Intro to Multimedia Creation - The Workshop

Introduction to Multimedia Creation

How can we create more engaging and effective learning experiences? That was the main question we explored in our multimedia creation workshop at last week's All Extension Conference. For three hands-on hours, we equipped educators with the foundational skills to answer that question, using video and interactive content to captivate their audiences. The session was a combination of collaboration and discovery, and we're excited to share the key takeaways.

The Importance of Planning

A key point we stressed was the importance of thoughtful planning. We emphasized that effective multimedia isn't about having the fanciest tools, but about having a clear and concise plan. To put this into practice, participants worked in small groups to create a "one-pager" project plan, outlining the learning objectives, target audience, and key talking points for a short instructional video.

Hands-On with the Tools

The majority of the workshop was dedicated to hands-on activities, allowing participants to get comfortable with a variety of user-friendly multimedia tools. The session was structured with a "blended approach"—a large group walkthrough followed by smaller, collaborative "workbench" rotations. This format allowed everyone to experience each tool at their own pace and learn from each other.

Here's a glimpse of what we covered:

Video Editing with WeVideo: Participants learned the very basics of video editing, including how to trim clips, add images, and incorporate audio. We also dove into creating short screencast videos and animated gifs, a practical skill for demonstrating processes and navigating websites.

Interactive Maps with Google My Maps: Participants learned how to create custom maps to visualize locations, plan events, and even create virtual field trips. This tool is a fantastic way to make geographical content more engaging.

Creating Interactive Images and Audio Clips: We explored tools like ThingLink and Genially to add interactive elements to images, turning them into engaging learning resources. We also practiced creating short audio clips to explain complex graphics—a great way to improve accessibility and add a human touch to digital materials.

Keeping it Short and Sweet: The Optimal Video Length
One of the resources we shared was the idea that educational videos should be concise. While there's no magic number, research suggests that shorter videos, ideally under 12 minutes, tend to be more engaging for viewers. Keeping videos focused on a single "micro-objective" not only helps with viewer retention but also makes the content more engaging.

Get Started with Multimedia!

We were so impressed with the creativity and enthusiasm of all the participants. If you're interested in learning more about how to incorporate multimedia into your own teaching, we've got you covered. For more resources and step-by-step guides, visit our workshop website: https://eltworkshop.umn.edu/

Article by Karen Matthes, Extension Learning Technologies, klm@umn.edu