National Head Start Association

Creating a "Keep the Window Open" Video

The Keep the Window Open project is an opportunity for alumni, parents, staff, partners and citizens to engage in a conversation about the need for Head Start and to make visible the widespread support for Head Start across America. We need everyone to say why Head Start and Early Head Start are Windows of Opportunity!

To see the original One Window of Opportunity video and Keep the Window Open videos, visit NHSA's YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/nationalheadstart.

If you have any questions about the project, email Emmalie Dropkin at edropkin@nhsa.org.

Step 1: Make a plan.

1. Figure out your technology! How will you record your video? Directions below describe how to make a video with a digital video camera, a smart phone with a video camera feature, or a webcam.
2. Are you going to star in your video? If so, think about how you would answer the question " How has Head Start or Early Head Start been a Window of Opportunity in your life or your family's life?"
3. If you are going to recruit someone else to make a video: Find a parent, alum, community partner, Head Start staff member or ordinary citizen. Talk with them briefly about the power of early childhood education and the purpose of these videos: to communicate the power of Head Start to the larger world. If possible, show them the Window of Opportunity Video. Then, ask them "How has Head Start or Early Head Start been a Window of Opportunity in your life or your family's life?"
4. Make sure they end their comments with "Keep the Window Open." or something similar.
5. Be sure you're in a quiet area. Background noises are distracting.

Step 2: Make the Video.

If you do not have a YouTube Account

1. Go to YouTube.com
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the page, choose "Create Account"
3. If you already have a gmail account, use that information to log-in; otherwise, provide the requested information to create an account.
4. If you've logged in through google, go left of your name at the top of the screen, choose "upload." When prompted, choose "Create a Channel."
5. Provide requested information. We recommend using the name of your center (plus Head Start if it's not in your name) so that it's easy for your families to search for.
6. Go to http://www.youtube.com/user/nationalheadstart (our account).
7. Scroll down until you see our icon on the left side of the page. Choose "add as friend" and we'll friend you back so we can find your videos easily! You may also choose to subscribe to our video feed.

Creating Your Video with a Video Camera

1. Set up your video camera! Every camera is a little different, so check your manual. If you are able to use a camera that records digitally, the process will be much easier.
2. Record the video.
3. Play the video back on your camera if possible to make sure the voice is audible and the camera is steady.
4. Upload the video onto your computer using the cables; drag the icon for the video clip you want from the folder on your camera's hard drive onto your desktop.
5. If you have video editing software, you may want to cut out extra video before or after the recording you want, but DO NOT edit the content of the message. We want open, honest, natural videos.
6. Log-in to YouTube and click "upload" at the top of the page next to your name.
7. Either browse for your video or simply drag it from the desktop to the gray box on the screen.
8. Be patient while your video loads. Give it an appropriate title and description.
9. Use the tags WindowOfOpportunity and HeadStart or EarlyHeadStart and others as appropriate.
10. List the video under the category "Nonprofits & Activism."
11. Set your video as Public.
12. BE SURE to set the license as "Creative Commons." This will allow NHSA to repost the video on our site.
13. Save changes! Share the url with us by emailing it to Emmalie at edropkin@nhsa.org.

Creating Your Video with a Smart Phone

1. Record using your phone's software. Be careful to hold the phone steady!
2. If your phone has a YouTube ap, you can share the video directly that way. If not, email the video to yourself or move it onto your computer using a cable and follow directions #5-13 for creating videos with a camera.
3. Using the cellphone ap, login to YouTube.
4. Give your video a title, description and tag it with WindowOfOpportunity and HeadStart or EarlyHeadStart and others as appropriate.
5. Upload it.
6. DON'T STOP! The video is not yet accessible to us.
7. When you're next at a computer, log in to your YouTube account.  
8. Choose the down arrows beside your name in the top right corner of the screen.
9. Choose videos form the list that appears.
10. Choose your recently uploaded video.
11. Scroll down and edit the category to "Non-profits & Activism" and the license to "Creative Commons." Save changes!
12. Send us a link! Share the url with us by emailing it to Emmalie at edropkin@nhsa.org.

Creating Your Video with a Webcam

1. Either install a separate webcam on your computer using its software or be sure that your computer already has one built in and functional.
2. Go to youtube.com.
3. Log in. (See directions for creating an account below if necessary.)
4. Choose upload in the top right corner beside your name.
5. Click on "Record from Webcam" in blue text.
6. If you have a webcam, a recording window should pop up. When ready, hit record! Be sure the person is looking at the camera, not the window on the screen.
7. Hit stop when you're finished.
8. Preview to make sure the video has sound and is recorded correctly; re-record if necessary.
9. If it's correct, hit publish.
10. On the published page, scroll down and edit the category to "Non-profits & Activism" and the license to "Creative Commons." Add additional tags for WindowOfOpportunity and HeadStart or EarlyHeadStart. Save changes!
11. Send us a link! Share the url with us by emailing it to Emmalie at edropkin@nhsa.org.