Giving Facebook Live a Try
At Higher Ed Experts, we’ve been experimenting with holding “virtual office hours” via Facebook Live as part of our professional certificate courses.
The goal is to let our students (people like you working in higher ed) and other colleagues “meet the professor” while incorporating some digital face-to-face instruction and coaching.
To that end, I gave Facebook Live a go during the past session of the Web Writing for Higher Ed course I teach.
I’m not a video person in general, and livestreaming in particular terrifies the writer, editor, and introvert in me. However, I’ll do almost anything for my students if it will benefit them or help them succeed. So for 32 minutes on a Thursday in April, I whipped out my iPhone and hosted my first-ever Facebook Live.
Here’s what I learned from the experience.
#1 Do reconnaissance
While on vacation in Hawaii earlier this year, I sat next to a woman on a catamaran who livestreamed the venture instead of soaking up the sun and enjoying Mai Tais like the rest of us. That was pretty much the sum total of my practical experience with Facebook Live.
In hindsight, I wish I’d paid more attention to the Facebook notifications saying, “[Insert name here] is live!” Checking out what others are doing is an easy way to see what works and what doesn’t. For example, after watching some Facebook Live videos recently, I learned that the ones with excessive motion are not my jam. The downside for you, dear readers, is that I won’t be livestreaming my next catamaran excursion.
#2 Ensure good lighting and sound
Bad picture or sound quality can ruin any video or livestream. My office at the University of Rochester is a garden-level suite. As such, natural light and soundproofing are minimal. Fortunately, my partner works a few buildings away and let me use his third-floor, south-facing office. With the blinds slightly opened and the door completely closed, I was ready for my Facebook Live debut!
#3 Prepare talking points
Before a job interview or first date, I like to have select questions, tidbits, or anecdotes metaphorically tucked in my back pocket.
Turns out, this tactic also works well for Facebook Live, especially at the beginning (when viewers are arriving or getting settled) and whenever there’s a natural pause or lull in the “conversation.”
Part of me worried that my Facebook Live “office hours” would mimic the ones I held as a graduate student, in which fewer than a handful of freshmen show up during the entire academic year (mercifully giving me time to work on my own projects). But those worries were unfounded. Several of my current students joined me during the live session and it was a treat to answer their questions—about the course assignments, web writing, and higher education—in real time.
#4 Get geared up
I was nervous about potential technical glitches, so much so that I forgot to have water handy. Rookie mistake! I make a point of staying hydrated when co-hosting or presenting at Higher Ed Experts’ online conferences—and now I know Facebook Live is no different. Whenever you’re speaking or presenting publicly (in person or digitally), it’s a good idea to keep fluids nearby.
I also wish I’d brought a tripod with me. Holding my iPhone for more than half an hour at a semi-flattering angle proved more difficult than expected. My arm got tired! And every switch of the device from one hand to the other risked me dropping it entirely. Next time I’ll have the right gear and supplies on me.
On the lookout for additional words of Facebook Live wisdom
While Facebook Live was fun, I’ll probably stick primarily to the written word (throwing in an occasional radio appearance for good measure).
However, I do plan to try Facebook Live again during the next session of the web writing class. Got any tips, takeaways, advice, or recommended readings to share before my next foray into the world of Facebook Live? Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter!
Editor’s Note: So, how was Prof Sofia’s 1st Facebook Live?
We think it was really great (and her students agree), but please find out for yourself by watching some (or all) the 32-minute recording.
Meet the Faculty: Sofia Tokar
Higher Ed Experts is a professional online school for digital professionals working in universities and colleges.
When you take a professional certificate course with us, you get a chance to upgrade your skills by working on your projects, interacting with classmates just like you and getting detailed personalized feedback from your instructor.
Sofia Tokar Sofia is the web writer and communications officer for Arts, Sciences and Engineering at the University of Rochester. As part of the web team, her work includes creating, editing, and curating content for the university’s homepage and top-level pages, departmental web pages, and social media accounts. She regularly co-hosts on-campus presentations and workshops about strategic and tactical web communications.
Sofia earned her master’s degree in English language and literature from Queen’s University in Canada. She is currently pursuing her master’s in online teaching and learning at UR. She is also a graduate of the Higher Ed Experts web writing certificate program.
Sofia teaches Higher Ed Expert’s 4-week online course on Web Writing for Higher Education.
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