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?