CDO CareerCasts:

A 24/7 Training Approach

for StudentsSamara Reynolds

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

NCDA Conference 2015

Roundtable Objectives

Share best practice for virtual program delivery, including

the types of information that work well in this format.

Train participants on two technological mediums for

virtual programming, including providing examples for

how to train others.

Provide insight into marketing strategies and assessment

outcomes that were helpful for our office in expanding

the scope and reach of this resource.

Help others think about creating or improving virtual

presentations and tutorials on their campuses.

The CareerCast Idea

Seeking new ways to train and educate students, especially during academic breaks, on virtual resources, and/or on “niche” topics

Team buy-in and contributions were critical

Format: Narrated slide decks and screen captures

Length: 10-15 minute recorded presentations

Content: Timely, wide-ranging topics outside the realm of normal hour-long presentations

Presenters: Different staff members could present on topics of interest to them

Distribution: Initially shared via weekly newsletter (link), then available 24/7 via website

Our 10 Topics Symplicity System & On-Campus/Off-Campus Interviewing

Introduction to Symplicity

Symplicity Job Bank Tutorial

On- and Off-Campus Interviewing

Job Search

Creating Your Unofficial Transcript

Successfully Transferring to UNC Law

JD-Advantage: Making Your Case for Non-Legal Job Opportunities

Interviewing

Behavioral Interviewing

Networking

Networking Over Winter Break

LinkedIn for Law Students

Summer Experience

Making the Most of Your Summer

Technology

Microsoft PowerPoint

Best for topical presentations where slide text supports auditory

content

Screencast-o-matic.com

Best for showing how to use a given technology in real-time

Both FREE and user-friendly mediums

PowerPoint Method

Used most often

Staff often familiar with PPT already, just needed help with recording

audio and turning into a video

Asked staff to:

Decide upon a topic they thought would fit our model and student interests

Create a PPT presentation with 10 slides or less (using template)

Write out a script/notes for their presentation, aiming for

10-15 minute verbal delivery

Record their presentation, using office headphones + mic, asking

for assistance if needed

Send final PPT presentation to me (for their convenience)

to add animations and convert into a video

Demo

Screencast-O-Matic Method

Used for Symplicity-focused sessions

Easier to walk-through where to click and what a student would see

via screen share than lots of screen captures + circles/arrows

Had office expert write script and then narrate, while I navigated the

website per her instructions (made for best flow)

Can stop and start and re-record

as many times as you want to

Doesn’t save your presentations

for free; you have to download

and save videos yourself

Demo

Sample CareerCasts

Marketing & Distribution

“COPE” (Lindsey Pollak)

Weekly e-Newsletter

Roll Out + Reminders

Webpage + Homepage Button

Counselor Encouragement + Sharing

Mentioning in Presentations &

Publications

Analytics

Creating Your Unofficial Transcript (debuted Jan 2014): 289 views

Introduction to Symplicity (debuted Nov 2013): 198 views

On- and Off-Campus Interviewing (debuted Jan 2014): 151 views

LinkedIn for Law Students (debuted Dec 2013): 141 views

Behavioral Interviewing (debuted Jan 2014): 136 views

Making the Most of Your Summer (debuted May 2014): 91 views

Symplicity Job Bank Tutorial (debuted Dec 2013): 78 views

Networking Over Winter Break (debuted Nov 2013): 72 views

JD-Advantage (debuted Dec 2014): 35 views

Successfully Transferring to UNC Law (debuted July 2014): 10 views

= 1,200+ unique page views

Program Success

Combining two in-person "Navigating Symplicity" workshops in 2012-2013

(November & January), 63 students attended total (23 in Nov and 40 in

Jan).

In contrast, from Nov 2013 – Feb 2014, we had a combined 152

individual students view the three Symplicity-focused CareerCasts

(71 for the Intro to Symplicity video alone)

AND each video has more detailed information and helpful screenshots

than would have been possible in a live presentation.

Serving [89/2.5x!] more students more effectively, in a 24/7 format

Lessons Learned & Future Suggestions

Actively think of ways to convert live programs to CareerCasts for

more or different participation

Create programs just for virtual viewing, when it makes sense

Ideal to have each staff member contribute on a topic they have

knowledge in

Best to take time to add animations to slides so that viewer doesn’t

get bored listening when all words are already on screen (add visual

interest)

The shorter the better!

Make sure content translates from year to year (don’t mention dates)

Make content available as a vodcast (video + audio) and podcast

(audio only), if possible; add option to access transcript of sessions

Questions?

In what ways do you use video technology and/or pre-recorded

presentations to reach your students?

Which of your current programs could you see converting into a

CareerCast-type video?

What new program topics could you or your team address as a

CareerCast-type video?

Thank you!

Samara_Reynolds@unc.edu