Making an instructional video

Youtube has millions of instructional videos. Some done by enthusiasts, novices, professionals, and of course, some videos have been produced by companies which provide the service for internal or commercial use.

Like any presentation, the rules of making an instructional video are simple :

1. Tailor your message, vocabulary and tone for your audience;
2. Tell the audience what you are going to say;
3. Tell the audience how, in which order the message or instructions will be told;
4. Say what you have to say;
5. Tell them what you have just told.

Although the above instructions may sound like a video based off broken record, there is nothing wrong with repetition. There no guarantee that the more often we do something, the better we will be at it, however there are better chances that one will not stumble, or forget how something is done or said.

An instructional usually involved a certain degree of editing, as opposed to teaching a group of individuals in real-time, I nonetheless recommend ( a personal note as I am planning a video while writing this blog entry) planning how the video will be made. For example :

• Will the video use text slides for summaries, part or product lists?
• Will the video be recorded with or without audio?
• How many people will be involved in the process? Does the camera need to be positioned in a fixed location ?
• How much more information do you want to provide the audience ?
  
• Should you note what could be improved ? Previous mishaps or mistakes which one may encounter ? Will such experiences discourage the audience ?
  
• Should the video be modelled on another video?
  
• How can the written instruction replicate, compliment or substitute parts of the video?
• Does a photographic image provide enough clarity for a task? Would line art ( or sketches of major features ) be better suited ?

Personally, I prefer reading instructions rather than watching a video. However, I know that hearing the human voice can be insightful. A transcription of unprepared speech can be painful to read, therefore voice-over instructions should be written and rehearsed.

( This blog entry will be later update with links to suggestions on how to prepare an instructional video... )