Do I have to Show My Face in the Corner?

Blogging Betty Boomer
Blogging Betty Boomer Posts: 28 traveler rank
in First-time course creation

Can I do my course with lectures, PowerPoint and online screen videos? Thanks, I promise I will not use a computer voice LOL

Comments

  • SharonRamel
    SharonRamel Posts: 1,312 rolemodel rank

    Personally @Blogging Betty Boomer
    I would strongly advise you to add your face. Prospective students like to be able to put a face to the name. They like to feel they have a relationship with you.
    In you feel shy they spend 5 minutes every day filming yourself then watch yourself. In no time at all you will start to feel comfortable in front of the camera.

  • Blogging Betty Boomer
    Blogging Betty Boomer Posts: 28 traveler rank

    Thank you

  • Rudranil Chakrabortty
    Rudranil Chakrabortty Posts: 154 specialist rank

    You don't have to, and in many of those 30-40 hours courses, especially programming or software-related topics, it is very difficult to record them with high-end cameras for that long. I think the topic may also play a role.
    However, I do use my face along with the content for the following reasons:
    1. It increases trust. Students bond better.
    2. You can make a great first impression with a smile and confident body language.
    3. Often, the entire material is not made of ppts, whiteboards, or demos. Sometimes, you may want to take 4-5 mins to explain things. Without your talking head and hand gestures, you will have to put a ppt slide as a still image and a voice behind it for saying the stuff you want to say. You would expect students to stare at the same ppt slide for 5 mins, but the students obviously won't. They are distracted in 30 secs.
    4. During the pandemic, everyone got used to the camera-driven meetings and lectures. Pre-covid, I had done so many successful webinars, where the speaker won't appear and would still seem fine. Not any more.
    5. It is also a good branding technique if you want yourself to be recognized as an expert beyond your course chapters.

  • PhillipBurton
    PhillipBurton Posts: 399 visionary rank

    Hi Blogging.

    You don't have to. As explained above, there are advantages to doing so, but it partially depends on your choice of subject.

    For me, I do screencasts, and I think that screen picture is more valuable than a picture of me on it. So I just do an introductory video and a concluding video to camera, and leave the rest as screencasts.

    However, if you are in a non-IT field, then there may be more value to people seeing you.

    Regards,

    Phillip

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