Table of Contents

Introduction

In this lab exercise we are going to review best practices for how and when to use Vidcast to compliment your lab guide when introducing a new topic, showing a demonstration, and/or when describing a complex task.

When to include a Vidcast

Vidcast should not replace other visual tools like animated GIFs or simple pictures.

In a live lab setting, you should comment out the Vidcast videos so that you can provide the first hand instruction.

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Good video Guidelines

Note: Keep in mind that these lab documents should be designed to allow adding or removing content easily. A series of short videos makes it possible to add to or remove videos in that series even with a different personality.

  • Use videos to highlight and demo. Customers will naturally use typed step work with illustrations over following a step by step video.
  • Avoid step by step guides in the videos if possible. These can be typed in the document.
  • Avoid statements that tie a video to a specific lab series.
    • Example: Welcome to the 2022 Cisco Live lab.
  • Don’t include self-videos in the lab guide demo videos.
    • Example: First 2 videos are Kevin and third video added later are Mike. The voice change is unavoidable but adding self-videos are distracting.

Additionally

  1. Keep the video short (under 2 minutes)
  2. Keep the video topics single threaded
  3. Only cover the upcoming section or new topic introduction
  4. Download a copy of your completed video, rename it and upload to the online drive (to be shared during lab creation)

Video Introductions

A description of the outcomes which will be produced by following the guide.

A brief description of architecture (if required)

List of prerequisites and or tools that will be used in the lab.

Demonstrations

A video showing the outcome or activities that would be carried out using a tool. (Like making an outbound call or navigating a dashboard)

Complex Tasks

When you must navigate through several screens to accomplish a single task in a complicated UI.