Are you using Skype, Adobe Connect, or other video conference services for classes or other meetings? After several years of video conference meetings, my advice is for you (and your students) to arrange your setting carefully. This includes 6 steps:
- Position the webcam at eye level. You want to look directly at or slightly up, but never down. You may need to put your computer on a box or stack of books to achieve the right height.
- Adjust the lighting. Do not sit in front of a window because viewers will see only your silhouette. To minimize shadows, have at least two light sources: one above and one in front. If possible, add a third light behind you to create depth between you and the background.
- Clean up your background. If you have a bookshelf, pull them forward in a neat row. Maybe rearrange to emphasize some titles and de-emphasize others. A plain wall is fine.
- Eliminate distractions. Close your door and put a sign asking visitors not to knock. If you don’t have a door, or if you have pets or kids who may interrupt the meeting, reserve a conference room or find another quiet place to work. Close applications like email that may have audio notifications. Put your phone on silent.
- Test your microphone and speakers. You may need to use earphones to eliminate audio feedback, and built-in microphones sometimes create a hollow quality or echo that can be distracting, particularly in empty rooms or rooms with lots of hard surfaces. A simple microphone/earphone combination that you may already have for your phone will probably suffice.
- Look at the camera, not at the screen. It takes some practice to stare at a little red or green light rather than your own image, but to the people on the other side of the screen, it creates a sense of connection and intimacy.
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| My own little production studio in the basement. Photo by DrJenniferVeltsos |
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