Brian – Page 4

PACE OLC @ SXSW EDU

What part of our work in the OLC should we share with others? That’s the question that prompted me to submit a presentation proposal for the next SXSW EDU.

SXSW EDU is organized around similar themes as SXSW: innovation, multimedia, and networking. In short, it’s “a celebration of innovation and learning.” I’ve attended virtually for two years, and I find it to be an exciting mix of viewpoints and formats.

This year, I’ve submitted a proposal for the first time. I chose the format of a 30-minute solo presentation for my talk titled:

“The Collaborative and Transmedia Future of Higher Education.”

Session description:

The lecture is dead; long live the lecture! Today, instructors face a daunting task of teaching across face-to-face, online, and hyflex modalities where the traditional lecture is often deprecated as an outmoded method of instruction. But expert narratives can and should be reimagined in and across new media and new learning spaces. What I call a “collaborative transmedia lecture” is a framework for evolving lectures with new technologies. With an eye on video production and diverse learning platforms, this session highlights new opportunities for engagement and learning.

Here’s the teaser video:

This talk has evolved out of my reflection on the models I use to help faculty build exciting and engaging course experiences for our students here at Pace. This fall, for example, I’ll be teaching Introduction to Podcasting in the Communications and Media Studies program. As a production-focused course (re: “experiential education”), there is an emphasis on student-centered learning. This is a great excuse for me to demonstrate using instructor-created video in creative ways.

Some ideas that I plan to define and feature:

– Transmedia storytelling
– Post-pandemic hyflex teaching
– The instructor as DJ (and copyleft media)
– Student-led content curation
– TikTok edits and glam-casting

With some luck–and your support via PanelPicker voting from August 8 – 20–I’ll have a platform to share this work with the SXSW community in 2024.

I’ll be sharing this framework on this blog and in OLC workshops in the near future. Are you a Pace instructor looking to enhance your lectures? Let’s collaborate! Reach me at OLC@Pace.edu.

July Update

Image: “SmitCast, Ep.1” thumbnail image.

Media Production in June

• 19 hours of consultations with faculty and staff in Pace Online, NACTEL, College of Health Professions, Haub Law, Pace Library, and ELI.
• 3 videos produced (53 minutes total) and 3 additional videos edited.

Updates and Highlights

– A big project last month was completing the production of “The World is Next” featuring Alford “Slim” Willock. With his graduation and a studio interview shot in May, this was our big editing project this month. Slim provided OLC staff with over two hours of additional video of his family and work life, making this rich 3-minute video possible. Congrats Slim!
– Another exciting project was the production and publication of Smit’s first video podcast episode featuring Minal Rita (thumbnail above). Smit hopes to create a series of interviews with Pace students discussing their experiences here in New York City, as well as their struggles and successes as international students. Awesome work, Smit!
– We have been developing our copyright-free audio track library, so we are better equipped to create original, engaging media.

Production Tip of the month: Did you know OLC staff are equipped for “field recording” on both campuses? This means we can shoot video on-site to capture the content you need to tell your story.

Please contact OLC staff to reserve studio time or collaborate with us.

The World is Next – Telling Slim’s Story in 3 minutes

The Pace Online team has recently produced and published a spotlight video about Alphur “Slim” Willock’s educational journey at Pace.

Background

In May 2023, Alphur “Slim” Willock graduated with a Master of Science degree in Information Technology from Pace University. He connected to his bachelor’s and master’s programs through the NACTEL (National Alliance for Communications Technology Education and Learning) and CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning). NACTEL is a CAEL-led partnership of industry employers and unions working with quality educators to create and sponsor online education programs that meet the needs of current and future telecommunications professionals.

Production

To highlight Slim’s experience at Pace, OLC staff conducted a 1-hour studio interview and captured his family celebrating at graduation in May 2023. With additional footage provided by Slim, we were able to illustrate his home life and work ethic. The video was edited in Adobe Premiere Pro, and also features music from our copyright-free library.

Credits:

– Camera: Brian Hughes
– Editing: Lara Gedeon (lead), Brian Hughes (supporting)
– Thumbnail artwork: Lara Gedeon (photo), Smit Goswami (design)

Do you have a student or graduate you’d like to highlight in your program? Reach out to OLC staff and we’ll collaborate!

June Update

Image: Screenshot from the “Pace Online Graduation 2023” broadcast.

Media Production in May

• 40 hours of consultations with faculty and staff in Lubin, Pace Online, School of Education, and University Relations.
• 38 videos produced (419 minutes total) and 33 additional videos edited.

Updates and Highlights

– OLC staff produced Pace Online Graduation (see above). This included both pre-recorded videos (speakers), graphics, and a live broadcast via Zoom.
– The School of Education’s HEASA Capstone presentations took place, with five students presenting. Students also rehearsed a week prior to their final presentations. The presentations are recorded, shared with the students, and archived in Pace’s Institutional Repository managed by the Library.
– We recorded five student testimonials at Commencement at the National Tennis Center in Queens. Students were graduating from Pace Online programs, and their reflections will be shared with prospective students.
– Professor Marty Cohen collaborated with us to create short weekly lecture videos (16 total videos, about 10 minutes each) for his summer online course “Introduction to Business.” We also remastered (improved the visual quality) of a course we recorded last summer, “International Management.” These videos provide his editorial commentary on the course textbook as the students work through the material. This is a great example. of enhancing an online course with multimedia!

Image: Screenshot from Marty Cohen’s lecture series for Business 101.

Production Tip of the month: Did you know we can broadcast via Zoom and switch between multiple camera angles on both campuses? This can create a more impactful presentation, and allow us to highlight diverse presentation materials.

Please contact OLC staff to reserve studio time or collaborate with us.

May Update

Image: Professor Jim Davis in a video tutorial to help students make “30-second” pitches to prospective employers.

Media Production in April

• 41 hours of consultations with faculty and staff in Dyson, Lubin, Haub Law, Seidenberg, English Language Institute, Pace Online, and University Relations.
• 33 videos produced (173 minutes total) and 18 additional videos edited.

Updates and Highlights

Image: Acting students Sommer and Jack perform a scene for the Senior Showcase class.

– We wrapped the recording of Senior Showcases (BA, Theater) led by professors Nora Woolley and Anne Davison.
– Pace Online published NACTEL promotional videos, led by Program Advisor Kate Mulhollem. See Kate’s Introduction on our YouTube channel.
– We completed the recording of videos for the Paralegal Certificate Program (194 videos in total!). With over 37 hours of instructional video featuring 8 faculty members, the program is designed to unfold over 14 weeks with weekly learning goals and real-time interactions with faculty. It is slated to launch in September (there is currently no website).

Did you know we can help you enhance your home studio? Please contact OLC staff to reserve studio time or collaborate with us.

April Update

Professor Janet Jones recording with the Smart board in the Pleasantville studio.

March was a busy month, with new collaborations in both New York City and Pleasantville. Are you curious how you could use video in your courses or to promote your program? Join our webinar on April 26th (12:10pm – 1:10pm) to learn more about the studio in Pleasantville and current OLC collaborations. An email with RSVP information will be sent to faculty in early April.

Media Production in March

• 35 hours of consultations with faculty and staff in Dyson, Lubin, Haub Law, CHP/Health, English Language Institute, and University Relations.
• 61 videos produced (281 minutes total) and 6 additional videos edited.

Updates and Highlights

Some current OLC collaborations:

– Dyson Performing Arts (“Senior Showcases”)
– Lubin (“30-sec pitches”)
– Pace Online (“About NACTEL”)
– Alumni Relations (“Spirit of Pace Awards”)
– Office of Gender (“Lived Names”)
– University Relations (Faculty profiles)

Studio maintenance notes:

– NYC: Replacement of TriCaster Mini X (new 12/22!) due to graphic card failure. Covered under Newtek warranty.
– NYC: Replaced the Magewell USB-to-HDMI device in AV rack (due to daily crashes of existing unit)
– PLV: Teleprompter set-up

Please contact OLC staff to book studio time or begin a collaboration. Did you know we can help you tune up your home studio over Zoom?

A Studio in Pleasantville

faculty use a smart board — ELI faculty try out the Smart Board in the Pleasantville studio.

The OLC studio in Pleasantville is open! The Pace Online team hosted an Open Studio event last week to announce the opening of the space. Several faculty visited to learn about the studio, and how all Pace faculty can use it to create multimedia course materials.

Featured in the picture above is our Smart Board, which you can use as an interactive prop to create more dynamic instructional videos.

Please contact OLC staff to learn more and book studio time. We look forward to collaborating!

March Update

The Pleasantville OLC studio is almost ready for use.

The Pace Online team is excited to announce the opening of an Online Learning Center (OLC) on the Pleasantville campus. Located in the C level of Wilcox Hall, the OLC combines a state-of-the-art video studio with workstations to support faculty media production. At both Pleasantville and NYC facilities, OLC staff support all Pace faculty with technology and training to create high-quality digital content for their courses and programs in all modalities. Join us for an Open Studio on Wednesday, March 8th (10am – 3pm).

Media Production in February

• 27 hours of consultations with faculty and staff in Dyson, Haub Law, Health, Pace Online, and Pace Offices.
• 11 videos produced (130 minutes total) and 30 additional videos edited.

Updates and Highlights

• The Pleasantville OLC (Wilcox Hall, C level) opens in March. Join us for a Open Studio event on Wednesday, March 8.
• Video production continued for the Paralegal Certificate program with modules on Business Law.

Please contact OLC staff to book studio time. Did you know we can help you tune up your home studio over Zoom? We look forward to collaborating!

February Update

We’ve kicked off 2023 with video production and a conference presentation – see below for highlights. Smit published another Premiere tutorial on using Pace’s motion graphics templates, and his previous “Basic Edits” garnered much acclaim from his followers on LinkedIn.

Media Production in January

• 46 hours of consultations with faculty and staff in Haub Law and Pace Online.
• 16 videos produced (377 minutes total) and 58 additional videos edited.

Updates and Highlights

• The development of the Pleasantville OLC studio is underway. Last month we began installation of the TriCaster and Mac Studio workstations, as well as preparing the studio for production. We are expecting to open the studio for collaborative video production in March. Stay tuned for the announcement!
• Brian presented on “Creating Engaging Stories with Video” at the Pace Online conference.
• Video production continued for the Paralegal Certificate program with modules on Family Law, Civil Litigation, and Legal Technology.

The Pleasantville campus OLC studio is currently in development, and is expected to open for shoots in March.

As always, please contact OLC staff to book studio time, or with your questions, ideas, or production needs. We look forward to collaborating!

Creating Engaging Stories with Video

At this week’s 4th Annual Pace Online Conference, I presented on the opportunities and challenges of storytelling in instructional videos. My talk was titled, “Creating Engaging Stories with Video.”

Stories – that is, stories that are only indirectly connected to the subject matter – have the potential to help students better connect with multimedia content. As David JP Phillips shares, stories can make your brain more receptive to learning. These could be personal stories or stories from your field that connect to the subject matter or lesson.

David JP Phillips presents on storytelling at a TedX event.

But telling stories also requires students to spend more time with our media, and that can be a challenge. I shared the story of Quibi to reinforce how even 10-minutes videos fall awkwardly between short videos (that require less commitment) and long videos that rival media choices with higher production values and well-crafted stories (well, some of the time).

A Call to Action

What’s the best way forward? It’s up to each faculty member to wrestle with this issue, but I challenged everyone to try to bring a story into lectures that are longer than 10 minutes.

After sharing a personal example, I asked everyone to reflect on a time or experience in their life that led them on their academic journey. I thought it would be helpful to experience this work of identifying possible stories, even though it can be frustrating sifting through memories and making connections to subject matter! And further complicating the path ahead, a professor will need a handful of ready-to-use stories to call upon over the course of a semester.

Brian shares his experience as a young media maker working with comedian Josh Kornbluth on an instructional video.

For the final part of my presentation, I reviewed the resources and services of the OLC, and invited faculty to seek our help in bringing stories into their videos.

Ready to record a story? Book a consultation or production time in the OLC studios. We look forward to working with you!