online class videos should be no longer than 6 minutes.

Informal videos led to greater engagement. Students engage less with formal professionally edited videos.

Research-based advice: Set aside half an hour at your desk and record your own content without worrying too much about high production value or perfectly polished delivery. In short, create “informal, mini videos”.

·         Keep your narration casual, and frequently refer to the material on the slides without just reading it word for word.

·         Capture a few extra seconds of yourself smiling at the camera after you finish talking, so it will be quick and easy to cut there or fade out and students do not see you fumbling around trying to find the right button to click to end the recording.

·         Keep the videos as individually independent as possible, so that you can reuse the videos.

·         Provide guiding questions that students can answer while viewing the mini lectures to help students actively engage with your videos.

·         Start with one mini video, on a concept that has always been hard to convey in your class. Next time when you teach the same class, add a couple more videos and build up each time you teach the same class.