Introduction to Effects
(And Why They Are Necessary)
Background
How it started:
• Graduated from university in Florida
• Started teaching in Taipei in 2012
• Taught in a classroom for over 5
years
• A unique experience that introduced
me to the world of TEFL
• What I learned early on, and
effective teaching methods
Becoming a Classroom Teacher
What Worked, What Didn’t
• Majority of students were in primary school
• Strict classes with heavy focus on the rules of
English grammar and knowledge didn't
produce the results I was looking for
• Use of humor, games, and activities were far
more effective and classes benefitted greatly
from this style
• All students and teachers are different
• Important to have a variety
• Best to cater to the middle-ground
Transitioning to the Online Market
Starting a New Career
• Over time, my desire to work remotely grew
and grew
• Around 2015, online teaching started to
pick-up speed.
• In 2016, I met a friend who had just started
working for a company called VIPKID
• By 2017, I decided it was time to apply to
VIPKID myself
• I followed guides and watched YouTube
videos, and was able to pass the interview
on my first attempt
What I Noticed At The Time
It Wasn't My Style
• At the time, there was a LARGE emphasis on
use of physical props
• THIS CAN WORK FOR SOME PEOPLE (but it
didn't work for me)
• As a person who was traveling, and living out
of a backpack, I could not carry many physical
props
• I tried to make use of the physical props I had,
and the response was lukewarm at best
• Needed to find "my" teaching style
What I Soon Discovered
Video Broadcasting Software
• Physical props did not work for me, but
digital props provided a better response
from my students, and a much smoother
class
• I was able to begin to incorporate digital
props and effects as I began to learn more
about video broadcasting software
• My bookings immediately started to
increase and I was much happier working
with "my" new teaching style
The First Digital Effects I Started to Work With
Start Here On Your Journey
• Chromakey (AKA Greenscreen)
• Background replacement is
improving, but not perfect yet
• Learning how to insert objects gave me
the power of unlimited props
• Facial Masking allows for greater roleplay with many laughs to be had.
• Just learning these three
basic features will give you a fantastic
start to using digital effects
More Advanced Effects I Learned Later On
How to Progress from the Basic Digital Effects
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Hot Keys
Sound Effects
Layers
Voice Modulation
Presets
Adding External Sources
Color Manipulation
The Importance of Digital Effects
Why are they Necessary?
• Online teaching has similarities with
classroom teaching, but it is also different
in a number of ways
• In a classroom, it is significantly easier for
a teacher to keep the attention of a
student
• In the online environment, it is more
difficult, because we are working with
limited space with many external
distractions around the student
...Continued...
• As online teachers, we need to find a way to
make our classes as entertaining as
possible, so we can overcome any external
distraction the student has
• Think about the types of videos people
prefer to watch online.
• Videos that are flashy and entertaining get
watched to the end
• A video that is dry and boring gets skipped
• Because of this, it is of great benefit to
incorporate digital effects into your stream
to make high-quality content
Summary
• Although it may be a bit overwhelming at first, especially for those
that struggle with technology, embracing digital effects have the
potential to greatly improve your classes
• Incorporating digital effects into your classroom will help you stand
out as a teacher.
• Allow yourself to develop your own style, and cater that to your
students
• Greater opportunity to add a bit of humor and personality to your
streams
• Looks polished
Q and A time!
The End
Thanks for Joining me Today :)