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What is a Course Introduction Video?

A course introduction video is a brief recording that gives students an overview of the course and what they can expect. In this video, you might include:

• Course purpose and goals – the overall aim of the course and what students will achieve.
• Key topics or modules – a high-level overview of the main content areas.
• Course structure – how lessons, assignments, and assessments are organized.
• Resources and support – where students can find help, supplementary materials, or important tools.

Why Create a Course Introduction Video?

A course introduction video is an effective way to guide students at the start of the term. Creating one can:

• Clarify expectations – students understand what the course covers, its objectives, and its organization.
• Reduce confusion and anxiety – hearing and seeing an overview from the instructor helps students feel more confident.
• Encourage engagement – students are more likely to explore the course and participate when they understand the structure and purpose.
• Highlight resources – students can quickly locate tools, support, and supplementary materials.
• Support student success – clear orientation at the beginning of a course is linked to higher engagement and better learning outcomes.

Planning Your Course Introduction Video

Step 1. Create an Outline

A great way to start is to outline the specific topics you plan to cover or demonstrate in your video.

The following are example topics you might consider including:

• Course number/name and how the course fits into the curriculum of the program.
• The importance or reason for this course.
• How or why is this course relevant to the students?
• How the course is designed/organized, and delivered to students.
• How/why the course design will help the students achieve the course goals and learning objectives.
• Expectations for student participation.
• Special instructions for assessments or assignments.

Step 2. Create a Script.

Writing a script is highly recommended because it helps ensure clarity, focus, and efficiency. A script allows you to organize your thoughts, cover all essential topics, and avoid rambling or missing important steps. Having a script can boost your confidence while recording, allowing you to speak naturally and maintain an engaging presence. Additionally, a script can serve as the basis for captions or a transcript, making your video more accessible and ensuring accuracy when presenting technical terms, links, or instructions. Overall, scripting is a simple step that leads to a polished, professional, and student-friendly video. 

Other Considerations Before Recording

Before you start recording, take a few moments to consider the following tips that can make a significant difference in the quality of your video and the experience for your students:

Environment and Equipment

• Choose a quiet, well-lit space to minimize distractions. 
• Ensure your microphone and camera are working properly.
• Test your screen recording software to avoid technical issues during recording.

Length and Engagement

• Keep the video concise — ideally 3-5 minutes. 

Accessibility

• Add captions and provide a transcript to support all learners. 
• Use clear, simple language and avoid excessive jargon.

Tone and Presence

• Speak naturally and warmly to create a welcoming instructor presence.
• Ensure that your tone, pace, and enthusiasm are inviting to students.

Create a Reusable Video Asset

• Creating a single video that can be used across multiple courses saves time and reduces the need for last-minute videos.
• Do your best to avoid mention of a specific term, course dates, or details that may apply to only one iteration of a course.

Practice Run

• Do a short practice recording to check timing, clarity, and flow.

Recording Your Video

Once you have planned your content and considered the ideas above, it’s time to record your course introduction video.

Set Up Your Recording Space

When you’re ready to record, be sure you have the following ready to go:

• Your quiet, distraction-free recording space.
• Your script is visible from your recording space, ideally open on the screen in front of you. Doing this will make it much less noticeable when you’re reading your script since you won’t have to look away from the screen-and the camera-to do so.

Using Kaltura Capture

The University-supported tool for screen and video recording is called Kaltura and will allow you to record screen, video, webcam, or a combination of all three. In addition to its video recording capabilities, Kaltura integrates seamlessly with Canvas, allowing you to upload your video directly to your course homepage or to another location of your choice.

• Download and Install Kaltura Capture - This guide explains how to download and install the desktop recording application.
• Record a Video with Kaltura Capture - This guide explores how to launch Kaltura Capture, select options, record your content, and save your video to Kaltura for sharing.
• Upload a Video to Kaltura - If you prefer another video platform, you can upload your own video files in various formats to Kaltura for sharing.

Captioning Your Video

Captioning your video is helpful for all students, even those without a documented accessibility need.

Kaltura REACH

Kaltura REACH uses automated speech recognition (ASR) to transcribe spoken words in your video and generate machine-generated captions. Kaltura REACH captions are typically 75-85% accurate and can improve over time as the program adapts to learn your voice. Kaltura REACH also provides an editor to revise and improve the accuracy of your video captions.

Any instructor can request machine captions; just remember to edit them for accuracy. Please note that any SAS accommodations for captioning will go through the Student Accessibility Offices for professional captioning.

Adding Captions to Your Video

Once your video is saved, it will be processed and added to the My Media section of your Kaltura Library. To access the video:

• Navigate to .
• Log in to your Kaltura account using your kent.edu credentials.
• Click on your name in the top right corner to access My Media.
• Follow the steps in this guide to add machine captions to your Kaltura video.

Adding Your Video to Canvas

Once your video is created and captioned, you are ready to share it with your students!

Embed Via the Rich Content Editor

Kaltura integrates seamlessly with the Canvas rich content editor, so you can share your video with just a few clicks.

Often, Course introduction videos are shared on the course Homepage, making them one of the very first pieces of content students see. Other times, it may be included in a Start Here module or on the Syllabus page. However, you can add your video to any place in Canvas you like.

• Embed a Kaltura Video in the Canvas Rich Content Editor - This guide explains how to add your video to a Canvas page using the Kaltura App.
• View Kaltura Video Analytics - When you embed Kaltura videos in your Canvas courses using the Kaltura App, you can view analytics to see who has watched your video, the number of views, and how much they watched.

Upload Your Script

Along with the video, please upload a document version of your script. If you stray from the script, as is common, be sure to edit it before posting so that it serves as a word-for-word transcript. Providing a transcript not only ensures accessibility for all learners but also supports different learning preferences.