Lightboard Room Best Practices

Condsider Lighting:

  • Adjust the lighting to what you need prior to beginning your recording.
  • Practice your presentation with markers in the proper lighting before starting your recording. Recognize that some markers will show up better than others depending on the level of blacklight and studio lighting you use. 
  • Practice adjusting your lighting during your presentation if needed.
  • Consider what light and reflective surfaces you bring into the room (phones, laptops, smart watches, watches/jewelry...etc.) as these may show up on your videos.

Consider Audio:

  • Do a short (30-60 seconds) test video using the microphone and any other sound you will utilize during your presentation (videos, Zoom...etc.) prior to starting your recording or official Zoom/Video Conference session.
  • Remember that you only need to use Panopto or Zoom. Do not attempt to use both in your Lightboard session. They will both attempt to use the microphone and camera, which will confuse those systems and cause one or both to fail to capture your content.
  • Remember to put your phone in your pocket or off the desk if it is set to vibrate, as notifications or messages that set off the vibration may pick up in your recording.

Consider Image Quality:

  • Plan ahead for being on camera. Wear appropriate colors and/or patterns that will not distract on camera and that will not create confusion with your writing on the board.
  • Practice the writing you will be doing during your presentation and determine if you prefer keeping your writing sectioned to one side of the lightboard or will use the entire board for writing.

Consider Presentation Style:

  • If your presentation is over 30 minutes, consider building a few breaks into your presentation. This makes it easier to split the video into sections later, if needed.
  • An ideal presentation is often broken up into several six to seven minute segments, each with its own objectives and learning outcomes.

Consider How You Will Share Your Video:

  • Before recording, it is critical to consider how you will be sharing your recording. If you are using a thumb drive to record, you will have a raw video file that must be uploaded somewhere inorder to share it. Consider uploading your video to Panopto or YouTube to share your video.
  • If you are using Zoom or Panopto to record your session, familiarize yourself with how to share the video links prior to creating your session.

Consider Editing Your Recording:

  • If you plan to edit your video, be sure that you are familiar with the tool you want to use prior to using it on your video. Both YouTube and Panopto have editing capabilities. You may consider doing a couple of small test videos ahead of time to ensure you are comfortable with the tool you have chosen. 
  • Remember to add closed captions. Closed captions are incredibly beneficial to a multitude of users and can greatly enhance their viewing experience.