CTEv25 • The Good Old “How To” Video • Category: Portfolio
Project Introduction
It’s time to embrace your inner YouTuber and create a “how to” video that is equal parts helpful and entertaining. This is not your chance to mumble into a phone camera for three minutes while your cat yells in the background… this is your chance to produce a real, polished, engaging video that shows you can both teach and entertain. You’ll be making a 2–3 minute “how to” of your choice. You’ll shoot the footage yourself (yes, you have to get out of your chair), add a professional voiceover, spice it up with graphics, and sprinkle in some tasteful animations. The idea here is to make something people actually want to watch all the way through, not something they close after 15 seconds.
If you’re feeling stuck, here are some popular “how to” concepts to spark your creativity: how to make the perfect grilled cheese, how to fold a fitted sheet without swearing, how to change a flat tire, how to take a perfect portrait on your phone, how to make cold brew coffee at home, how to survive your first camping trip, how to speed clean your desk before company arrives, how to draw a cartoon character, how to fix a button that fell off your shirt, and how to get a stubborn jar open without breaking it or your hand. You can do any subject you want, but keep it school appropriate.
Creative Focus
The “how to” format works because it’s direct, digestible, and gives the viewer an immediate takeaway. Your challenge is to blend instruction with design, present the information in a way that’s visually compelling, clearly organized, and unmistakably yours. Think about pacing: cut out the fluff, use your visuals to reinforce your words, and keep the audience engaged from the first frame to the last. The combination of live-action footage, animated elements, and clean graphics should feel seamless, like they belong together. This is also a storytelling exercise. You’re not just dumping instructions—you’re guiding someone through an experience, step-by-step, in a style that matches your personality and the subject matter.
Project Requirements
Your final submission must be published as a Portfolio Post on your WordPress site and include the following:
To complete this project, you must:
- Your finished video must run between 2-3 minutes and include at least one original voiceover track using Audition.
- All footage must be recorded by you—using classroom cameras, your phone, or any gear you have access to.
- You must incorporate graphics (titles, labels, or on-screen tips) and at least two animation elements, which can include animated text, motion graphics, or simple effects.
- The final video should be edited using Premiere Pro (or similar approved software) and exported as an MP4 in 1080p.
- Post the video to your WordPress portfolio and embed it in a project post with a short written description of what your “how to” covers and why you chose it.
Project Grading Rubric
Here is how your project will be graded.
| Criteria | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Concept & Creativity | Originality and appeal of the chosen “how to” topic, plus creative execution | 20 pts |
| Video Quality | Clarity, composition, and overall professionalism of captured footage | 20 pts |
| Audio Quality | Clear voiceover, balanced audio mix, no distracting noise | 20 pts |
| Graphics & Animation | Quality, relevance, and integration of graphic and animated elements | 15 pts |
| Editing & Pacing | Smooth cuts, logical flow, effective timing | 15 pts |
| Portfolio Presentation | Proper embedding, written description, and overall polish of portfolio post | 10 pts |
| Total | 100 pts |
OCP & Standard Alignments
04.17 – Demonstrate proficiency using video editing software and equipment, because this project is rooted in shooting, editing, and delivering a professional-quality video.
04.18 – Develop proficiency in using authoring software, because you’ll be integrating motion graphics and animations that support your instructions.
04.19 – Demonstrate proficiency using all media to create an advertising campaign, because combining video, audio, and graphics into a cohesive message mirrors real-world multimedia production.
04.03 – Create a digital portfolio to showcase multimedia projects, because your finished video will be embedded in your site as a professional example of your skills.
04.01 – Demonstrate knowledge of presentation production issues, because planning, scripting, and executing a step-by-step instructional format is part of the challenge.
04.06 – Demonstrate knowledge of digital still photography, because framing and lighting your shots requires the same visual awareness you’d use in photography.
Digital Media & Multimedia Design 