Media Technology Guide for Teaching

Unsure of what media production software is available to you or what works best for what you’d like to accomplish? Check below for your specific needs.

We are here to help.

As always, if you need any help or training, feel free to make an appointment with one of our staff members at the Faculty Multimedia Center by filling out the booking form or emailing fmc@ucf.edu.

How do I hold interactive live sessions with my students? Zoom might be a perfect fit for you if your class has less than 300 students. Zoom is software specifically designed for video conferencing. You can find out more about how to use Zoom within Webcourses@UCF by signing up for Zoom Essentials or by checking out these UCF Zoom Guides.
How do I record video? You can record short videos of just your webcam in Webcourses@UCF. You can record offline using Zoom by recording locally. Alternatively, you can use a free recording program called Open Broadcaster Software or OBS. Zoom is recommended for those for it’s ease of use and OBS is highly recommended for those that would like to customize their setup. Panopto is also a great option for recording video and doesn’t require an internet connection until you are ready to upload. There is also a free tool called RecordCast that allows you to record up to 30 minutes free.
How do I edit videos I already have recorded? At the FMC, we have Camtasia available for you to use in-person and remotely from home! If you are using Panopto, it includes web-based editing software. If you have access to Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Premiere is an excellent professional video editor while Adobe Premiere Rush offers a simpler solution. Additionally, iMovie is available for free to Apple users as both a Desktop and Mobile Application. A few free options are RecordCast, Olive, and Avidemux.
How do I add audio to a PowerPoint file and export it as a video? You can easily add audio to an already existing PowerPoint file. You can follow along with us while we show you how in this video or guide.
How do I store and share my video files? Panopto is great for storing and sharing video files within Canvas. If you don’t have access to Panopto, the FMC usually recommends that faculty create their own personal YouTube channel to host their videos and set the privacy settings to unlisted. You can follow along with us while we show you how in this video or check out YouTube’s guide. This will allow you to share the links with your students or embed them in Webcourses@UCF but they will not show up publicly on your channel. Additionally, you can upload video files directly to Webcourses@UCF but you could encounter reaching your course size limit if you upload too many large files.
How do I annotate or draw in my video? Many Microsoft Office products include the ability to draw or write. Additionally, there is a Microsoft Whiteboard application. You can use these along with your chosen video recording or video conferencing software like OBS or Zoom. Additionally, you can utilize your iPad or tablet as a Whiteboard when using Zoom.
How do I reach a very large audience? We’d recommend you live-stream to a popular streaming platform such as YouTube or Facebook. You can do this by using Zoom or OBS. Additionally, you can utilize Microsoft Team’s Live Events feature. Contact UCFIT for more information on Microsoft Teams. If you plan on hosting a large event and would like additional technical support during your event, you can reach out to OIR Events.
How do I record and edit audio only? Ocenaudio is free audio recording and editing software that we utilize in the FMC. Additionally, if you have access to Adobe Creative Cloud, you can use Adobe Audition for audio recording and editing.
How do I edit photos or create graphics? If you have access to Adobe Creative Cloud, you can use Photoshop or Lightroom. Photoshop is a more advanced photo editor while Lightroom has a simpler to use interface. Additionally, there are some free alternatives to these, one of which you don’t have to download any software for called Photopea. However, it does include some advertisements on the site for those that don’t pay for the premium account. We also recommend checking out the site, Canva. Canva allows you to create simple and beautiful graphics based on their templates, many of which are free. If you are certified to teach online, you may also have access to the CDL Graphics team!
How do I ensure my media is accessible? We recommend you create captions for any videos you create and add alternative text to images that are shared online to ensure your media is accessible. At the FMC, we are happy to train you on how to do this yourself. YouTube makes it very easy to create a transcript or auto-time captions if you already have a transcript of your video. If you have a student with an accessibility concern in your class and are not sure where to start, contact Student Accessibility Services for more information. And last but certainly not least, you can scan any course for accessibility concerns in Webcourses@UCF by using UDOIT.

Features at a Glance

Zoom Panopto OBS Camtasia PowerPoint to MP4 YouTube
General Use Video Conferencing Video Recording & Live Streaming Video Recording & Live Streaming Video Editing & Recording Narrated PowerPoints Video Hosting & Live Streaming
Screen Capture
Video Recording
Audio Recording
Live Streaming
Basic Video Trimming
Video Editing
Mobile Capabilities
Integrates with Webcourses@UCF
Captioning or Transcripts
Video Storage & Distribution
Content Indexing
Availability Available for UCF Available for Distance Learning courses Free (Open-source) Cost Associated Available for UCF Free

Technology Comparison Chart

For a more detailed look at what each technology offers, view the Technology Comparison Chart. This chart is collaborative Google Sheet meaning you can leave a comment and we will review it and update the chart to fit your needs.