Quality

We can divide the quality of an educational video into three parts: 1) Content Quality, 2) Presentation Quality, and 3) Production Quality.

Content Quality

To explain a topic in your video, you rely on definitions, examples, pictures, diagrams, tables, questions, and more. It is crucial that all of these elements are accurate; otherwise, it can harm the student's understanding and future prospects. Therefore, I prioritize content quality the most when creating educational videos.

When creating videos, you must be extremely careful because once you've recorded something in a video and published it, you cannot change it on YouTube. You would have to delete it, and deleting it means reducing the views on your video. If you don't delete it, it can create a negative image in the eyes of the students.

Presentation Quality

I place presentation quality in second place. In a video, you present two elements: 1) visual elements and 2) audio elements. Visual elements include the design of your presentation, text, images, graphs, your facial expressions, your body language, handwriting, etc. Audio elements involve the choice of words, speaking style, sentence structure, the order of sentences, background music, sound effects and more.

When a student says that they understand what you've taught very well, it means that your content and the way you present it align with their learning style. Some people are attracted to certain presentation styles, while others prefer different ones. This doesn't mean that one style is better than the other; it simply means that different students have different preferences. Therefore, I do not suggest changing a teacher's style.

To improve your visual elements, you should follow graphic design principles. I would recommend keeping the book "Graphics for Learning" (by Ruth Colvin Clark) close at hand — it will not only make your videos look good but also help students understand the topic better.

To enhance your audio elements, you should carefully listen to your recorded video. Check if there are any words you repeat, such as "okay," "got it," or "um." When you become aware of things that are undermining your presentation, you will naturally correct them.

Production Quality

Production quality refers to recording video and audio at the right quality. For example, if you record your audio in a noisy environment, your voice won't be clear, and it will be challenging for students to understand. Similarly, if you record your video in poor lighting, it won't be recorded properly, and students will have trouble understanding it.

Generally, production quality can be improved by using the right hardware and learning how to use it correctly. When you are starting on YouTube, I won't recommend spending on expensive cameras. Instead, I would advise you to invest in a good microphone and lighting equipment and learn how to use them properly.

For this purpose, you can get a Rode SmartLav+ lavalier microphone and any video LED light. You can start by using your mobile phone for recording your videos. Later, when you begin to receive positive feedback and want to upgrade, you can consider purchasing a DSLR camera.