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Presentation Skills & Video Production
Course Description
It’s expected today that professionals have visual storytelling skills in the form of live
presentations and the creation of effective videos. In this class, we'll explore why/how
presentation visuals are so powerful and you’ll learn how you can become a more
skilled and creative visual communicator through presentations and the creation of
high-quality videos.
For the presentation component of the class, students will explore current popular
approaches to presentation and examine techniques from some of the world’s top
professionals. A more visual approach challenges the conventional wisdom of making
multimedia presentations in today’s world and encourages students to think differently
and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of presentations. Based
on research from the cognitive sciences, combined with principles from the world of the
Zen arts, graphic design and visual communications, students will explore popular myths
about what is an effective presentation and examine effective alternatives and
approaches for designing and delivering better presentations. All throughout the class,
the common themes are (1) restraint and clarity in preparation, (2) simplicity in design,
and (3) naturalness in delivery.
For the video creation component, we’ll focus on: (1) preparation or pre-production, (2)
production or the shooting of video, and (3) postproduction or editing. We will look at the
history and evolution of video including the myriad lessons from film, TV, and internet.
We will examine how to prepare, shoot, and edit high-quality video that can get and keep
the viewer’s attention.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be a better visual storyteller and better able to express
your ideas through professional-looking presentations and videos. You will improve all
aspects of your presentation skills: the verbal (what you say), the vocal (how you use
your voice, volume, silence, etc.) and the visual (how you support your talk with slides
and other visuals). You will understand the principles behind planning, shooting and
editing high quality video, and you will be able to independently create professional-
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Instructor/Title
!"
Prof. Garr Reynolds
Office/Building
Main Admin Bldg. room #606
Office Hours
By appointment
Contacts (E-mail)
[email protected]
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quality videos for various purposes and genres such as educational, business/marketing/
promotion, travel, and interview.
Instruction to Students
You do not need expensive camera equipment of software. If you have a smartphone and
basic editing software on your computer (or phone), you have the tools to make excellent
videos. For presentations you will need a slide-making program such as PowerPoint,
Keynote, etc.
Grading Criteria
Final Exam: 10%
Quizzes: 10%
Work outside classroom: 20%
Presentations/videos: 60%
Textbook
There is no textbook for the class but there will be links provided for online video
resources.Reading material and links will be provided in class.
Schedule of Instruction
Schedule of
Instruction
Work Outside of Classroom Activities
Orientation
Prepare for introduction presentation
Introduction to 21st-Century
skills
Why most presentations
with PowerPoint or Keynote
fail.
Read the "Preparation Tips" from
www.garrreynolds.com/preparation-tips
Short student introduction
presentations with
multimedia
Begin research for Student Presentation 2
Student presentations and
feedback
Continue Research on the Problem-solution
topic discussed in class.
Student presentations
Watch "How to Organize your Presentation
Using a Simple Structure" On Presentation
Zen Youtube channel
Presentation Organization
(Focus on Preparation).
Structure ofa presentation.
Review principles from class including the Zoom
and PIP techniques demonstrated in class.
Learn how and why to
Read "Design Tips" from
www.garrreynolds.com/design-tips
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Learn how and why to
identify the core and how
techniques like brain
storming and mind
mapping, etc. can help.
Read "Design Tips" from
www.garrreynolds.com/design-tips
Graphic Design General
Principles.
Watch: "New life for old towns through
sustainable tourism: Alex Kerr" on Youtube.
The art and science of
simplicity. Visual literacy.
Watch: "Richard Turere: My invention that made
peace with lions" on TED or Youtube.
Student presentations 2
Watch: "How a 12 year-old girl became one of
the youngest Japanese patent holders |
Asuka Kamiya"
Student presentations 2
Find a presentation you like on TED/Youtube
that you think is a good example of using
visuals and prepare to share why you think it
is a good example in class.
Applying the Zen aesthetic
principles to presentation
design.
Read "Before/After Examples:
www.garrreynolds.com/slide-makeovers
15 graphic design
principles.
Use your camera to take photos of good and
bad design in the environment around you.
More graphic design
principles.
Review the ideas and videos from class
Visualizations of data
Review the 15 principles. As you watch the
sample videos, look for examples of them.
Example, rule of 3rds, contrast, etc.
The role storytelling and
learning from the art of film
and the documentary.
Review the ideas and videos from class
Introduction to video
production principles and
Look for examples of your favorite
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Introduction to video
production principles and
techniques.
Look for examples of your favorite
educational, informative, or inspiring videos
on Internet of other media.
20 ways to make a better
business or educational
video.
Watch: "10 Tips to Shooting Cinematic
SMARTPHONE Videos"
How to prepare your idea.
Choose an idea for your video presentation.
How to shoot professional
video with just a smart
phone.
Practice steady shooting by preparing a 1-
minute video introducing your
neighborhood.
Techniqu e s for professional
video editing.
Watch: "JAPAN - Where tradition meets the
future | JNTO" Good example of clean and
fast editing.
Examples of effective short
videos.
Prepare your video presentation (planning,
shooting, editing)
Example of an effective
documentary film.
Watch: "JW Marriott Hotel Nara - The Making of
a Luxury Hotel"
What is sequencing and
how to shoot a sequence.
Create a 30-seconds or 1-minute video
sequence of one of your daily routines.
Student video presentations
and discussion.
Watch: "Discover Kyoto" on Youtube. Great
example of excellent composition.
Student video presentations
and discussion.
Be prepared to participate in class and give
assessments of student videos.
Student video presentations
and discussion.
Review class content. Ask yourself how the
videos you've seen could improve. What
things did you like in terms of shooting and
editing?
Student video presentations
and discussion.
Review the principles of good cinematography,
How does your video compare in terms of
composition and pace?
Review of presentation
Rewatch the videos we saw in class and offer
feedback.
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Review of presentation
preparation preparation,
design, & delivery
principles and techniques.
Rewatch the videos we saw in class and offer
feedback.
Review of lessons learned.
Make a plan for continuous improvement.