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Welcome to the Digital Teaching & Learning Studio!

The Faculty of Arts & Science's Digital Teaching & Learning (DTL) Studio was established in 2023 to provide A&S instructors with the equipment, space, and skilled personnel to develop and produce high-quality video and audio content. We partner with you through the production cycle beginning with curriculum integration, storyboarding, scripting through to post-production, motion graphics, and distribution.

Interested in learning more about the Studio and what projects are possible? Watch the sample videos and read more about the Studio below, or book a one-on-one meeting to discuss your ideas!

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Curious about What's Possible in the DTL Studio?

For Danielle Goldfarb’s “Real-Time Data and AI for Global Intelligence” course at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, we produced a short 'course-trailer' to raise awareness of the course and spark the curiosity of non-technical graduate students about the impact of artificial intelligence on global issues.

With Banuta Rubess at the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies, we crafted a visually rich assignment explainer to guide students in producing a Director’s Book using the instructor’s own work. The video served to make the physical Director’s Book more accessible to a large class, allowing students to revisit the instructions while developing their director’s book.

For Asif Zaman in the Department of Mathematics, we partnered with the instructor to produce a multi-part series of videos that bring foundational calculus concepts to life using animation and physical objects like cheese and mangos to illustrate math concepts in 3D space. The series supports a course and textbook developed by the instructor and is hosted at the Calculus with Fruits YouTube channel.

For Charlie Kivi, a lab technician and course instructor from the Department of Chemistry, we developed several lab equipment demonstration videos to ensure students had access to standardized procedures and equipment orientation, helping them be lab-ready and safe for their first experiments.

This "behind the scenes" video shows the production process for Bill Ju's HBM300 (Human Biology Department) where we developed a video incorporating an instructor giving a lecture and addressing common student questions about the material.

This "behind the scenes" video shows the production process for BIO130 and Arrive Ready, shot on location at Ramsay Wright Lab. We produced an instructional module with interactive videos to standardize and check understanding of basic lab safety for new undergraduates.

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FAQ: Learn more about the DTL Studio

What services does the DTL studio offer?

Production Support

We offer end-to-end production services for simple or complex projects, including:

course introduction videos
mini- or full-length lectures focused on key course or discipline concepts
technical demonstrations
course or assignment walk-throughs
and more!

Video Recording

Our studio features a green screen, pro lighting, 4K camera, and post-production tools. Includes teleprompter, presenter monitor, and document camera.

Audio Recording

We offer a podcasting station with Rodecaster Pro, Shure microphones, and phone/Bluetooth integration.

Who can use the DTL Studio?

The Studio is available to instructors in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

What kind of content should I consider recording?

We find the following prompts effective when thinking about recording content:

Consider whether core concepts critical to students' understanding of course material could be recorded as mini lectures or presentations for students to access in their own time, and repeatedly.
Are there lab or equipment demonstrations that could be recorded for reference, perhaps with interactive elements added?
Do you want to produce “evergreen” content, reusable in the same course from year-to-year or across multiple courses?

How can I tour or book the Studio?

If you are interested in booking the Studio, touring the space, or learning more about what projects are possible, please complete the Booking Form.

How long are Studio sessions?

Studio sessions are scheduled in 60-minute increments and are generally no longer than three hours at a time.

We will work with you to arrange a production schedule appropriate to the project.

What support is available?

The Studio team is available to provide hands-on guidance, support, and feedback at every stage of project development. The pre-production, recording, and post-production process may involve some of the following:

Pre-Production

Initial consultation
Visioning, concept identification and project feasibility
Establishing project timelines
Storyboarding and scripting
Formatting presentation materials (e.g., slides; equipment)

Recording

Studio orientation and walk-through; practice session
Direction and in-studio support

Post-Production

Video and audio editing
Adding effects, animations, video and motion graphics
Chromakeying and colour adjustments

I am recording video content, what should I wear?

When filming in the Studio, we recommend that you:

Wear neutral, solid tones (e.g., beige, grey, black, navy) or colours that are far from green (e.g., maroon, purple)
Be mindful of the colour palette of your content. For example, if you plan to present in front of a purple background, avoid wearing purple

As much as possible, please avoid wearing:

Clothing or items that are green or close to green
Clothing with a busy pattern
Reflective objects like jewelry

Our team can work with you to ensure that the colour schemes are compatible.

What equipment is available in the Studio?

The Studio provides video and audio recording space equipped with the following:

Sony FX30B 4K Camera with Tamron 17-70 f2.8 Lens
SONY HDR-NX80 4K camera
Sound Devices MixPre 6 Preamplifier
green screen backdrop
professional-quality lighting
professional microphones
- 2x Sennheiser MKE600 Shotgun microphones
- 2x Sennheiser clip-on lavalier ME4 microphones with wireless transmitter packs
Teleprompter and presenter-facing confidence monitor
podcast and audio recording station
- Rodecaster Pro mixing board
- 2x boom-mounted Shure SM7B microphones
Microsoft Surface touch-screen laptop
Cintiq 22HD Creative Pen Display
document camera (for working with physical objects and/or materials)

What is the project delivery timeline?

The delivery timeline depends on project complexity and current Studio workload. After initial consultation, we will work with you to create a schedule that accommodates recording, editing, and final review phases. Simple projects may be delivered within a week, while more extensive projects could require multiple weeks.

What are the studio's Terms Of Use?

Use of the Studio is subject to scheduling availability, adherence to University policies, and respect for shared equipment and resources. Instructors may be asked to sign a brief usage agreement that outlines these expectations, including guidelines for equipment operation and liability.

Who can I contact if I want to learn more?

To learn more, you can reach out to the Teaching & Learning team using the contact form on our Contact Us page, or drop by our office in Sidney Smith Hall. We’re happy to discuss your ideas and how the Studio can support your teaching.

Book the Studio

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Welcome to the Digital Teaching & Learning Studio!

Curious about What's Possible in the DTL Studio?

FAQ: Learn more about the DTL Studio