Basics of micro-class production steps and tools

Micro-courses: Refers to the use of information technology to present fragmented learning content processes and structured digital resources that expand materials in accordance with cognitive laws.

Micro-courses are a very practical teaching resource in the teaching process: teachers can record some teaching difficulties into micro-courses. It is convenient for students to learn and comprehend by themselves when the teacher is away. On the one hand, it can liberate the teacher and on the other hand, it is convenient for students. It can only be used not only during competitions.

Below, I will share with you the steps and tools used to make micro-courses in the competition and normal classroom.

1. Topic selection in micro-courses

1. Explain the selection of knowledge points

The characteristic of micro-class is that it is short and dapper, and many micro-class competitions require less than 10 minutes in length.

Micro-courses are different from traditional teaching. The content of a class in a traditional classroom is obviously not suitable for direct use in the production of micro-courses.

Then we can take out the key points and difficulties in this lesson to make a micro-lesson that can inspire teaching.

Try to choose knowledge points suitable for multimedia expression and display. For example: Mathematics and physics have knowledge that can be explained by drawing in teaching, but the straightforward explanation is not intuitive. At this time, we can use geogebra software to draw and display it dynamically. Then we can record the knowledge points into micro-lessons to inspire students.

Screenshot of the mathematics case on geogebra's official website

Screenshot of the physics case on geogebra's official website

The micro-class adds rich graphic images, animations, and videos with excellent sound and color.

2. Title and content selection

After determining the knowledge points, you can combine the actual content to determine a content with humanistic care, and the subsequent content will revolve around this topic.

Take "Wonderful Layers" in junior high school as an example. We can combine current affairs hotspots, for example, from the theme poster of "Grateful to Have You, Fighting on the Front Line of the Epidemic", our content will revolve around this theme, so that we can also carry out gratitude and patriotic education.

The determination of the theme is also to pave the way for the content of the teaching design.

2. Teaching design

Although the length of micro-class hours is very long, it also requires a good teaching design.

The teaching design needs to conform to the students' cognitive laws. The explanation of knowledge needs to go from shallow to deep, with strong logic and gradual progress. The teaching content and picture layout are enlightening and interesting.

1. Introduction of micro-courses

It is important to find a novel and suitable introduction based on the originally determined topic. Regardless of the length of the class, a good introduction can quickly capture the attention of students and impress them. The import time is appropriately adjusted according to the length of the complete micro-class, if the time is shorter.

The import time of the micro-class is controlled within 40-50 seconds.

How to import

1. Import according to actual problems: for example, in the micro-class of making wonderful layers, we can use an animated character to tell us about the difficulties encountered in making the poster "Grateful to Have You".

From the beginning to the end of my award-winning micro-class

2. For audio and video import, first play an audio or video related to the topic to be explained and import it into the topic.

2. Knowledge teaching

The actual examples used in the design of the lecture should revolve around the original theme. The cases used can solve puzzles and inspire students in a targeted manner.

3. Design of the speech

According to the designed teaching process, write out the specific content of the micro-class explanation. This process needs to pay attention to the setting of tone and intonation and pause according to the grade taught. This makes it easier to record micro-class hours later and more convenient.

3. Production methods and tools

There are many ways to make micro-courses, and choose the appropriate recording method according to the specific situation.

I divide the production method into two types here：

1. According to the designed speech, first record the audio of the micro-class, and then combine the audio to make an animation

I once participated in a micro-class competition, which was to animate the lecture content into a video first, and then record the sound. The sound and animation are not easy to match. It took 7-8 repeated recordings before and after to match. So I suggest a purely animated micro-class, so that we can make corresponding animations based on the content of the audio, and the whole animation is smoother.

1. Audio recording software recommendation

Find a quiet place when recording sound to avoid interference from external noise.

① Use the mobile phone recording function to record, and then upload the recorded audio file to the computer through the chat software；

The recorder that comes with the phone

② Use the recorder that comes with the computer to record, you can bring a headset with a sound receiving hole to record；

 

③ Use a special audio processing software audition to record, this software can also process the sound such as noise reduction.；

 

2. Pure animation micro-class production software

①PPTAnimation production, PPT can produce very smooth and exquisite animations, PPT is quick to get started, and it allows us to set animations according to our own audio. However, PPT takes a long time to make smooth animations, and the PPT skills required are strong.

 

②focusky Animation Demonstration Master, Can easily produce movie-style cool transition special effects, giving the audience a shocking visual impact, can easily scroll the mouse to zoom in and out of the canvas infinitely, and create non-linear presentation effects through rotation, zooming, panning and other effects. There are ready-made dynamic animated characters in it, which can be used directly. There is no need to look for gif material separately, and there is no need to animate the characters by yourself. It is easy to use.

focusky also has built-in interactive components, which can help teachers make interactive animations without having to learn a script language.

Of course, using this software is not completely free, and you need to purchase a membership to export videos. But what we use to make the free version of micro-class animation is enough. You can preview the made animation and then record it using screen recording software.

③Master of Wancai Animation, is a software for making MG animations. There are a large number of animation templates in it. The software is simple to use and easy to use. Can help teachers make vivid and interesting MG micro-class videos.

④vedioscribeThis software is more about making hand-painted animations. This software comes with a picture gallery of various pens and task hands. Registering a new account can be used for free for 7 days.

vedioscribe case

There is a software with very similar functions to it, which is practical and simple.Easy SketchIt also supports the production of hand-painted animations. This software has many brush styles, and the software is relatively small. Wancai hand shadow master can also make hand-painted animation micro-classes.

⑤Adobe AnimateOriginally called Flash, it is a two-dimensional animation production software with Action Script 3.0 script language, which can produce interactive teaching courseware. But you need to learn the knowledge of related script languages.

 

2. Make the courseware first, and then record the explanation audio according to the content of the courseware for playback, which is more suitable for improvisation.

This is very similar to the traditional class mode. PPT courseware is mainly used in the production of courseware, and then in the usual lecture, the screen is recorded and explained in the planned order, and the explanation is switched to the next slide.

Practical micro-class screen recording software recommendation

①The screen recording function that comes with PPT(office2016 and above versions), I think it is too convenient for this function to record micro-lessons of exercise explanations.

 

② Log in to a certain chat software, Ctrl+Alt+S shortcut keys can record a video, or click to open a chat window, find the scissors icon, and click to open the screen recording function inside.

 

③ev screen recording, Especially convenient and practical. Visit the official website of the software to download and install it. This software has the function of turning on the recording camera. This is a free screen recording software. (Highly recommended)

③FSCaptureThe first is a small but fully functional screen recording and screenshot software.

Fscapture icon

If you have other functions, you can also take the color and use it as a ruler.

④Camtasia studioScreen recording is also supported, and portraits can also be recorded through the lens. Ability to record videos, edit videos, add subtitles, and green screen keying in one stop.

Ke Qiusha screen recording software booklet

⑤bandicam screen recordingSoftware, commonly used to record games.

Micro-course comprehensive processing software

Video editing software

①Cut screen, This software is really simple and practical. Teachers can use this software to add titles, sound effects, subtitles, etc. Blow the function of automatically recognizing subtitles!

 

②Adobe PremiereThis is a professional non-linear editing software, and basic editing is also very easy to use. It's just that if you need the function of automatically recognizing subtitles, you have to install another plug-in, which is more suitable for people with some software foundation.

 

③Camtasia studioIn addition to recording the screen, you can also edit videos, provide multiple tracks, and add subtitles.

④声声声会会, is a professional non-linear editing software, which has many high-quality opening resources.

Sometimes we want to put the process of real-person lectures in the video produced in the micro-class. You can buy a green screen online, and place a green screen behind it as the background for shooting when recording the explanation. The above software can support green screen keying.

Format processing software

In fact, the usual use of format requirements are relatively casual, but some competitions may have requirements for frame rate, video size, format, etc.

 

I had to blow up this free software：Format factory。

 

It can convert audio and video formats, picture document formats, etc., and download videos on Web pages.

Change interface

In the later articles, I will introduce to you in detail the use methods and cases of the above software.

I want to say that there are many kinds of software that can make micro-courses. We can choose the best and easiest one for our own use.

4. Reflection on Micro-class teaching

Like traditional teaching, micro-class teaching should also have reflection. Because micro-classes are not just a frame for participating in competitions, but can be applied to the classroom.

We can put the well-made micro-courses, or the well-made micro-courses made by other teachers on the Internet, on the multimedia of the classroom, observe the use of micro-courses, and then continuously improve and improve the content of the micro-courses based on the specific feedback of the students.