Creating Digital Presentations
Lesson demonstrations, student presentations, video feedback and study guides are several ways digital video can be used to promote student engagement. Products available at NDSU and explored in this article include:
- PowerPoint – Turn your Presentation into Video
- VoiceThread – Creating Assignments
- YuJa - Recording YuJa Video for a Blackboard Course
The following matrix provides a comparison of using PowerPoint, VoiceThread, and YuJa for digital presentations.
Description |
PowerPoint |
VoiceThread |
YuJa |
|---|---|---|---|
Viewing Options |
PowerPoint file Video file (several formats available) |
Online stream via web browser integrated into Blackboard Original Tools Mobile app (iOS and Android) |
Online stream via web browser (allows embedding) Download (mp3 audio and mp4 video podcast formats available) Mobile app (iOS and Android) |
Recording |
Slide by slide narration through PowerPoint application. Students are also able to use the recordings tools within PowerPoint. |
Slide by slide narration through web browser, primarily through Blackboard Original. Students are able to respond to VoiceThread forums and create their own posts. |
Record entire presentation in one straight through session, with pausing available. Uploading video/audio files is also available. Recording is done with a standalone application that must be downloaded to the machine. The mobile app also has limited recording capabilities. Students have the ability to also make recordings in YuJa sites that they are enrolled in. This option is active by default, but may be disabled if desired through Course Settings. |
Editing |
Slide by slide editing is available. |
Slide by slide editing is available. |
Proprietary video editor allows for removing portions of recording and inserting preexisting video files and PowerPoint slides. |
Accessibility |
Transcriptions for PowerPoint narrations can be manually added to either the slides or the notes area of the presentation. If the end product is a video file, transcriptions will need to be added to the slides. |
Creators of a VoiceThread, or those with editing permissions, may add closed captioning to a presentation by uploading a closed captioning file. Automated closed captioning is available when viewing slides from the standard VoiceThread site. |
Auto-transcription is generated automatically. Instructors have the ability to edit the transcription to increase accuracy. Human captioning is available through NDSU Disability Services for Students for students requiring accommodations. |
Digital Presentation Tips
- Add peer reviews as a component of the assignment to include students in the presentation assessments
- Include rubric on what is expected
- Have peers provide feedback to others
- Create recordings/videos that are 15 minutes or shorter; if a lecture on a chapter takes 50 minutes, try chunking it into 8-10 minute sections
- Avoid overly animated presentations, focus on the content and reduce distractions
- Use a conversational tone when recording, speak to the audience