Top tips for... Using online media

Online audio and video is an engaging means of communicating with an increasingly technologically savvy public.

Bear in mind that today's prospective student has grown up with an internet that is rich with video content.

You can reach far beyond your seminar room and lecture theatre by adding audio or video to online platforms with a global audience including iTunes U and YouTube.

Making audio recordings of your lectures is straightforward and relatively inexpensive. An audio recorder costs around £250 and editing software is available online free of charge.

The Media Production Unit that can film and edit material for departments and colleges for a fee.

In addition to sharing learning and research, video is also an effective means of marketing your department, course or college.

If you want to make your teaching available beyond private use on the internet – for example by teachers in schools – you can sign a creative commons licence for your audio or video which allows its reuse and redistribution on the condition that the material is accredited to you.

If you are working with the Press Office consider producing a short video to accompany your online news story at www.ox.ac.uk/news. Video footage can also be given to the TV and online media, especially if you are not able to allow them direct access to the subject matter.

General advice and information about the services available to assist you with recording and editing are available at www.ox.ac.uk/audioandvideo.