Tutorial Tutorial In Short 1. Choose a topic & teaching medium 2. Research 3. Make a script! Include: • Difficulty label • Available pre-reqs • Progression steps • Common mistakes & solutions • Clearly review your main points 4. Record • Multiple takes for best footage • Skill performed on right and left sides 5. Editing • Introduce your video with a simultaneous preview & name of the skill • Voiceover: Show as you explain 6. Peer Review 7. Publish & Promote!
Making a Tutorial (Tut) 1. Brainstorm! • What area do u want to make your tut in? • If the skill is easy for you, and you have it down clean, you found an option. • You want the viewer’s perception to say, “This person knows what they’re talking about” • Your ability to describe the skill is an extension of your understanding of it. • If you’re really good at your skill that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a really good teacher; & vice versa. What tuts do you enjoy watching? • • Instead of bookmarking tuts you like, download them; even better, take notes on them. Those videos may be removed at a future time. • Taking notes will maximize your time e.g. Grabbing the 3 things you are looking for in a 6 min video. • Organize notes by title, skill, and/or topic. =] • What type of tut do you want t o make? • Video tuts (are highlighted in this article) • Written tuts • Extended tuts • Simplified tuts • A combination of all or some of the above styles. What other tuts on your topic are out there? •
• You don’t want to make a redundant video. • What tips can they share with you to make your video better? • You want to be unique, don’t steal their style. • Make yours, the best tut out there. Gather your info into a tangible centralized location • • Info from related tuts • Info from your friends • Info from your head 2. Make a script! • Create an outline to… • Condense your gathered info into a logical order • Maximize the efficiency of your video Write out what you want to say because… • • Clear communication is the most important part. • If your viewer cannot understand you, you have failed to help them. • You want to help, not waste someone’s time. • You will be able to notice if you missed anything before you record. • You won’t have to worry about stumbling over what you want to say as often. • Types of scripts • Fully scripted (word for word) • Semi-scripted (some script, some improv) • Outline (improv the topics noted) • Different script styles work for different people, but typically the most effective is the semiscripted style. • Don’t make it sound like you are reading, you should be talking to the viewer. • Also avoid mumbling & loud heavy breathing. • In your script include… • Available pre-requisites (pre-reqs) • Progression steps • Things you remember struggling with • Things that may seem common sense to you, may not be common to someone else. 3. Record your tut… • Clearly and steadily (use a friend or tripod to help) • With no auditory distractions (background talking, fans, heaters, etc) • With a non-distracting background, if possible. • With plenty of light; dark recordings will come out grainy and imply poor quality. From multiple angles (use two cameras for best results) • • Being performed on right and left sides (the same way may not work for everyone) • You can flop the video if the opposite side is not being preformed. • It is not only natural, but expected to film multiple takes. • Stay motivated! People love you! 4. Build into the skill by covering… • Pre-reqs (if applicable)
• Difficulty label • Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced... • In relation to pre-reqs & other skills, as opposed to your thoughts. 5. Continue with a step by step progression on how to achieve the skill. • Make sure your steps are clear, and easy to understand. • This is the 2nd most important part! • Use words that matter and get to the point, this is where scripting comes in handy! 6. Cover common mistakes & how to solve them 7. Review your main points simply & clearly 8. Editing • Introduce your video with a simultaneous… • Preview of the skill • Name of skill • Shown on screen &/or • Spoken on voice over • If text is included, make sure it is spelled correctly & with proper grammar. • To maximize efficiency of everyone’s time… • When the skill is being demonstrated, include a voiceover of your explanation. • You may want to show the right & left clips in split screen, opposed to sequentially. • If a piece of content does not support your point, cut it out. • If your tut is still very long break it up into sections via… • Table of contents • Annotated YouTube video with “jump to” options • Written with times in video description. Multiple parts (release all the same day) • • Series creation (were each builds on the previous) • If the skill is intricate… • Do not jump cut to other angles when demonstrating as it may confuse the viewer; instead show the clip from start to finish. • Slow down the action (either physically or in editing) 9. Peer Review • Ask someone you trust and someone who knows something about your topic for their opinion on your work. • If the have any comments, take it into consideration as you put on your finishing touches. 10. Publish & Promote! • If you include outside links, make sure they work.