NCDB Publishes Recommendations for Intervener Services

NCDB's Recommendations for Improving Intervener Services were recently completed and are available at interveners.nationaldb.org.  NCDB developed these recommendations in response to a request from the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). 

The development of the recommendations was preceded by in-depth data collection about the current status of intervener services in the U.S., including the accomplishments of those who have worked diligently to advance the practice of intervener services over the past several decades.  Many people who are involved in the lives of children and youth who are deaf-blind assisted us during this process by participating in surveys, interviews, and panel discussions and we are deeply grateful to everyone who was involved.

We invite you to share your thoughts and perspectives on these recommendations either by contacting NCDB directly or by joining our new online forum and posting your comments at http://network.nationaldb.org/.

Posted by Peggy Malloy, NCDB

Quick Tips for Hassle Free Video

Recently, I attended a workshop titled “How to Shoot Video Like a Pro.” The first 45 minutes of the 90 minute workshop discussed how to hire a producer and director, how to find “talent,” and setting up a boom mic and camera dolly.

In most cases when shooting video for technical assistance purposes, you will not need to produce a high quality video, nor have the opportunity to do several “takes.” Here are some basic tips I have found helpful to increase my chances of getting it right the first time.

Lighting

I always try to be aware of my light source. Light originating behind my subject will make them too dark.

Sound

I test the sound in the room by standing at a distance and walking toward the camcorder, while it is recording, and reciting a passage at a constant volume. This tells me the best distance for recording and sometimes informs me of background noise I hadn’t noticed.

Camera position

When applicable, I use a tripod to prevent excess movement and I always try to choose an angle that best captures my objectives.

Length of video

Remember, 5 minutes is considered a very long time to watch video. Three minutes or less is ideal. I often times break long videos into vignettes.

Know your camera

I like to keep a crib sheet of the control buttons, for the functions I know I will need.

Be prepared

Making sure the battery is fully charged (including a spare), having extra storage media, and a lens cloth for that inevitable smudge are essential for minimizing surprises.

If you have some favorite tips, please take a moment to share them with the rest of us.

See our brief, Considerations for Creating Video Clips for Technical Assistance  for more detailed guidelines on capturing quality videos.

Posted by Randy Klumph, NCDB