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Create a Course Introduction Video

Create a Course Introduction Video

Providing students with a welcome video at the beginning of your course helps build connections and set the tone for an engaging learning environment. You can do this by turning your syllabus into a PowerPoint and walking through it in your video, making the content more engaging. Watching your welcome video will help students get to know you, fostering trust and reassurance. Students can also revisit the video anytime, helping them stay organized and prepared throughout the semester. 

A welcome video lets you:

  • Introduce yourself and the course

  • Outline goals, structure, assignments and key policies

  • Visually explain this information in an easy-to-follow format

How to Create a Course Introduction Video 

  1. Plan Your Content  

  • Decide what to share (academic background, personal interests, course structure).

  • Write a short script to stay focused, keep it concise, and cover key points.

  • Leave out semester, year, and specific dates so the video can be reused.

Guiding questions:

  • What is your academic background (degrees, expertise, research interests)?

  • What drew you to this field of study?

  • What personal interests or hobbies can help students connect with you?

  • What excites you most about teaching this course?

  • How will you communicate with and support students?

  • Why is this course essential and how does it connect to other courses?

  • What are the main learning objectives?

  • What does the course structure look like and what are your weekly expectations?

  • What major assignments and projects should students expect?

  • What are your participation and engagement expectations?

  • What tips do you have for student success?

  1. Record Your Video   

  1. Share Your Video  

  • Post your video on a Canvas page or as an announcement.

  • Canvas Studio embeds it directly into the course for easy student access. To learn more, refer to Embed Media with Canvas Studio.