Quick Guide to Instructional Media Design

Section-specific Media (short-term use)

Content-based Media (long-term use)

1. Make an announcement
2. Preview the week ahead
3. Summarize the previous week
4. Summarize a forum discussion
5. Respond to student questions
6. Introduce yourself to students
7. Introduce the course

1. Explain a concept
2. Synthesize course content
3. Give an example
4. Demonstrate a skill or process 
5. Interview an expert
6. Lecture on a topic not covered elsewhere in the course

Selecting Existing Media

Creating New Media

1. Is the content current?
2. Does the production quality interfere with comprehension?
3. Is it easily accessible to students?
4. Will it be accessible for the foreseeable future? 
5. Does it support my learning outcomes and course activities?

1. Is the best option to create a video or slide presentation?
2. What content will I present?
3. How long will it take to present the content?
4. How can my content be “chunked” into short segments?
5. What descriptive titles will I use for each segment?
6. What is the best media type for each presentation’s content?

Increase viewing

Sustainability

1. Content is integral to students’ ability to succeed in their course work
2. Content is unique; it does not repeat other required resources
3. Content is engaging, meaningful for learning, and well-organized
4. Content is segmented into short (6-10 minute), discrete segments/topics
5. Focus on synthesis of concepts, explain difficult concepts, make application, tell relevant stories to make learning stick
6. Audio quality is good
7. Video quality is good
8. Slides align with the audio

1. Avoid specific course-centric language
2. Avoid referencing time/location-related events (e.g., weather, sports)
3. Avoid saying how many years ago something happened; reference the exact date instead
4. Avoid including assignment instructions in content-based videos.
5. Use strategies that allow you to easily update your content (e.g., well-organized, segment your content)