Creating Engaging Micro-Lectures

Micro-Lecture Sample

Micro-lectures have become an increasingly common staple in college courses. In light of recent changes to higher ed instruction due to Covid-19 health precautions, many instructors find themselves migrating a ton of F2F material into an online platform. In a previous discussion, “Migrating a F2F course to an Online Platform,” I share some tips and tricks to moving preexisting material and how to handle the shift as it relates to time management and student interaction. One of the suggestions is to record some video. I am firm believer in having a visual component in class instruction whether it is F2F, fully online or hybrid. Creating a catalog of video clips for students to return to at a later date or that can be used from one semester to the next, has the ability to provide long-term benefit for both the instructor and the student. 

Below I have outlined some specific elements to consider when creating engaging micro-lectures for your courses:

Be specific about what the video is addressing

It is not necessary to have the entire video fleshed out before hitting the record button but having clarity on why you need a specific video and exactly what learning outcomes it will support and/or address can streamline the process.

      Look professional

Having a professional appearance doesn’t necessarily include hair and makeup but instead background, lighting, sound and your demeanor. My rule to creating online video is to always dress as if I were conducting a lecture live in class. The lighting is also important, being able to see your face is more engaging than trying to listen to a shadowy figure moving back and forth on the screen. Your background does not have to be perfect, but be sure to remove any distracting posters, props or people. Having loved ones walk about in the background can detract from your presentation. Be relaxed, sit up straight and try to have your camera at eye level for maximum visual engagement.

Have a script or guide prepared

While I am all for shooting from the hip or improvising, when you are not very experienced with creating engaging micro-lectures it always helps to have some pre-written notes at your disposal. There is a fine line between preparation and improvisation that the most engaging micro-lectures are able to balance seamlessly. Don’t be afraid to improvise but come prepared.

Keep it short

No matter what needs to be covered, information can always be presented in short blurbs that truly captivate the attention of viewers and leave them wanting more. Be sure to chunk your information into bite-sized portions that are easily digestible. Having several parts for the same lecture is fine. Even if you have recorded longer lectures in previous courses, it is a good idea to break them down into sections. Not only are these short videos more engaging, but they are much easier to incorporate into various areas of an online course. This especially works well when the same concept or term is covered across multiple courses. Record it once and use it infinitely.

Incorporate Multi-Media Elements

Incorporating a slideshow presentation, existing video or pictures (animations, memes, GIFs, graphics, etc.) can truly take your micro-lecture to the next level. Students get a break from a talking head and are also offered visual components that further explain the subject at hand. Background music is not necessary, but if you find some clever sound effects that work well with your presentation, don’t be reluctant to take a chance. Your videos can always be edited again later. If using a slideshow, it is good practice to record the voice-overs for each slide separately, this way you aren’t trying to be mistake-free (some mistakes are okay) for a full 5-7 minutes at a time.

Be sure your micro-lecture is accessible

In an effort to be fully inclusive of our entire student body and the special needs they may have, be sure your video is captioned and that the audio is loud and clear. For a more in-depth look into accessibility, feel free to reach out to TLT.

The most important thing to remember is that creating engaging micro-lectures is a work-in-progress. They don’t have to be flawless the first time around. The more you create, the better you will become. Students aren’t judging us as much as we might think, most simply have a strong desire to connect with an actual instructor, be it F2F, online or hybrid. It is so hard to cover all aspects of engaging micro-lectures in one presentation, but I encourage you to research the topic online and check out my 2min micro-lecture example here. 

Jameelah Ra'oof MIS, MS 

Coordinator of Teaching, Learning & Academic Excellence

Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE)

Texas Woman's University 

Stoddard Hall - Room 305A

940.898.3427