Single-Video Course

Owned by Ian Christopher (Deactivated)
Last updated: Dec 08, 2022
4 min read

Course Info

Description 

The learning content of a Single-Video Course is delivered entirely in…wait for it…one video. Many Single-Video Courses will have the standard Academy wrapping (e.g., requiring registration on the Ed-Fi Academy website), though some will be consumable directly from YouTube or other video platform. 

Course Use-Cases 

  • Single-topic courses 
  • Brief how-to or instructional content requiring minimal conceptual introduction 
  • Timely content such as interim guidance, technical walkthroughs of recent releases, or announcements with an entirely technical audience

Delivery Platform 

  • Typically, via the Ed-Fi Academy site, requiring registration 
  • Occasionally, directly via the Academy’s Video Delivery Platform (currently YouTube) 

Course Options 

  • Courses delivered via the Academy website may include a quiz or test at the conclusion 
  • As noted, may be delivered via the Ed-Fi Academy or directly via the Academy Video Delivery Platform

Course Production Details 

  • These courses are typically scripted by the Academy Team, with professional help available for prominent or core courses
  • The raw video for these courses is typically recorded by the Academy Team
  • The final product is typically produced with technical assistance

Course Templates & Examples 

Videos created for direct distribution will be built from one of the templates below.  

SV 01. Explanation of a concept 

This video style aims to explain a concept to the audience with visuals. To reduce production time without sacrificing quality, this video style uses a whiteboard approach made popular by Khan Academy. 

An example of when this style would be valuable would be when explaining Ed-Fi's various API modes. Instead of voicing over slides (see here), the host draws the diagrams as they voice over each piece. This allows the host to start with a piece of the diagram and build it out in an organic way as they explain it. This allows the content to be more easily digestible by the audience. This lowers the risk of the content feeling like a deluge of information that can overwhelm the audience. 

Example 

SV 02. Technical How-to or Demonstration 

This video style aims to walk a person step by step through how to accomplish a task or to provide a demonstration of a product’s functionality. 

For example, a video may walkthrough how to deploy the Ed-Fi API, Admin App, and ODS on Google Cloud Platform. On the demo side, a video may demonstrate the functionality that exists within Ed-Fi's Admin App. 

SV 02a. Host as the knowledge holder 

Here the host is responsible for both conducting the video and communicating the content. 

  • These videos follow the structure below: 
  • Camera shot of the person introducing the topic the video will be covering 
  • Main camera shot of the computer with the person moved to a corner of the screen providing the instruction or demo 
  • Summary of the video and some call to action or next step 

Example 

SV 02b. Guest as the knowledge holder 

Here the host is not the knowledge holder. Rather, they have a guest with them. 

For example, a demonstration of the Ed-Fi API Publisher with Geoff McElhanon. The host would interview Geoff. This style of video creates a dynamic where the host can play the role of the YouTube viewer who is learning as well. They can act as if they do not know the material and can ask the guest clarifying questions throughout. 

These videos follow the structure below: 

  • Split screen camera shot with a person on each side of the screen, host welcomes guest and intros the video 
  • Host either role-plays as the role the video is attracting or tees up the topic for the guest to discuss, e.g.: 

“Hi, Geoff. I am Marcos, an analytics engineer at Glendale Charter Schools in Denver. We use Denver Public Schools’ Infinite Campus instance as our SIS. I cannot configure the SIS to send data to my Ed-Fi API because it’s not my SIS, but I also use Illuminate DnA and I’d like to use their Ed-Fi integration. I don’t know what to do. They said they will use your Ed-Fi API Publisher to send data to my Ed-Fi API. What does that mean? Can you help me?” 

Or, e.g.:

“Hi, Geoff. I think what you are doing with the Ed-Fi API Publisher is very cool. Can you tell me more about it?” 

Example 

SV 03. Informational 

This video style aims to provide information to the viewer. 

For example, we may want to introduce an Academy course to the viewer or provide some information to them without the need to show them a user’s desktop and without drawing as we do in template 01. 

This style alternates between: 

  • Full screen shot of the host 
  • Split screen with the host on one side and text on the other 
  • Full screen shorts of resources, diagrams, and other content the host is referencing 

A video that stays on a full screen view of the host can get tiresome to the viewer and that can cause them to be less engaged. This also applies to static imagery that’s voiced over for too long. This style of video should alternate between the 3 shot styles laid out above to create a flow throughout the video that keeps the viewer engaged. 

Example 

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