Week 5 Lesson Plan: OBS and Streaming Software Basics

Objective:

Understand the basics and fundamentals of streaming software, with a focus on OBS (Open Broadcaster Software).

Introduction (10 minutes)

• Brief overview of streaming and its growing popularity.
• Introduction to OBS as a powerful, free, and open-source streaming software.

Lesson Outline:

1. Understanding Streaming Software (20 minutes)
   • Definition and purpose of streaming software.
   • Overview of popular streaming software options: OBS, Streamlabs, XSplit.
   • Discuss key features and differences.
2. Introduction to OBS (30 minutes)
   • Downloading and installing OBS.
   • Overview of the OBS interface: Scenes, Sources, Audio Mixer, and Controls.
   • Basic settings configuration: resolution, bitrate, and output formats.
3. Setting Up Your First Stream with OBS (30 minutes)
   • Creating and managing scenes for different streaming setups.
   • Adding sources: screen capture, webcam, images, text overlays, and audio inputs.
   • Configuring audio settings: managing audio levels and adding filters.
4. OBS Features and Tools (20 minutes)
   • Introduction to plugins and additional tools.
   • Using transitions and effects to enhance stream quality.
   • Recording vs. streaming: when and how to use each option.
5. Practical Exercise (20 minutes)
   • Students set up a simple streaming scene.
   • Test stream setup to a private streaming platform or local recording.
6. Q&A and Troubleshooting (10 minutes)
   • Address common issues and questions.
   • Tips for improving stream quality and viewer engagement.

Conclusion (10 minutes)

• Recap of OBS fundamentals and streaming basics.
• Importance of continual learning and experimentation in streaming.
• Brief on the next week's focus and further reading or resources.

Homework:

• Set up a basic streaming scene in OBS and record a short practice session.
• Research additional OBS plugins that might enhance your streaming experience.