311 Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning Jaime Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC November 10 - 13, 2009 San Jose, CA Tips and Tricks for Creating Audio for E‐Learning Jaime Foran and Bill Vitale Agenda y Why Use Audio in Your E‐Learning Courses? y Audio Tips and Tricks y Demo y Using Avatars to Enhance Your E‐Learning Courses y Demo Session 311 – Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning –Jaime Page 1 Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC November 10 - 13, 2009 San Jose, CA Why Use Audio? y Improves course quality y Improves course flow y Provides another way for learners to glean information y Provides a channel for learners to store information Tip 1 – Choose Your Subject y Record in‐house y Hire a professional narrator y Use text to speech software y NaturalSoft Session 311 – Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning –Jaime Page 2 Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC November 10 - 13, 2009 San Jose, CA Tip 2 – Develop Your Plan/Script y Make sure your script is conversational y Don’t read what’s on the screen y Don’t ad‐lib y Keep it simple Tip 3 – Choose Your Microphone y Headset vs. Desktop microphone y Omnidirectional vs. Unidirectional y Use a USB microphone y Blue Snowball/Snowflake y Samson CO1U y Rock Band or Guitar Hero y Use a pop shield/filter Session 311 – Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning –Jaime Page 3 Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC November 10 - 13, 2009 San Jose, CA Microphone Demo Which recording sounds best? 1234 Tip 4 – Location, Location, Location y Maintain a consistent environment y Find a quiet room y Unplug office machines/telephones/fans y Hang up a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign y Dampen the sound y Create a Portabooth Session 311 – Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning –Jaime Page 4 Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC November 10 - 13, 2009 San Jose, CA Tip 5 – Best Recording/Editing Software y NCH WavePad (FREE version, Master’s Edition $49) y Audacity (FREE) y Garage Band ($79) y Adobe Audition ($350) y Adobe Soundbooth ($199) y Sony Sound Forge y Sound Forge Audio Studio ($55) y Sound Forge Pro 10 ($375) y The Levelator (FREE) Tip 6 – How to Speak y Get rid of the plosives y Use a lower tone than normal y Don’t speak in a monotone voice y Relax and don’t rush your words Session 311 – Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning –Jaime Page 5 Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC November 10 - 13, 2009 San Jose, CA Tip 7 – Practice, Practice, Practice y Place your microphone in the right position y Record a demo y Listen to audio playback with/without headphones y Practice your annunciation y Check your speed Tip 8 – When Recording… y Don’t get distracted by animations y Leave a few second of silence at the start of each track y Record 10 seconds of silence y If you stumble, keep going y Record all your audio at once y Have a glass of water handy Session 311 – Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning –Jaime Page 6 Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC November 10 - 13, 2009 San Jose, CA Tip 9 – Test, Test, Test y Preview your audio in your e‐learning course y Publish to the web to check user experience y Think about which audio format to use y .WAV y .MP3 y .SWF/.FLV Tip 10 – Have Fun! y Put a smile on your face y Have confidence y Relax Session 311 – Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning –Jaime Page 7 Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC November 10 - 13, 2009 San Jose, CA What Are Avatars? y Computerized depictions of humans or cartoons y Enhance learner attention y Increase learner retention y Add spice to your e‐learning course Using Avatars in Your E‐Learning y Example uses: y Introduce topics y Reinforce skills y Integrated help y Technology y Make your own: CrazyTalk y Purchase: SitePal y Low cost solution Session 311 – Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning –Jaime Page 8 Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC November 10 - 13, 2009 San Jose, CA Avatar Demo Avatars come in many forms Questions Session 311 – Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning –Jaime Page 9 Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC November 10 - 13, 2009 San Jose, CA Contact Information Jaime Foran [email protected] Bill Vitale [email protected] Session 311 – Tips & Tricks for Creating Audio for e-Learning –Jaime Page 10 Foran & Bill Vitale, New Level Partners LLC.