Using Embedded Video in Your Slides
Photo by Sebastian Voortman from Pexels
By Scott J. Allen & Maria Soriano Young
This week’s post is brief, but that does not diminish its importance. We want to address a crucial consideration when designing your slides: the use of embedded video to help elicit emotion or reinforce a point. If you are looking for your video to embed, there are some reliable websites (e.g., www.pexels.com) where you can secure high-quality videos to insert into the slides of your presentation. In this instance, “embedded video” refers to a video playing in the background as you make a point or discuss a topic. For example, pay close attention to how Amin Toufani uses this feature at minute 23:30 during his lecture on exponential finance titled “Exonomics.”
To be clear, the type of video that we are talking about here is different from a video or another excerpt that you play for the audience as a complement to your presentation (e.g., a TED Talk or a clip). Be sure the clip you choose intuitively supports the point you are making and contributes to your audience’s comprehension of the idea or assertion instead of distracting the listener. Likewise, be sure the video does not lag or show poorly in an online presentation (and if you are unsure about the internet speeds and capabilities of your attendees, you may want to forgo embedded videos; you don’t want the video to freeze your presentation as you are speaking). If a video clip is essential to your presentation, we suggest that you have the URL ready to copy and paste into the chat box for your participants, either for them to watch on their own devices or for them to review later. As you are designing your presentation and considering whether or not to embed a video, we recommend that you:
use this feature to add some variety; it can be an excellent way to keep attendees engaged.
ensure the video aligns with your overall theme and look.
avoid videos if you have any hesitations about the internet connections of your participants.
So rather than us going on and on about video, we encourage you to explore. For instance, visit www.pexels.com, click videos, and then search “sunset.” You will teleport to your last beach vacation. Or you can search “busy city,” and you will discover videos that will help communicate our fast-paced lives. From there, try searching for a topic that will relate to your next presentation topic (or a recent one, to see how you could have added in a video!).
Mastering this technique takes a little practice and occurs Before the Mic. However, it is one more tool in your effort to slay boredom and keep your audience engaged!
We explore this topic and others in our book Captovation: Online Presentations by Design.