YouTube Advising FAQ’s: Part II The Saga Continues Dr. Michelle White and Dr. Ralph Anttonen Millersville University NACADA 35 th Annual Conference-Session 165 October 4, 2011

Our Goal:  Providing relevant information to our advisees through a radical facelift to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of our Website.  Acknowledging that students like to be entertained while seeking information.

It Just Doesn’t Happen!  Sharing the crucial steps of the planning and execution to create YouTube Videos.

Step 1  Get Approval from the Department of Communications and Theater for videographer intern.

Step 2  Write up internship job description for Office of Experiential Learning and Career Management. “Set up taping with various constituents; arrange camera crews for shooting; coordinate editing procedures; make final preparation for master tape; distribute final tapes to various offices; work directly with Dr. Ralph Anttonen on total project. (Demonstrate prior knowledge in videography).”“Set up taping with various constituents; arrange camera crews for shooting; coordinate editing procedures; make final preparation for master tape; distribute final tapes to various offices; work directly with Dr. Ralph Anttonen on total project. (Demonstrate prior knowledge in videography).”

Step 3  Work closely with Chair of Communications/Theater Department to recruit student interns.  Identify an intern who is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the craft of a film project.

Step 4  Recruit student “actors” to be in the video. A serendipitous experience led to an interested actor who was a Public Relations major and student worker in our department.A serendipitous experience led to an interested actor who was a Public Relations major and student worker in our department.

Step 5  Partner with student interns as videographers/producers  Have interns secure video equipment and DVDs. Make sure Communications Department Technician in charge of the equipment is in the loop.Make sure Communications Department Technician in charge of the equipment is in the loop.

Step 6  Identify filming dates.  Find and reserve filming sites. Use intern and “actor” input.Use intern and “actor” input.

Step 7  Brainstorm with office staff and review content of questions, format to insure flow of answers, and the type of genre.

Step 8  Create a script and appropriate staging for filming and background music. We ultimately decided on specific relevant questions and a 1950s black & white film reel style.We ultimately decided on specific relevant questions and a 1950s black & white film reel style.

Step 9  Film the video!

Step 10  Have “rough” video viewed by office staff for accuracy and quality.

Step 11  Have intern edit, make the title and acknowledgments pages, and finalize the videos.

Step 12  Have knowledgeable student worker upload video files to the computer from the DVD and make a YouTube account for your department. We named ours “MUAcademicAdvisement”We named ours “MUAcademicAdvisement”

Step 13  Use this account to upload each video, making sure to double check length and quality. Hint: YouTube has a length limit of 10 minutes for standard users.Hint: YouTube has a length limit of 10 minutes for standard users.

Step 14  Once uploaded, embed the videos in the Academic Advisement FAQ section of the webpage and link that page to the Exploratory Program website. Use whichever website manipulation software your school uses (plain HTML, Dreamweaver, etc.)Use whichever website manipulation software your school uses (plain HTML, Dreamweaver, etc.)

Step 15  Disseminate initiative throughout campus: Adviser Summer Training, University Wide Advisement Council, Advisement Times Newsletter, and announcements on Academic Advisement web page.

List of MU Videos  “How Do I Register?”  “Working While in School?”  “Math and the G2 Block”  “Language Double in G1 Block”  “How Do Transfer Students Register?”  “How Do I Declare a Major?  “How Can I Teach High School?”  “How Can I Teach Elementary/Special Ed.?”  “Foreign Language Requirement?”  “Do My Required Related Courses Count Towards My Gen Eds?”  “Am I Required To Take a Math Course?”  New this Year! Understanding the General Education Curriculum

New This Year Understanding the General Education Curriculum: Gen Ed Overview Advanced Writing Diversity Perspectives

Let’s see the videos

How Do I Register?

Gen Ed: Advanced Writing

 If you would like to view the other videos, go to the Exploratory Program website: (and click on “Gen Eds”)

Coming Attractions  Freshman Seminars  Students talking about their major choice

Lessons Learned  Intern reliability  Relying on student technology expertise  Finding realistic performers  Minimal cost with collaboration  Scheduling issues

Video Assessment  Monitor hits on a regular basis  Use “hits” to plan for additional videos and audience interest

Thank you for your kind attention!  Questions/Comments