15-20
Designing the Slideshow......................................................................................................................................21-36
Delivery..................................................................................................................................................................37
3. About Slidecasts:
3
A slidecast is a video consisting of a slideshow
with voice-over narration.
Most slidecasts are embedded on web pages
from host sites such as YouTube.
4. Slidecasts are used to:
• Promote products or services,
• Provide instructions to users,
• Present test results to project team
members who are at different locations.
• These are just a few of the ways they can
be used.
4
5. Slidecasting Tool Options
• You need a microphone, and the one in your
computer will be fine for this project.
• Your slidecast must be hosted on a site that allows
users to play it without having to download the
file.
• You will need to decide how you will create the
slidecast from the following options. Please note
the warnings.
5
6. Option 1: Knovio (highly recommended)
• Signup for a free account .
• Create the slideshow in PPT or any other slideware program.
• Upload to Knovio and use the recording feature to add voice-
over narration.
• Knovio allows you to record ONE slide at a time, a highly desirable
feature.
6
PLUS Knovio will host
the file. You just submit
the URL to the bblearn
drop box.
7. Option 2: PC Users Only
• PowerPoint: create the slideshow, use the PPT
recording feature to add voice-over narration,
save as a movie file, and upload to a host site
such as YouTube or Vimeo.
• MAC users. PPT has a bug in it that will strip your
audio out when saving as a movie file. So, you
can’t use it. There is no solution to-date.
7
8. Option 3: Mac Users Only
• Keynote will work in the same way PPT does for PC
users, but it’s not free ($19.99).
8
Don’t feel like buying
Keynote? See the next
slide for another option
that’s free.
9. Option 4: All Users
• Screencapture Tools. Strictly speaking, a screen capture tool
creates a screencast, but if you position the capture feature
over your slideshow it, so you can advance the slides as you
record, it will preserve any animations and work the same as a
slidecast.
• You will need to use a screencapture tool for projects 3 and 4,
so it may be a good option to use for the slidecast, particularly,
if you want to preserve animations. I recommend using
Screencast-O-Matic or Jing.
• See tools and resources for more information.
9
10. • Remember, this course does not accept video files
(mp4, mov, etc.).
• Here’s why. You are practicing how to create and share
these types of files as they are shared in workplace
settings.
• So, if you choose to create a video file on your
computer, be certain it is uploaded to a host site and will
play without a user needing to download the file.
10
11. Decide How to Work
• Some people like to write the slidecast script
first and then design the slides.
• Some prefer to do the slides first and then write
the script.
• Still others create the slides and write the script
at the same time.
Do the process that works best for you.
11
12. You will need between about 6 slides.
12
Title Slide
6 slides for
3 MINUTE Slidecast at
30 seconds per slide:
Slide 1: Introduction
Slides 2-5: Body
Slide 6: Conclusion
Slide 7: Bibliography
(not narrated)
But more slides than six is fine. Just try to
stay within the 3 minute time frame.
14. Writing the Script
14
You should be able to say
the sentence in your script
in a single breath.
Practice the principles of effective prose style when
writing the script but adapt these for the ear by keeping
sentences short.
16. 16
Brief salutation: greet the audience and give
them an idea of what you will be presenting in
the slidecast. Whether you chose option 1 or 2
for the slidecast, it's a good idea create an
engaging opening.
Introduction: here is one way to introduce the slidecast
(there are other choices you could make).
17. 17
Example:
sentence-level definition with a metaphor.
Usability testing is a methodology that
reveals how a user experiences your
product or service. Achieving usability is
a lot like world peace. We all want it, but
it’s hard to achieve.
19. Example: signposting is in blue.
19
Fortunately, usability testing doesn’t have to be
elaborate. It requires only a handful of users to
determine if your product is meeting the five
quality components users need. I’ll explain each
of these components one at a time in the slides
that follow.
You may need only one signpost, but
decide how many you need based on
what you are saying and how many slides
you end up creating.
20. Closing
20
Wrap it Up. Have a clear
conclusion.
• Remember to thank audience
for listening.
21. Bibliography
• The final slide will be a bibliography of any
source images.
• You may use any standard documentation
style for the bibliography.
21
22. Designing the Slideshow
• Design slides for maximum visual interest.
• Any text should be limited to key topics.
The voice-over will be extending the
definition or providing specifics to develop
the description, so you do not want to be
reading from slides.
22
23. Follow Canva’s Design Advice
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How to Wow with a Presentation by Canva
https://designschool.canva.com/blog/presentation-design-101/
See the
next slides
for Canva's
advice.
24. Be bold.
Keep text short.
24
Your audience is not here
to read but listen to you
and be engaged visually
with the material.
Remember, the lectures in
this course are slidedocs,
and meant to be read.
You are creating a
slidecast video
presentation, so design the
slides for maximum visual
interest.
25. Don’t do this.
25
• It’s boring to use bullet
points like this, and it
inevitably leads to a
speaker reader from
slides.
26. Do this.
26
• Your viewers will be
more engaged if the
text is not a bullet
point and combined
with a visual that has
high impact.
27. Do this.
27
• You want the pace to
be lively. So, keep to
one main point, so you
are not staying on one
slide too long.
28. Size type for maximum impact.
28
• A common problem I
see in student
slideshows is text that
is too small.
• Another common
problem is contrast
between text and
background is too
low.
32. Use FREE images.
• Choose images that are of the same type.
• See links to sources of free images on the
project page.
• Remember to cite sources in the
bibliography.
32
33. If using photos of people, pick ones
that look like real people being real.
33
34. Limit number of colors to three and
choose complementary colors.
34
35. Or, choose one color and use a range
of values (the level of color saturation).
35
37. If you use a template, avoid letting a template dictate
how you design the slideshow.
Adapt it to follow the design principles in the prior slides.
37
38. Delivery continue to apply these concepts
when recording your voice-over narration.
38
• Vocal variety: pitch, tone,
volume, and rate.
• Pausing.
• Diction
Exercises to help you improve
your speaking style can be found
under Tools and Resources.
