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Time to reflect on the first cohort of Minimum Viable Video 
with @cahouser.
In true “building in public” fashion, we’re sharing our “post-mortem” covering
- what went well
- what could have been better
- what we are changing for the next cohort
with @cahouser.In true “building in public” fashion, we’re sharing our “post-mortem” covering
- what went well
- what could have been better
- what we are changing for the next cohort
What went well?
Students improved their skills and abilities around video on average by a mindblowing 102%!!
Students improved their skills and abilities around video on average by a mindblowing 102%!!
Students filmed and published LOTS OF videos:
We’ve been preaching that quantity leads to quality.
It’s great to see that our students took this to heart and filmed in total 620 videos, out of which 352 were published.
Especially @sscotty contributed to these figures.
We’ve been preaching that quantity leads to quality.
It’s great to see that our students took this to heart and filmed in total 620 videos, out of which 352 were published.
Especially @sscotty contributed to these figures.
Established a strong community as a safe space to learn and grow:
We've met our goal of creating a supportive environment where students would feel comfortable showing their work, being vulnerable, and accepting feedback.
We've met our goal of creating a supportive environment where students would feel comfortable showing their work, being vulnerable, and accepting feedback.
Q&A time after each live session:
We gained new appreciation for the informal time spent with students after each class.
The 30 - 45 minutes we stayed on were not only a chance for students to ask questions, it was also important bonding time.
We gained new appreciation for the informal time spent with students after each class.
The 30 - 45 minutes we stayed on were not only a chance for students to ask questions, it was also important bonding time.
5 guest speakers shared their expertise:
Some students said these made the biggest difference in the course.
Thank you @RobbieCrab, @AliAbdaal, @joegannon22, and @kadlac for your time.
Some students said these made the biggest difference in the course.
Thank you @RobbieCrab, @AliAbdaal, @joegannon22, and @kadlac for your time.
MVV Resource Hub in Notion as a place to revisit all information:
A simple shared Notion page containing a student directory and resources and tips around...
- getting comfortable on camera
- audio
- lighting
- video tools
- editing
- and much more.
A simple shared Notion page containing a student directory and resources and tips around...
- getting comfortable on camera
- audio
- lighting
- video tools
- editing
- and much more.
“Videos for One” helped students get comfortable on camera:
Students filmed themselves, giving someone close to them an update of what’s going on in their life.
This allowed them to start speaking freely without having to prepare a script, taking a lot of the pressure off.
Students filmed themselves, giving someone close to them an update of what’s going on in their life.
This allowed them to start speaking freely without having to prepare a script, taking a lot of the pressure off.
Video Sprints defeated procrastination and overthinking (a cohort favorite):
In two hours, we took students from finding an idea over developing the concept for their video to filming it and receiving feedback.
By the end, many had a video ready (or almost ready) to publish.
In two hours, we took students from finding an idea over developing the concept for their video to filming it and receiving feedback.
By the end, many had a video ready (or almost ready) to publish.
What could have been better?
Timing, timeframe, and timezones:
The 5-week course was crammed into the end of the year. Some students felt a bit rushed at times.
It was difficult for students from Europe to participate live due to the timing of the classes.
Timing, timeframe, and timezones:
The 5-week course was crammed into the end of the year. Some students felt a bit rushed at times.
It was difficult for students from Europe to participate live due to the timing of the classes.
The need for more feedback:
Accelerating progress through feedback is one of the core concepts of MVV.
Peer to peer feedback could have been more. Students felt overwhelmed coming back to Circle after time away, not knowing where and how to catch up.
Accelerating progress through feedback is one of the core concepts of MVV.
Peer to peer feedback could have been more. Students felt overwhelmed coming back to Circle after time away, not knowing where and how to catch up.
Technical differences:
Video has more technical hurdles than other disciplines. With different workflows and editing software used, it becomes more difficult to address individual needs and challenges.
We plan to include more supporting tutorials and resources.
Video has more technical hurdles than other disciplines. With different workflows and editing software used, it becomes more difficult to address individual needs and challenges.
We plan to include more supporting tutorials and resources.
What are we changing in the next cohort?
Streamlining the course infrastructure:
Our students’ and our attention was split between too many different tools, such as Circle, Teachable, Notion, and email.
We need to simplify.
Streamlining the course infrastructure:
Our students’ and our attention was split between too many different tools, such as Circle, Teachable, Notion, and email.
We need to simplify.
Introducing pre-work:
Ideally, students are ready to shoot on the first day.
We plan to introduce pre-work to outline what gear they need ahead of time. Pre-recorded videos on the basics of lighting, audio, and setup will allow for time to work on roadblocks in live sessions.
Ideally, students are ready to shoot on the first day.
We plan to introduce pre-work to outline what gear they need ahead of time. Pre-recorded videos on the basics of lighting, audio, and setup will allow for time to work on roadblocks in live sessions.
Simplifying and structuring the curriculum:
Having gone through the first cohort, it became much clearer how the content should be structured for maximum impact.
Having gone through the first cohort, it became much clearer how the content should be structured for maximum impact.
Forming feedback groups:
We plan to split the next cohort into smaller, dedicated feedback groups.
When students are accountable to three to four of their peers, they’ll be much more likely to take the time to give feedback as to not let their group down.
We plan to split the next cohort into smaller, dedicated feedback groups.
When students are accountable to three to four of their peers, they’ll be much more likely to take the time to give feedback as to not let their group down.
The way forward:
We’re currently taking the course through the Keystone Accelerator to nail our marketing and messaging around it.
@cahouser and I are thrilled to embark on the next cohort and help people master video to advance their careers and businesses.
We’re currently taking the course through the Keystone Accelerator to nail our marketing and messaging around it.
@cahouser and I are thrilled to embark on the next cohort and help people master video to advance their careers and businesses.
We plan to run cohort 2, "the sequel" of Minimum Viable Video in April.
Join the waitlist and we'll keep you updated. https://actionworks.ck.page/093f435459
Join the waitlist and we'll keep you updated. https://actionworks.ck.page/093f435459
Read the full article here: https://juliasaxena.com/reflecting-on-the-first-cohort-of-minimum-viable-video/
