Before Visual Communicator

According to Michael Sheehe, a member of UCF's Course Development and Web Services, the department previously used a variety of expensive hardware and software combinations including broadcast cameras, professional studio lights and a number of video editing and special effect software to produce their videos for online courses. "When we started producing videos for online courses, it was a long process that took about eight man-hours to create short five to ten minute videos," says Sheehe. "It would take three crew members for camera and lighting setup, recording, and editing of each production. We know that videos are the way to go in terms enhancing online courses, but the time it took for us to create one video wouldn't allow us to help enhance the growing number of online courses. We knew we needed to find a scalable and sustainable solution."

Looking at multiple video and presentation solutions on the market, CDWS came across Visual Communicator. After one look at its unique features and price point, CDWS decided to purchase it and research its possibilities. "For the price, I was simply amazed by Visual Communicator's technology and feature set," says Sheehe. "It's amazing that Serious Magic could combine multiple products into one software package while still being able to keep it easy to use and cost effective."

With the increasing number of faculty members adopting mediated online courses, the University of Central Florida (UCF) now has well over 1700 courses online. To help the faculty connect with students who are taking online courses, UCF's Course Development and Web Services (CDWS) partners with the faculty to utilize advanced media for instruction in the online environment.

Streamlining Video Creation Process

Visual Communicator helps UCF streamline the process of creating videos for online courses, enabling CDWS to focus on more advanced video projects that require more attention. With Visual Communicator it now takes one person – instead of three - to create a video. "With point and click ease, Visual communicator is very straight forward and simple for faculty that don't have a lot of technical background. Faculty without any prior knowledge of Visual Communicator can learn how to use it in less than fifteen minutes," says Sheehe. "We have set up a process for online faculty to create their videos that has really streamlined the process, making it easy for them to come in, rehearse, and record in less than forty-five minutes. With the teleprompter the faculty members don't have to memorize lines and the ability to rehearse and adjust the speed of the teleprompter to the individual's comfort level provides for a more polished look and a higher confidence level," says Sheehe. Going forward, CDWS has a variety of ideas on what other projects they can use Visual Communicator for. They are already in talks with a variety of departments about using Visual Communicator to help promote campus activities and create an Internet enabled campus news program.