Video support for classes

I like to gather opinions and views in the area of video support during classes, both from a student's and instructor's perspective.

We've long time ago recognized the incredible value of video in teaching. As you know all UTD classes include video with corresponding debriefing. Of course this concept has been utilized for a long while in pretty much all other sports. For whatever reason diving seems to be immune to this. Andrew has been utilizing it in his teaching for years now and most of you on this list have been exposed to the benefits of seeing yourself struggling with new skills or recognizing what you have done well.

I like to invite people to share their experiences, both positive and negative. Is there anything in particular that you (student or instructor) would like to see more of. Anything you like to be standardized. In other words consistent from class to class and from instructor to instructor. Any suggestions on the "prerequisites" for the class videographer?

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lynne Flaherty on February 2, 2009 at 3:15pm

One of the things that has frustrated me the most in trying to improve, is knowing WHAT I am doing wrong, but not HOW to fix it. I knew, for example, that I had buoyancy problems during bag shoots. What the video showed was that, when I reached into my pocket to pull out the bag, my drysuit valve was dumping and I was unaware of it. So I started the whole exercise off neutral, which of course made it hard to do smoothly. I had been told time and again that I wasn't controlling my buoyancy well enough during the bag shoot, but had no idea what the problem actually was until the video pointed it out. This is the kind of detail that can make the difference between a discouraged student who keeps practicing but doesn't improve, and someone who goes back to work with a cheerful attitude, because she now has something she can CHANGE.

I have done video support for classes (and it's a great exercise in buoyancy control and positioning!) I think ideally you would have someone with a good camera and a fair amount of experience using it, to get the best angles and views. I think it's also something one gets better at with practice, and if the viz is so bad your buddy can't see your head from your fins, you can't really get very good video of anything (BTDT).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Richard on April 10, 2009 at 11:39pm

I think videographers who have actually taken the class being filmed are a huge plus. They tend to know the "big picture" kinds of things that make for productive debriefs. A simple low light capable camera is ideal.