Internet Learning Volume 5, Number 1, Fall 2016/Winter 2017 | Page 63

Internet Learning
Office vlogging Setup
A
Vlog or video blog is a form of
web television. Instead of uploading
just text and still images
to a website, videos are used. The
lecturer is now going to be visible and
seen by the student, though informality
is expected and even desirable, care
is needed in terms of the technical requirements
of the set up and the soft
skills used by the presenter to engage
effectively with the student. The objectives
of the ideas in this section are to
raise awareness, avoid potential mistakes,
and give a sense of the standards
that are normally expected of professional
communicators, which can be
achieved with a little effort.
A light on the face (even a desk
lamp: especially with a daylight bulb)
helps to ensure the highlight is on the
main subject in any video—in this case
the lecturer—and separates the subject
from the background. The presenter
needs to be aware of the effect of
the viewer not looking directly at the
camera. To address the student with
eye contact is essential. Set your web
camera at eye level: too high and the
presenter appears to look down on the
viewer. Too low and the presenter give
the impression of being rather small
and inadequate. Needless to say some
attention to general appearance is essential.
Make sure to stand up. Breathing
is easier when standing. Presenters
stand in the radio studio, as do the
actors. In addition to breathing being
easier, it gives presence in front of the
microphone. It is better to be offset to
one side of the computer screen. The
background, or thinking space, becomes
the area for looking when thinking
about the subject matter of the presenter’s
message. If the presenter is against
a plain wall, the message may be uninspiring
and less engaging.
Angle the screen away from the
back wall, to create a perspective view
that gives depth to the image. Lines will
disappear at interesting angles, and that
gives the presenter the embodied metaphor
of depth and acquires the tone of
a serious messenger. However, the new
depth depends on what is in the background.
Shambolic shelves do not give
a confident message. The objective is
to have a background relevant to the
subject matter. The author uses photographs,
and a stack of video equipment.
Finally, use the software as an autocue.
In iShowU, when the full screen
camera option is chosen by the presenter,
the viewer cannot see the text of a
script hidden behind the camera on the
computer screen on the finished video.
The software becomes an autocue. The
quality of feedback can be improved
substantially if the presenter can keep
direct eye contact with the student, and
read notes of those important teaching
points while still looking directly to the
web camera. However, eye contact can
only be maintained with a minimum
time without looking away to the controls.
In conversation with the iSHowU
Instant team, a control panel has been
added. The software coded determines
that the floating panel is horizontal. The
best location for the panel on the screen
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