Capturing video from a webcam

The addition of Video to any online course brings with it a whole new level of interactivity. In the past, online instructors have used video for course introductions, personal bios, video lectures, unit transitions and many other applications. By using a webcam to record short introductions to courses or units, you can engage you students and bring life to a course.

To use webcams within your course, you must:

1. Set up and configure your webcam
2. Record video from your webcam
• Microsoft Windows
• Apple OS X
3. Add your video to your WebCT course site

I. Setting up and configuring your webcam

Install and configure your webcam as per the manufacturer's instructions. If you are having trouble with this, please contact AAP support at advanced@jhu.edu. While we do not require that faculty use a specific brand of webcam, we can provide better support for Logitech webcams, as that is what we use in house.

II. Recording video from your webcam

Before you start recording a video, make sure that your environment is properly set up:

• Lighting: You should ensure that both the subject (you) your background are sufficiently illuminated. Most webcams perform poorly in low-light conditions, resulting in noise and other video artifacts.
• Background: Pay attention to what will appear behind you in the video. For example, if you are recording in your kitchen, make sure the counters are clean and that it doesn't look cluttered. Also, try to avoid "busy" backgrounds with motion or many different objects.
• Audio: Using your webcam software, ensure that audio levels are at an appropriate level. Also, turn all off items in the room that may create background noises (hums, beeps, whines) such as fans, air conditioners and phones. Close all doors and windows to keep outside noises out. If either your computer or webcam have built in microphones, use those instead of a headset, as headsets do not put forward a professional image. If you are teleconferencing, a headset may be required.
• Camera: Adjust the camera so that is at eye-level, ensuring that your entire head and shoulders/upper body are in the shot. Use the following as an example of how to frame your shot:
  
• Make sure that you have your presentation rehearsed and memorized (preferably scripted). Stammering, long pauses and repetition of phrases take away from the quality of a video. If you made a script for the video, save it as a text file and upload it to your course along with the video (in case the video needs to be made accessible to a student with a disability).

You're ready to start recording! Before you do so, you may have to specify the desired video size and quality. We recommend capturing video at a resolution of 320 x 240.

Start the capture, stopping the recording process once you are finished.

III. Uploading your video to your WebCT course site

To add video to your WebCT course site, follow these steps:

1. On the 'Manage Files' portion of your course site, check the box next to the unit folder that you want to upload to and click the 'Create Folder' button.
2. Create a folder named 'Video'.
3. From the 'Manage Files' page, click the 'Upload' button.
4. Click the 'Browse' button and select the video that you wish to put up.
5. From the drop down box for the destination folder, select the entry for 'UnitX/Video', where X is the desired unit number.
6. Click the 'Upload' button.
7. In the course menu on the left side of the page, click the link corresponding to the video's unit.
8. On the right side of the page, click 'Add Files'.
9. Select the video file that you just uploaded (should be in the format 'UnitX/Video/myvideofile.wmv') and click the 'Add' button.
10. Click the 'Edit Titles' link on the right side of the page and rename the newly added link for your video. You should use the format: 'Video Name (Quicktime)' or 'Video Name (Windows Media)' depending on what you saved the video as.

And you're done!

Email advanced@jhu.edu with any questions or problems.

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