“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” ― Ansel Adams

Last month I wrote an article entitled “Building A Medial Simulation Program Website“, which explained the benefits of building a website for your simulation program and how to get your pages started. In this article, we will touch on how to add the visual stimulus of multimedia and social platform integrations can provide further benefits to your program’s website! Having just recently completed the two-year INACSL website redevelopment project I have some new multimedia secrets to share! Specifically in this article we will cover photography, digital images, videography, social media integration like facebook & linkedin, as well as embedding a Google calendar.

Photography:

As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. While you can type out all the specifications of your simulation program and the number of learners that come through your doors each day and what they are doing there, nothing will capture that “ah-hah” moment of seeing the space through photography. Check with your institution’s media department to learn if a professional photographer is available to help take some photographs of your simulation program. Be sure to schedule the photographer with enough time to capture spaces with and without learners actively engaging in the space. Depending on who will be viewing these photos, you will want to be sure to have the option of showing them the space with or without partcipants in the room. For example, when trying to promote the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas as a set for big budget film productions, the “shooting location scouts” are much more interested in how the room itself looks, not in what your learners accomplish there. (Read my previous article “How to Bring Record Breaking Profits To Your Sim Lab” to learn more about these types of film productions).

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“Lights – Camera – Simulation!”

Imagine having the help of a professional film production crew in your healthcare simulation lab.  Video orientations for students to your simulation lab space? eLearning for advanced students? Training videos for new educators? Promotional videos for external users and center marketing? All possible with the help and support of a professional multimedia team!

Craig Adams, Manager of Communications and Immersive Media at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, shared some of the wonderful productions his team has accomplished for the Innovation Lab at the Center for Simulation Technology and Immersive Learning.

Notice the expert use of steady framing, panning work and camera focus which always guides the audience’s attention smoothly for excellent scene composition.  As well, the wonderful pacing of the piece demonstrates a true understanding of editing flow and the importance of integrating musical scores.  Watch another great video which demonstrates the team’s “showcase reel”:

Thinking of producing your own videos? At the Gathering of Technicians event earlier this year, we trained 85 technicians in the basics of film production.  Next August I am sure we will repeat the training somehow, but in the mean time be sure to watch my “do it yourself” tutorial on the basics of video production for your sim lab.