As a creator of online eLearning programmes you are well aware of the time and effort that is required to create a usable learning interface and quality content. But are you sabotaging all your good work by ignoring or sidelining the voiceover script and narration?

In an attempt to 'keep it real' it seems that some elearning producers prefer to record their own voices for the narration and ad lib the script as the go.

Is this a good idea?

For some small, in-house elearning projects it can make financial sense to record your own narration or use the voice of a colleague or member of staff. If you know that the audience will be sympathetic to the final product. However, its always worth keeping in mind that your responsibility ultimately lies with your audience. If you are creating a teaching project that is to help students learn, than it is critical to make the learning experience as pleasant and as effective as possible. Is your current audio narration proving to be just a distraction?

Respect your viewers and listeners - do they have time to sit through all your ums and ahhs. I've no doubt your students are busy people, are you making the narration as tight and concentrated as it could be. Are you providing them all the information they need in the most concise and engaging manner or do they have to sit through an unscripted, rambling monologue?

What about the audio quality you are subjecting your students too. Everyone is more tech savvy than ever and will quickly point out an inferior quality product. Are you able to use professional recording equipment in a controlled recording environment to produce quality audio recordings?

Consider the vocal style of your narration - are you able to bring personality, inflection and emotion to your read in clear, confident speech? A confusion seem to arise between wanting to have a 'natural' delivery and a belief that by using a professional voiceover artist you will only get highly polished, forced, un-natural read. A professional artist will be able to provide you a natural, conversational voiceover if you ask them to - that is what they are trained to do! Have a listen to your natural, keep it real style of voiceover - will it just sound amateurish to your students?

At the end of the day, you are creating courses to teach, and it's in everyone's interest to use all the tools available to create an engaging and efficient learning system. If you can help your students improve their learning experience they will appreciate it and come back for more!

Professional Voiceover Artist. Provider of audio recordings for business including, podcasts, website audio, phone system recordings, training and presentation narrations, corporate video narrations, product tour audio, radio and television commercials and much more.
Please visit my website to hear my demos http://www.thephonevoice.com/

12/22/08

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alison_Pitman

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