The complexity of producing videos can vary widely. As an easy option, videos can be shot by one person in natural light using a cell phone and uploaded directly to the Web; a complex option would be a video shoot requiring a large crew, specialized cameras, microphones, lighting equipment, video editing software, and dedicated computers for video editing and rendering. The variables for more complex setups are beyond the scope of this book, and fortunately, largely unnecessary for most video production.

In short, if you are starting a video program, or just getting into video, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars on specialized equipment and software. As a general rule, specialized equipment adds complexity. As with most classroom uses of technology, you want to make sure that you are emphasizing the learning supported by the technology, as opposed to the technology itself. To that end, a simpler production environment can help support your...