Video Abstracts

Ziele

The course introduces participants to the basic skills needed for producing a video abstract. It focuses on using participants' own resources and identifies additional sources of support, should they need it. During the course, every participant will develop their competence to create their own video abstract that may be used for publication. Participants who wish to may also work towards the completion of such an abstract by the end of the course.

In order to achieve these aims, participants will:

1. Examine the formats of video abstracts in general to familiarize themselves with the different varieties, the impact of the context in which they are used, and the ways these abstracts function
2. Acquaint themselves with copyright laws concerning images
3. Acquire first skills to construct audiovisual arguments and address principal pitfalls and challenges
4. Explore basic storytelling and dramaturgy
5. Train writing a scenario for this format
6. Experience professional video recording of their abstracts in the New Media Center studio
7. Practice how to best edit their videos on their own devices.

Kursinhalte

Video abstracts are becoming an increasingly important companion to scholarly publications across the disciplines. Not yet standardized, these rapidly evolving short formats harbor considerable potential to enhance the impact of research. Authors can use the various combinations of the verbal and the visual to create and convey knowledge in novel ways. Publishers like using video abstracts to capture the interest of potential readers and broaden their audience.

In this course, comprising two workshops, an individual oral training, and an individual recording session, doctoral candidates and postdocs from all faculties learn how to create video abstracts. Participants should at least have data or preferably a nearly completed paper that they can draw on to make such a video.

Form

Prior to the course, participants must submit a written abstract of 300 to 400 words on the research for which they want to create a video abstract. Please upload it until Friday, 9 February 2024 to SWITCHdrive: https://drive.switch.ch/index.php/s/8n7K1LDYOZ07fnE.

Participants will be expected to work through the detailed online course that familiarizes them with some of the fundamentals of video abstracts. Accordingly, the emphasis during the workshops will be on autonomous work and coaching rather than on teaching by the lecturers.

During the three workshops, the trainers will use this abstract to guide participants through the development of a scenario, which will then be filmed in the New Media Center studio. The trainers will assist participants in downloading free editing software onto their laptops and will guide them through the steps of editing the professionally recorded material. To facilitate this, participants should bring their own computers to class. Should you not have a device of your own, you must inform the trainers by Friday, 9 February 2024 for them to arrange an alternative for you.

Adressatinnen und Adressaten

All Doctoral Candidates & Postdocs

Voraussetzungen

Submit written abstracts: 09.02.2024
Submit first draft of video abstract: 12.03.2024
Submit final text for teleprompter: 15.04.2024
Submit finalized video abstract: 21.05.2024 (optional for second ECTS)

Informationen zu den Dozierenden

The group of trainers combines the diverse skills required for video abstracts:

Dr. Thomas Lehmann (Head of the New Media Center, having also worked as a director and a screenwriter for many years, for instance in scientific television shows). Sebastian Schell (Video Specialist at the New Media Center, editor and experienced director for television). Stephan Meyer (Lecturer for academic publication and presentation, Language Center). Prof. Dr. Mirko Winkler (Professor in Urban Public Health at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute).

Leistungsspektrum / Workload

Total: 30 hours (1 ECTS)
- Preparation for the workshops: 2 hours for workshop 1
- In the workshops and trainings: 15 hours
- Post-workshop assignments: 13 hours (6 1/2 hours each after workshops 1 and 2)

Optional: An additional 1 ECTS for delivering a finished video-abstract that fulfills criteria discussed in the course
Total: 30 hours (deadline: 21.05.2024)

Besonderheiten

Oral trainings (individual slots) will take place on 08.04.2024 and 09.04.2024
The recording session (individual 30min slots) will take place on 18.04.2024

Once registration is open, applications will be collected for 24 hours and course places allocated by lot. All registrations received after the initial 24h period will be put on a waiting list and assigned on a first come, first served basis.

Course places/places on the waiting list will be confirmed by e-mail. Course registrations can only be canceled before the registration period ends (send an e-mail to grace@unibas.ch). Full course attendance is mandatory. Participants who fail to attend a course without prior notification or withdraw after the registration deadline are subject to a fee of CHF 30. In addition, participants who cancel their course registration at a later point in time, are absent without an excuse or do not attend the entire course will, for reasons of fairness, not be considered for course registration in the following semester and will be removed from other courses offered in the same semester. Please find the detailed regulations on the Transferable Skills Homepage.