How to Split Videos for Teaching Online

Online teaching is becoming a popular learning technique used by thousands of educators across the globe. Rather than face-to-face lessons, teachers and lecturers are busy working on adjusting to their new remote learning conditions by creating video tutorials and classes.

In this environment, teachers are faced with new challenges. Online teaching can often become a long and difficult process because large video files are notoriously difficult to upload and share. So, what’s the solution? Splitting videos using Clipchamp Create.

Follow our tutorial on how to split large videos into smaller parts in a few simple steps. In it, we will be covering: 

• Tips and tricks for distance education teaching 

• How to split videos 

• Adding intros and outros with important information for students 

• Adding text or titles to assist communication

Tips and tricks for distance education teaching

Here are some easy ways to make online videos for teaching easier and more beneficial for students and teachers.

Record lectures or classes

In times of crisis, students may be unwell or having difficulty accessing the internet. It’s likely they will miss live streams, so it’s very important to record classes and upload them for students to view in their own time.

Show a friendly face

Recent studies show that educational videos that show lecturers’ faces are more effective than a slideshow with a voice over. It’s important for students to see facial expressions and body language to keep a relationship with their instructors. Classes become more familiar and less daunting when they can see a familiar face. 

Edit out unnecessary clips

Long videos are usually very slow to download or simply don’t load at all… leaving students distracted and unengaged. Use Clipchamp Create to edit your video into smaller clips, reducing the lecture time and making the download speed faster. If your video is still over an hour, you can also use Clipchamp’s Video Compressor to shrink file sizes before uploading. 

Keep a constant flow and repetition in lessons

Make sure to stick to the same structure and activities when teaching online. Students do not like frequent change as it adds to their already confusion of a new learning experience. After figuring out the best teaching style that suits you, repeat it each week until face-to-face classes return.

How to split videos online

Step 1. Get started by creating a Clipchamp Create account

Log into your existing Clipchamp Create account, or sign up for free.

Step 2. Create a new project

Select the Create a video button on the left side bar. Choose between the five different video formats and select the one best suited to your project. We recommend using widescreen 16:9 ratio if uploading to YouTube, Vimeo or a different video sharing platform.

Step 3. Add video footage

Select and click Add Media on the left side bar, then drag and drop video files or click Browse my files. Your clips will be automatically uploaded to your media library.

Step 4. Drag and drop clip onto timeline

Drag and drop your lecture onto the timeline. You can add as many clips as you’d like. If you place a clip in the wrong sequence, you can move them anytime.

Step 5. Decide where you want to split the video

Firstly, make sure the clip is selected on the timeline. You will know if it is selected or not by showing a green box around the clip. Drag the scrubber (white play bar) to where you want to split the video. You’ll be able to see the approximate time of the cut at the top of the timeline. 

Alternatively, you can use the spacebar on your keyboard to play and pause the scrubber.

Step 6. Click the split button

Once you have placed the scrubber where you want it, click the Split button above the timeline. If you accidentally split the clip in the wrong place, click Undo and your clip will reattach itself.

Step 7. Delete unwanted split clips

Now your video will be split into two. If you want to delete either the earlier or later part of the video, select the unwanted half and click Delete (bin icon) above the timeline.

If you want to use the other part of the video elsewhere you can move it to a lower track in the timeline until you need to use it. Simply click and drag the section of video downwards until you see a green line appear, then let go. Now you’ll have the two parts of the video on two separate tracks.

It’s that easy to split a video online!

Adding intros and outros with important student information

Step 1. Adding an intro

At the beginning of your video, add in an intro with the course name and ID number, lesson number, date and your own name. Make it easy for students to find the correct tutorial video online. 

Firstly, add a background clip to the beginning of your video. Click Background on the left side bar, then drag and drop onto the beginning of the timeline. Now, click Text and choose from the Intro/Outro list. Drag and drop your chosen intro onto the top of the background clip within the timeline. 

You can also use a stock clip if you do not like a plain colour background. Select and click the Stock button on the left side bar. Either type in the Search Video search bar a theme you are looking for, or scroll through the limitless categorised folders Clipchamp offers on the Stock page. Once your stock video has been selected, click the + Add to Project button on the left corner of the video to add to your library. Drag and drop the clip to the beginning of your timeline. 

Step 2. Adding an outro

To end your educational video or lesson, make sure to add an outro. This can consist of an inspirational quote, a thank you to your students for watching or even a funny picture or meme. 

Either add a funny stock video, your own clip or a plain background. Repeat intro steps but add to the end of the video rather than the beginning. Click Text then select an outro to use. Drag and drop on the end of your video.

Adding text or titles to assist communication

Add text where necessary. If the audio within the video is hard to understand sometimes, add the subtitles text under Text. You can also add funny captions throughout the video to keep your students entertained as well as learning. Pop up titles are a great way to show students on the screen what page of the textbook they should be looking at and following along to or showing key notes.

Want to learn more about teaching remotely? Check out our ‘5 Remote Learning Video Tips for Teachers’ blog.