Media Standards for Audio and Video Course Content

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Last updated: Apr 04, 2022
3 min read

Standards for media creation exist because:

  • media is now an important part of our curriculum.
  • student expectations for media have risen.
  • new research has surfaced about how to facilitate learning with videos.
  • standards will help our faculty to create consistently high quality media.

Types of support available:

  • Consultation with an instructional media designer by registering for an appointment slot. Consultation may include:
    • Pre-production planning
    • Technological training on how to record a narrated slideshow
    • Advice on equipment use and availability through the library
    • Recording tips
    • Training on basic video and audio editing
  • Reservations to use the voiceover booth
  • Media production and project management through the comprehensive design process scheduled by the CAPS/SEM/GS Academic Development team
  • Media production and project management by the instructional media team for select projects scheduled by the Academic Development, based on availability

Media Standards

 General
  • Presentation is free from references which will date the presentation (e.g., dates, seasons, current events).
  • Presentation is free from specific course name and/or number, module or week number.
  • Presentation title is content-based (e.g., avoid "Week 1" type language).
  • Presentation complies with the school's branding standards.
 Audio
  • Audio is crystal clear and without background noise.
  • Narration is concise, well-organized and well-spoken.
  • Narration is at the speaker's normal pace, and is not intentionally slowed.
  • Reference this Audio Recordings and Podcasts article for more information.
 Video
  • Video is high-quality. Tips for recording video
  • Fonts and graphics can be viewed on a variety of devices (e.g., computer, phone, tablet, etc.).
  • Video is uploaded to a Bethel YouTube channel with correct permissions.
  • Metadata is used to make videos searchable publicly and aids in Bethel's own organization of the videos. To facilitate this, the video description in YouTube is to include: date created, presenter name, degree(s) and title, description, key words, course number, program and school.
  • For information about creating engaging videos, Reference this article that summarizes research on How Video Production Affects Student Engagement. 
  • Reference this Digital Video Creation articles for more information on how to create and deploy videos.
 Slides
  • Slide design and image usage reflects effective Multimedia Learning Theory. Reference this Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML) article for more information on this topic.
  • Slides include meet the formatting standards (e.g., font, size, white space).
  • When possible limit the amount of text on the slide to six words per bullet and six bullets per slide.

  • Make sure your narration and text on-screen match by revealing text as you discuss it.

  • Avoid using animated slide transitions between slides.
 Legal
 Program Requirements
  • Meets the program's guidelines for length.


When media is created for inclusion in a course template, to be used as part of the course curriculum in multiple sections of the course, media developers are responsible for meeting these standards and program directors are expected to review the media for compliance with these standards.

If Bethel's Academic Development team is involved in the media design process, Media they produce will be evaluated based on the standards above. If there is a disagreement between the media developer and the media designer regarding the media's adherence to the standards the program director will resolve the issue.