One of the most challenging assignments for graduate students is to create a video within a time constraint.
The Mistake
The typical time constraint students encounter is a 4- to 5- minute or 5- to 7-minute time limit. The mistake students often make is to try to fit everything they want to say into whatever time duration they receive. When what students should do is divide out the amount of minutes given and then build their presentation.
Start Here
Want to create a video within the time constraint? You need to know the constraint, know the material, and then outline your way to success. You do not start by recording, you start by outlining.
Begin with the End in Mind
To be successful, start with the time constraint in mind.
If you have up to 5 minutes, you might budget your time as such: 20-30 seconds for introduction, 20-30 seconds for closing/summary. That leaves you with approximately 4 minutes to discussion the topic. While the assignment may state this is a professional development or a workshop, consider this as a commercial for a professional development ot workshop you may do – pitch it to the audience, invite them to sign-up. Because, if we are honest – you are not teaching much in 4- to 5- minutes. But anyone can showcase highlights, be within a time constraint, and earn the highest possible grade!
If you have up to 7 minutes, you might budget your time as such: 30 seconds for introduction, 30 seconds for closing/summary. That leaves you with approximately 6 minutes to discussion the topic.
Review & Confirm
✅ Review the rubric BEFORE recording to make certain you earn all the points possible.
⚠️ Do Not let yourself feel over whelmed to teach the audience everything about the topic – you only have about 4 minutes!
✅ Create your time budget/outline FIRST. the hardest thing to do it cut from a script/video, so intentionally make the outline/script based on the time constraint before you begin creating content.
If You are Cutting…
⚠️ You know you are in trouble if you are trying to cut out content. That means you did not correctly budget your time. And once you invest and create content, the hardest thing to do is to cut out content.
💡 Honestly, consider recording again. Do not feel defeated! You have already practiced the content and are almost guaranteed to record an improved version of your first video. I cannot always tell how many times a video has been record over again, but I can certainly tell when it is the first time a video is being recorded. Think about that, and then record your video again – improve it!
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