My Second Lynda.com Adventure

Recently, I had the opportunity to do another course for Lynda.com. This time I was a little more comfortable with the process and procedures of how to put together a course. So here is a little recap and, in case you missed it, here is a recap of my first visit.

I arrived the first day, met my Content Producer, Lauren and proceeded to the “green room” so I could change into some outfits to see what would work for the shoot. Of course, I had already written the 26 scripts (1-3 pages each) and was ready to begin filming the course.

This was a “live action” script so it was just me with only a few screen captures of some web sites.

I spent several months working on the scripts to make sure they sounded professional as well as conversational in tone. Below is a copy of a sample script in MS Word. I usually write a first draft of my script in MS Word in a three column format and then I convert it to Google Docs. Then me and Lauren (my Content Producer) review the scripts to make sure they are personable, conversational and that they make sense and don’t try to cover too much.

I took a bunch of shirts and a jacket to see what would work best on screen. We found something that worked (blue shirt…no one was surprised). We did a number of screen tests with clothes and such and then we loaded the teleprompter and practiced a little bit.

Once I started reading the scripts on the teleprompter, changes needed to be made to the scripts. Words become obstacles that must be removed. Sentences are too long and I wasn’t breathing in the right places, or I would have an awkward pause created by a strange sentence structure or line break. There is no substitute for doing a read in front of the camera with the teleprompter to help you clarify what needs to be in your script.

I didn’t have the same team as before however…this team was just as awesome helping me to look as good as possible on the green screen. Here is our Album Cover pose. Really enjoyed working with this group!

Me (in the middle) with Tony, Loren and Lauren! Great professional and focused group to work with. Lots of fun on the set but lots of work as well. The goal is to make it seem as I was just speaking with you while you were visiting me in my office.

This time it was all about the green screen. Last time I had a great set and a large set but, due to the nature of this shoot, no large set was needed so lots of green screen activity.

Plus I got to see a sneak peak at what they might put behind me when they do the final cut. I wanted the beach but….

Check out my “new” office. It is very nice:)

And of course with all the lights and lack of …umm, hair. We did a bit of make-up. Also, every time before lunch I change shirts so that I won’t spill on it (a likely scenario) so I then need help placing the microphone in the exact same position as before lunch and as on the other two days of the shoot.

Once again, great snacks at about 2:00 every day. Very California type snacks, berries, cheeses and assorted chips and crackery whole wheatie stuff!

Once all the snacks were eaten and the live action was done, we still needed to a do a little bit in the sound proof booth. We needed some screen captures and some screen movement for several of the scenes I had scripted for the lesson.

Lauren calling me into the sound proof booth.

Head phones? Check!

On this trip, since I started to get the know the area a little better, I stopped by a couple local breweries, had a great dinner with Koreen Pagano (who works at Lynda.com) and another dinner in Santa Barbara with my business co-found Jim Kiggens (2KLearning…sponsor our kickstarter campaign today).

And I had a special meal with Rick Zanotti, his wife Lesile and fellow Lynda.com author Renoldo Lawerence whom I just met at the Lynda.com shoot. Rick heard I was coming out to California and that Renoldo was coming to California and insisted that Renoldo and I meet and that we all go to dinner. It was fantastic, we all had a wonderful, wonderful time hanging out together.

Afterwards Renoldo and I went to Walmart. Renoldo lives in the UK and doesn’t get to Walmart much. I hope to visit him one day soon and watch his course(s).

Back at Lynda, I was able to see my buddy from Scranton, PA (who I met on my last Lynda.com trip).

It was a great deal of fun to see Andrew and hang out. Again, he harassed me for not wearing shoes.

I also caught up with Renoldo in a break from one of his shoots.

I snapped another picture of the Pixel Cafe’s mural (actually, they have several) on my way out. I liked the symbolism of the eye. The Pixel Cafe is where lunch is served…always excellent.

Also, before I headed home, I tried a sampler at the Rincon Brewery…very nice.

So check out my first course on Lynda.com (The Gamification of Learning)

The Gamification of Learning explores how to use game concepts to make your learning design engaging.

Get a free 7 day trial of The Gamification of Learning and other Lynda.com Courses!

And in March, look for my next course which will be available in March and the course after that…still working on it!