Apparently, the Cisco study shows that 80% of internet traffic will be video by 2021. It’s also sure that more than 75% of worldwide video viewing is now mobile. It makes sense to start executing it in the learning and development realm with this huge usage of online video, especially by mobile. It’s one of the most valuable assets in the world of eLearning. The reason behind this is, our brains are hardwired to engage better with real conversations. A video combines texts, images, and sounds to create a deeply engaging learning environment. When you add a video to eLearning, you make sure of a way of increasing engagement.
YouTube has more than 1 billion active users and around 400 hours worth of video is being uploaded every minute to this platform. People are spending more and more time watching videos with the arrival of digital mobile devices. They watch the video for education as well as for entertainment. The average time that is being spent on YouTube is 40 minutes per mobile session. The eLearning industry has no option left. They have to adjust to these changing habits of the learners. The supporters of interactive eLearning are also promising for videos in eLearning courses as the video is one of the most famous trends.
Creating videos is now easier for the eLearning designers and it’s becoming the de facto’ choice for learners out there. However, we still don’t know what are the major benefits of using videos in eLearning. Today, we are going to execute effective learning through online training videos in this article. So, keep reading.
Key Benefits of using Video in eLearning
These nine points will help you to determine the actual benefits of using video in eLearning:
- When you add videos in eLearning, it keeps the learners engaged with the course. It’s way better than simple page-turners.
- Videos are very revealing. When you use videos, you can explain a complex concept in a very easy way.
- Learners can easily store information easily.
- They can quickly capture the learner’s attention.
- They are an effective tool to build a good relationship with the learners.
- They are great for strengthening the information which has been taught verbally.
- They are also a great tool for triggering discussions.
- They are a great help to improve the overall learning experience by tempting the learners to think and analyze.
- Simulations are used conspicuously in training courses, can realize the full potential through videos.
Tips for Effective Use of Videos in eLearning
These 5 effective tips will help you to use videos in eLearning:
1. Keep them short
Long videos are boring, period. The learners start to lose interest when they come across a long video. You really need to keep them short and focused on one concept at a time, unless you’re making the video collaborative. When the video is less than 5 minutes long, the information grasping becomes easy.
2. Keep long videos collaborative or interactive
If you must have to make a longish video and there’s no other option, make them interactive. You can seek feedback from learners, enhance the concept through quick summaries, or throw in some quizzes. You can also present branching scenarios and let them choose what they want to see in the next.
3. Use transcript
Everyone will not have sound cards or headphones. Don’t even assume that. You should provide a transcript for the video to the learners. It makes easy to follow those even for differently-abled learners.
4. Pay attention to file sizes
If your video is slow loading, then it can cause a lot of frustration to the learners. It’s always best to create a separate version for playing on low bandwidths. But you have to use good compressors to trim down the size of the videos.
5. Use videos for scenarios and simulations
Videos are very powerful for creating engaging scenarios like “how to do” or “what to do” kind of circumstances. They make it easy to conjure up a real-life situation.
General Guideline for Video Production
Video production doesn’t come in your hand overnight. It’s a skill that needs to be developed over time. You can also hire a professional video production company or contact video editing website. However, here is a guideline of checklist for video production:
- Firstly, create a proper script.
- Hire professional voice-over artists or professional actors if your budget allows it.
- It’s a must to use a studio during recording. It helps you reduce the noise which is very difficult to remove while editing.
- Have a microphone which is close to the speaker’s mouth, don’t rely on the camera’s microphone.
- Some of the tools you can use for
- Pre-production: Adobe Story/Celtx.
- Post-production: Adobe Captivate/Splice/Cyberlink PowerDirector.
Take care of These Issues with Videos
Your videos have to be interactive, otherwise, they will just bore the learners and they will lose interest in the course material. Thus, you have to include interactivity inside the videos and it will make the learners focus, think, analyze, act, and interact with the video. Bandwidth could also be an issue. Compress the video properly so that there will be no issues while playing those over low bandwidth.
Final Verdict
Create your video with high-quality graphics and gripping script, audio narration, etc. So that your learners will never be distracted. It can be costly to create a high-quality video but the videos can be great for learner engagement if you produce them well and use strategically in the eLearning courses. I hope with this guideline you can finally get started. Don’t keep thinking, get up, follow these instructions, and enjoy the eLearning industry.
Image Source:
https://pixabay.com/photos/training-course-3207841/
