Introduction
Instructors can make videos of their PowerPoint presentations, including their own voiceover, and then deliver them to students via Webcourses or another website. In addition to PowerPoint, you'll need to download free software called AuthorPoint Lite. A 'full version' of AuthorPoint, which is not free, would offer the ability to add webcam video and create chapter points in the video.
Recording with PowerPoint
- Connect the microphone to the computer.
- Open desired presentation.
- Click on “Slideshow > Record Narration” to start the recording. Please note that you should not go backwards in slide progression during the recording.
- Make sure the box next to “Link narrations to audio” has a check by it. This enables PowerPoint to make audio files out of the voice narration, Make sure the location is correct and saves the audio files relatively close to the original presentation.
- Click on “Set Microphone Levels”. Speak into the microphone as you would use it normally, and the program will automatically adjust the volume levels. Once the volume is at a suitable level, click “OK” to return to the previous window.
- Once you are ready to give your lecture, press “OK”. Please have the following considerations while recording:
- When you want to pause the recording, right click anywhere on the presentation and select “Pause Narration”. When you want to resume, right click on the presentation again and select “Resume Narration”.
- If you decide to go back one slide during your presentation, it’s recommended to pause the recording first. When you return to a previous slide while recording, you overwrite the recordings done on that slide before.
- To finish recording, press the ESC key.
- Click on “Save” when asked if you wish to save the slide timings as well.
- Save the presentation. You have finished recording your presentation. Close PowerPoint.
Creating a Video with AuthorPoint Lite
- Download and install AuthorPoint Lite.
- Install the software. Installation instructions can be found here.
Note that AuthorPoint requires PowerPoint 2003 or XP on a Windows XP machine. Further information on system requirements can be found here.
- Open AuthorPoint Lite.
- Click on the Import button on the upper left portion of the window.
- Click on “Select file” and select the presentation file you just saved.
- Click on “Import Now”. The program is converting your presentation to flash. The conversion is finished once you see a green checkmark next to your presentation (if there is no green checkmark, the conversion is not correct and you may need to re-record the presentation).
- Click on the wrench button on the right-hand side of the screen. Under “Narration/Rehearse Timings” title, select “Use if Found”. Also, under “Template Layout”, make sure the “E-Learning Standard” is selected.
- Go to your AuthorPoint Lite Projects Folder.
- Upload the contents of this folder to Webcourses (or your personal website). This is best done by first zipping the whole folder (right click; send to compressed file) and then uploading the zip file to Webcourses's File Manager. In Webcourses, then extract that file, and a new folder with sub-files will appear. This folder should be renamed to your project. Then, on the home page of your course, create a "content link" and browse to the .html file contained in the new folder of the File Manager. The net result is that when students click on this link, the video starts to play right there in Webcourses.
Using AuthorPoint's Full Release for More Video Options
To create chapter stops and enable students to click around the presentation more naturally, and to add webcam video of yourself to play in a window next to the PowerPoint slides, you'll have to use the full version of AuthorPoint. This software is not free, but can be used without cost if recorded at the Faculty Center. Also, some departments may choose to purchase AuthorPoint to enable their faculty to use it at any time. Click here to read the tutorial on the full version of AuthorPoint.
