Getting ready for the lecture and webcast

• Media Release form

Presentation tips and suggestions for speakers

Presentation Tips for Capture Classrooms

The capture classroom was designed to facilitate the preservation of university classroom experiences so that students can view presentations at remote locations or review presentations at their leisure. The presentations are captured using digital media and compressed into streaming media types, such as RealVideo or Windows Media.

The presenter does not need to prepare for the lecture more intensively than for a normal classroom lecture. Presenters who have worked in these classrooms in the past indicate that the capture technology is not intrusive and they did not feel the need to alter their lecture styles. However, these presentation tips may be helpful for maximizing the effectiveness of the resulting video.

Personal Preparation and Presentation

1. 1. Heavily patterned clothing can create distracting effects in the captured video, whereas solid colors, especially blue, often look best.
2. 2. Wear the lapel microphone when lecturing.
3. 3. Laser and physical pointers will not appear in captured video of slides, therefore, it is best to use a wireless mouse.
4. 4. Practice using the wireless mouse for a few minutes before the presentations.

Power Point Presentations

1. 1. Use a font size of about 24 Points to maximize text visibility in the video.
2. 2. Use a sans serif font such as Arial or Verdana.
3. 3. Use a dark background (dark blue is quite effective) with a white or light colored font. Avoid red in the slides.
4. 4. Minimize use of sound effects in the slides unless they are absolutely necessary. The gain on these sounds is difficult to control.

Sample Videos

Examples of seminars captured in this lecture room can be viewed at:

http://systemafter.rice.edu/bios533 

For more information about the Capture Classroom Project, please visit:

http://cohesion.rice.edu/centersandinst/cttl/index.cfm?doc_id=3805