Today you will
- turn one finding from your investigation into a short vertical video or audio clip
- put a strong hook in the first three seconds
- save a finished {{code:.mp4}} or {{code:.mp3}} file in your portfolio
Warm-up
Say one finding from your investigation in a single sentence. Then think of a short clip that made you stop scrolling. What happened in the first three seconds?
Hook-first means the first three seconds give the finding or a sharp question, before any background.
Captions are the spoken words shown on screen, so a video still works with the sound off.
A takeaway is the one thing you want people to remember.
Publishable quality means clear sound, readable text and a finished file. You don't have to post it online.
Pick one today: a tall 9:16 video or an audio clip. Keep either one between 30 and 90 seconds.
Practice finding
Use this finding for practice.
Finding: Several Dublin café ads listed €15.50–€17.00 per hour for weekend barista shifts, above the adult national minimum wage.
Hook: Weekend barista ads in Dublin were listing above minimum wage.
Close: So what? If you price a side hustle, check live ads, not last year's rumour.
Watch your teacher make a short vertical video first. Then follow the steps below with the practice finding.
Or record a 30 to 90 second audio clip with your hook, the finding and a clear close. Save it in {{code:Project_Portfolio/09_specialism/sm4/}} as {{code:sm4_audio_practice.mp3}}.
Common issues
- My video is wide, not tall. Start a new project and choose 9:16 before you build.
- The captions have wrong words. Fix them by hand, especially names and euro amounts.
- I can't find my exported file. Check your downloads folder, then move it into {{code:sm4/}} straight away.
Portfolio Build (class practical)
- Write your finding, and why you chose video or audio, in one sentence each. Show your teacher.
- Make a 30 to 90 second vertical video or audio clip.
- Open with your hook, give the finding, then end with a clear close.
- Add captions to a video if time allows.
- Save it in {{code:sm4/}} as {{code:sm4_short_form_finding.mp4}} or {{code:sm4_short_form_finding.mp3}}.
If you used the practice finding, keep the practice file name and tell your teacher.
- It is 30 to 90 seconds long, with one finding.
- It opens with the finding or a sharp question.
- It makes sense with the sound off, or on first listen.
- It plays to the end and is saved in {{code:sm4/}}.
Unlock the full learning experience
You're previewing this lesson. Get full access to this lesson and hundreds more — each one ready to teach, with interactive activities, printable resources and pupil progress tracking built in.
This lesson is copyright of Coding Ireland 2017 - 2026. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.