Post on 28-Dec-2015
Xtra-Ordinary: Teaching Personal Finance With
Xtranormal Videos
Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®Rutgers Cooperative Extension
oneill@aesop.rutgers.edu
Four Workshop Objectives
• Explain NY Public Library staff training program
• Demonstrate sample Xtranormal videos
• Discuss how to make an Xtranormal video
• Have participants start writing an Xtranormal video script
Program Overview
Money Matters– Information Not Advice:A NYPL Staff Training Program
• Series of 11 NYPL staff training programs • Offered in Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island• Online content: Leader’s Guide and e-Learning Modules
Money Matters Objective
To help build skills and confidence to help patrons to access timely, accurate, and trustworthy information about personal finance.
This project was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
NYPL Staff Role: Information Not Advice
Giving information lets someone know what the options are so he/she can make a decision about the best course of action.
Giving advice is telling another person what he/she should do. It may send an unspoken message that the listener is not capable of making his/her own decisions, but needs to be told what to do.
Virtual World Educational Content
• How many are familiar with Second Life?
• How many regularly use Second Life?
• How many are familiar with Xtranormal?
• How many have made Xtranormal videos?
Virtual Learning Platforms
Second Life
• Requires users to be able to access and use Second life
• Good for in-depth content
• Requires payment for land, clothes, etc. (Linden dollars)
Xtranormal
• Users access content through online searching or links sent to them
• Good for short content “sound bites” of 2-3 minutes
• Requires payment to publish videos (Xtranormal XP points)
Xtranormal Video Use
• Used in training New York Public Library staff on financial
education resources
• Short videos (approx. 2-3 minutes) featuring a library
staffer and patron
• Ends with a question posed to the library staffer
• Segue to group discussion
Sample Xtranormal Videos
• Banking: http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/13646000/nypl-money-matters-banking-lifeline-accounts
• Credit 1: http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/13645983/nypl-money-matters-credit-debt-10
• Credit 2: http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/13646062/nypl-money-matters-credit-debt-20
• Identity Theft: http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/13646046/nypl-money-matters-identity-theft
• Retirement Planning: http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/13646025/nypl-money-matters-retirement-jerry-your-money
How to Make an Xtranormal Video
• Decide on video title and content
• Write out dialogue between characters (use template)
• Set up Xtranormal account with username and password
– Get 300 free points
• Click “Create”
• Pick a “collection” (unique style of actors and sets); select 1 actor or two actors
• Select a set
• Choose actors and their voices
How to Make an Xtranormal Video
• Add background sounds (optional)
• Enter dialogue (prepare in advance in Word)
• Add animations and camera angles
• Add title bubble at end for branding and credits
• Listen to test dialog changes
• Preview to test audio and video
• Publish when complete; pay points
Xtranormal (XP) Points
• 300 XP at sign-up to publish first video
• Sold in bundles; various points plans
– 1,200 XP for $10
– 15,000 XP for $50
– 40,000 XP for $100
– 80,000 XP for $150
• Purchase with credit card or PayPal
• Also professional and educator plans
• “Points bar” at top of page tells number of points needed to publish a video
Helpful Things to Know• Xtranormal has excellent tutorials with screen shots:
https://xtranormal.zendesk.com/home
• Simple words are best
– Example: “maybe” instead of “possibly”
• Spell words out as they are pronounced
– Example: Four oh one kay for 401(k)
• Previews take a LONG time to load
• Review the10 camera angles and make a list of what they show (before you start)
• Beware: commas = awkward pauses
More Helpful Things to Know• Save published videos in “My Stuff”
• Can click a button to publish video on YouTube
• Can publish a simple video in < 300 XP points
– Purchase “assets” (sets and actors)
– Can reuse actors & sets previously paid for
• Expect some “intonation issues” (like a GPS)
• Can view video dialogue in preview mode
• Can edit published videos
– Requires additional XP points
Let’s Start YOUR Xtranormal Video
• Video title
– What do you want to teach or promote?
• Two Characters
• A few rounds of dialogue between characters
Comments? Questions?