The Origami Forum

I will be putting together a series of NEW instructional videos (on Youtube). I would like to step up the quality of my videos, so I am asking others to suggest what they feal is the BEST instructional video. (either on-line or for purchase). Please comment about what makes this video great and what could be improved (if anything).
If on line please provide a link. If commercially available- where can it be purchased?

My favorite video instructor is Michael Lafosse. <http>

He sells lots of instructional videos, and I think he has it down.

1. Camera is behind his shoulder, so that the perspective is of the folder.
2. Michael shows the finished model in the beginning.
3. He speaks slowly and clearly, like telephone instructions.
4. The model is always in view and centered, the main focus.
5. He says what he is doing, just a bit before he does it.
6. The steps are carefully presented, so they could be photo instructions.
7. In addition, diagrams could be drawn from the video, even though
the video is better than flat diagrams.
8. In some of his videos, he anticipates problems and misunderstandings,
to clarify before the viewer makes mistakes.
9. I like the fact that the video folds faster than I can, so I can stop action, then catch up.... I don't have good suggestions for repeated folds. It may be better to show both for instructional purposes.

HTH,

- Hank Simon

The link didn't come thru: http://pem.org/origami/

- Hank[/url]

Thanks for the very complete obvservations. I have taken a crareful look at the LaFosse videos and I agree his technique is excdellent. I also observed that the background for folding he uses is excellent for displaying colored with white back paper.

Another video that I reviewed was included in a book by Kunihiko Kasahara and uses an offwhite or grey background that is effective also. The Video is also shot from a behing the sholder perspective. The major difference is that the instructions are in text rather than spoken voice. I think that because the simple instructions remain on the screen for the diration of the folding sequence it is somewhat easier to remember but this may be my personal preference. Do you feel that text, voice or a combination of both should be used? In one of my videos, I used short written text between folding squences, and got a somewhat negative response from onee viewer.

I believe that the LaFosse videos were narrated as he folded rather that dubbed later. I find this hard to do! I find I stutter and have trouble focusing on a left brain vs. right brain task. Do you think it makes a difference if voice is dubbed or recorded live?

A video I was able to view from the library used a somewhat different approach. For each folding sqeuence, the folder moved in two folded sheets one showing the completed fold, and one showing the fold befor the squence is completed. A third larger sheet was used for folding. This was repeated for all steps of the fold. What do you think of this technique?

I think I would like to encorporate a diagram of each step so that the novice folder would become more skilled at using diagrams. Do you think this would be valuable or just a distraction?

What other videos offer alternative approaches?

I would greatly appreciate all the input I can get.

I think text would be a good method, depending on its implementation and capacity for distracting the viewer from the actual folding. It should not overlap the model being folded and it should still be easy to focus on the folding while referring to the text. The advantage that voice has is that you can look at the folding while listening rather than diverting your eyes to the instructions.

I think I would also have a hard time narrating as I folded, depending on the difficulty of the model. With practice (experience folding the model, memorizing lines, etc.) you may be able to do it well-you don't even have to talk when you are actually folding, just in preparation for what you are about to do.

The 3 sheet method offers the before and after that diagrams would also do, as well as the folding sequence that video offers. I guess you have to weigh folding 3 at a time and stopping/starting for each step (or folding 2 for each step you do ) against the extra clarity it may or may not offer.

Offering a diagram as well would be a good learning tool for beginners, but it might be completely ignored. Something to combat this would be to show it for a few seconds before your hands start moving. It would be good for clarity for more advanced folders. I find that a clear diagram is most of the time easier/faster to comprehend than a video, but then again, your audience may not include people like that. The diagram would still be good for beginners-perhaps you could have a big diagram centered on the screen before the step, then have it shrink to a small version in the corner while you fold.

I guess it comes down to some careful thought based on what you want to achieve for your audience and what you think is clearest. You have some good ideas, and good luck with your endeavor!

(Maybe you can be like LaFosse and make some money on it too selling DVDs )

I agree that the Michael LaFosse videos are very well presented. The video with the Kasahara book is also well done, but quite limited in that the models are only simple ones.
There is an overabundance of easy videos, as well as excessive amount of " see how clever I am ! " videos. The need is for videos that teach intermediate level models . By far, the best instructional videos available online to date would be those of Sara Adams, at http://www.youtube.com/AdamsSara.
She has very kindly provided first rate instructional videos and is a compliment to the many designers world wide. I buy many books because of her introduction of models.
Your first challenge is to identify whether you want to teach, or simply " show off ".
Your second challenge is to present a clear, decent video or videos within the 10 minute restriction of YouTube, unless, of course your venue is different.
I wish you luck and look forward to your productions !

The instructional videos at http://www.oriland.com present yet another creative vehicle to learning origami.
They are very well done, clearly presented.
While most are for sale, and justifiably so, there are free examples as well.
My personal preference remains learning via diagrams and books, whereby one may develop problem solving skills on a gradual, but progressive, basis.

Feedback:
1. I think that the 10 min Youtube limit is fine for the models. Even if it really takes 30 min, folders could stop the video to catch up.
2. I don't like the idea of reading text on a video. But you could include diagrams and text in a PDF format for download. In the video, When you will refer to a step in the hardcopy diagrams, you can be careful to also assume that many folders will NOT download the PDF instructions, but will only follow the video. In this way, you can help those will also want to learn the diagrams...
3. LaFosse has been teaching origami for decades, so he is smooth. You could put a text script for you to read from, out of view of the camera. But I don't see any problem with making a video of the folding sequence, and then going back to dub. You'll have more freedom, and can go back to repair the narrative a few times in this way. But, I do think you should write out a script, before you even shoot the video. You can modify the script later, but it help with the story boarding. I any case, it is a lot of work.
4. I prefer the linear approach, without the before and after pictures. The audience can always move the video backwards and forwards as needed.

- Hank Simon

I know this thread was opened ages ago, but I didn't discover it until now.

firstfold wrote:Do you think it makes a difference if voice is dubbed or recorded live?

Here are my thoughts on whether to dub or to give verbal instructions while recording the video.

My preference: Add instructions right away
I usually add my instructions while recording. When I first started making videos, I practiced what I'd say for each model before I recorded the video. Now I've become somewhat lazy (or just have enough practice), so that I just practice the model, but not what I'll say most of the time.

Yes, I have tried dubbing
There is only one video available online, for which I added verbal instructions afterwards. It's Kazuo Haga's Tetrahedron: http://www.happyfolding.com/instruction ... etrahedron
I recorded the verbal instructions with a good microphone, and added it to the sound of the video (so you can hear me folding the paper still). I think the result is quite pleasing. It's probably one of my best videos to date, and one of the earlier ones, too (29 July 2007).

My rating
Pros:
* There is potential to create much higher quality videos.
- Sound quality
- Clearness of verbal instructions

Cons:
* In my experience it takes much more time to add verbal instructions afterwards, and it's easier to make mistakes.
a) Recording: It was harder to record the video. I usually give reference points. So I had to think about what I'd say, and getting the timing right. If you add instructions right then and there, it's fine. If you want to dub, you can remove the sound and start over - but that means you'll lose the "paper folding noise", which would be a pity. So recording is much harder if you don't give verbal instructions then and there.
b) Dubbing: It took me quite a while to get the timing right. If you want to give the impression that the verbal instructions were given when folding, you will probably have to record the sound several times. Recording the sound for each step separately helps, but you will have to be careful that the background noise levels are about the same throughout.

-- Sara