Designing Digitally
07/24/2019
Talking about eLearning is like talking about products in the store. There are different components, different ingredients, and different ways to combine them into something good. One major component often used in eLearning is training videos. Your training strategy might include a mix of instructor-led videos, webinars, scenarios, simulations, and animation. The right balance depends on your business goals and employee learning needs. This article talks about the 5 main types of eLearning training videos.
ILT is one of the most common types of online training videos. They feature an instructor talking to the camera. This type of training course should feature short modules. The learner will:
Receive key information in short bursts
Apply the newly acquired knowledge straight away
Keep from getting bored and lose valuable information
Feel like the videos are directed at him, since you have a real person talking
It's important that the instructor complements the portions where they're talking straight at the camera with other engaging materials. Voice-over text or images, screencast, video-in-video elements, and presentations are all engaging course materials they can include. A live demo can also be very efficient in enriching the viewer's knowledge. When you tell someone how something is done, they might grasp the concept only superficially. But, when you show them how it's actually done, you can be sure the margin for error is close to 0. The learner can always go back to sections they did not understand and try again until they get it right.
The key to ILT is keeping it short! Each video should not exceed 10 minutes, as the learner might lose interest and zone out. This requires the content to be concise and clear. Only use the truly valuable principles and concepts that you want your employees to remember, and break up larger sections with activities or interactions to keep things fresh.
Animated videos come in all shapes and sizes. Various combinations of stop-motion, whiteboard animation, kinetic text and video, and moving infographics can be used to demonstrate abstract concepts. This type of training videos can be the most engaging. First, because things are always moving on the screen. Second, because a beautiful image can transmit a lot of information at once. Since a lot of people are visual learners, the visual images stick in their memory the same way that photos can.
The best feature of working with this type of video content is its tremendous creative potential. Add to this VR or AR and you have a highly engaging training course on your hands. However, it’s important to know your audience well. An animated video could work wonders for onboarding training, but could lead senior judges or executives to feel condescended to.
Scenario-based learning and simulations are ushers of gamification used for employee training purposes. These fresh technologies completely transform videos for learning. Scenarios and simulations are usually based on real-world situations. Employees will experience relatable situations that they can brainstorm real solutions for. When faced with a dissatisfied customer, a system error, or co-worker conflict, they'll have a portfolio of solutions to choose from.
Explainer videos might involve real people or deliver a narrative explaining certain concepts. This video format works great for delivering advice and guidance when the learner needs it the most. You can go very specific with these videos and explain a concept in real depth without it becoming tedious.
Analogies in explainer videos are great for introducing new ideas through the use of an existing idea. Using this technique allows the expert/trainer to engage the audience on two levels:
the learner must use their imagination to relate the two concepts
the learner must think of the actual logic behind the analogy
Make sure that your explainer videos stay on topic. These videos act as tools for learners. Too many tangents, distractions, and extra content can distract and frustrate a learner with a clear and specific need. Remember that an affordance of video content is that learners can re-watch any part they need, so excessive repetition isn’t necessary.
More powerful than any of the above are interactive videos. These allow the learner to lead their own storyline and learn through an involved experience. The most used interactive elements are:
360 views: all-direction viewing
Branching: choosing a direction out of multiple options
Hotspot areas: links to new content or hidden info about an item
Using these videos in employee training courses will make the learning fun, engaging and memorable.
There are many more types of eLearning training videos, but we've covered the most impactful. To figure out which videos will be more efficient within your company, you'll need to take a good look at the foundations on which your business is built. Starting with business goals and employee knowledge gaps, you can begin to flesh out the right format and best delivery type for your employee training course.
If you are interested in implementing custom eLearning training videos that will keep your employees engaged, contact our team today to learn more!
Related Article: Maximize the Effectiveness of Videos in Elearning
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