Using Video in E-Learning: Why, When, and How
elearning videos to enhance education
For thousands of years, humanity resorted to teaching ideas, theories, and concepts of all kinds in person. In the Digital Age, and after the 2019 pandemic, a host of new technologies became available, and have brought with them a vast array of changes all across the learning landscape.
One of the most popular methods lies in harnessing the power of the Internet and using it as a learning tool. This particular method is commonly known as e-learning.
What is E-learning?
As the name indicates, e-learning is the process of learning online using digital products and platforms. E-learning is a method that is on the ascendency. It has introduced various mediums that can enrich, enhance, and optimize the learning experience, whether it is for students, trainees, and/or employees, and even companies that want to explain and demonstrate how their products and/or services work.
In simple terms, people are choosing e-learning opportunities more and more due to their flexibility and various benefits.
More particularly, e-learning videos have become very efficient training and educational tools. They are increasingly becoming the preferred method of learning for those who are growing up in the age of online video sharing platforms such as YouTube, or massive online course providers (MOOC) providers such as Udemy.
The Benefits of Video in E-learning
Simply put, e-learning videos offer the ability to deliver a fully immersive learning experience for practically all concepts and skills, regardless of whom the provider may be, such as schools, universities, startups, and even corporations. Whether the course is carried out through virtual meetings or set course material on a website, e-learning videos can transform the learning experience for both the learner and the educator.
Here are some of the benefits videos offer to make the e-learning process a smoother and more engaging process.
E-learning Videos Enhance Interactivity and Enable Viewers to Become More Proactive
Interactivity can be defined as the process of two people, or two entities, working and communicating together. From an e-learning standpoint, it is a two-way communication between e-trainers and the learners themselves.
For instance, live training sessions can be a stressful experience for slow learners or learners with certain disabilities. Chances are, these learners won’t be able to participate. Instead of interrupting and asking the trainers to constantly repeat themselves when teaching a certain concept, learners can learn from the e-learning videos and have time to participate!
E-learning videos eliminate the stress of learners having to follow each and every word during the live session. Learners can rewind or replay certain parts of the video as many times as they see fit to get a better grasp of the concept that they are trying to learn.
Thus, e-learning videos can also be regarded as interactive videos, since they can lead to an increase in productivity levels of learners, who are more drawn toward the video since it is offering a practical solution to their learning problems.
As for proactivity, e-learning videos offer the needed information for learners and allow them to research further, ask questions, and follow up on the ideas mentioned with the instructors or even their fellow learners.
E-learning Videos Can be Accessible Via Multiple Devices
One of the best things about e-learning is that any device that supports different multimedia platforms can be used to view e-learning videos. Students, employees, and learners from all walks of life can access the e-learning videos via their PC, laptops, tablets, or even mobile phones.
E-learning videos thus offer great flexibility to the users and enable them to keep in touch with e-learning content on a regular basis wherever they may go. This flexibility also opens new doors for learners who don’t have access to educational institutions or even those who struggle with movement due to their disabilities.
E-learning Videos are both Cost and Time-Effective
A video-based format offers ease and flexibility to both the trainer and the learner. An e-learning video provides the opportunity to communicate a certain message succinctly and more effectively, can be accessed anywhere and anytime, and can drastically reduce costs.
For example, a learner does not need to drive to a particular learning center to learn a particular course. Employees do not have to stay extra hours at the workplace to be trained on new software or a new production method.
From a time-effectiveness perspective, videos can be delivered with relative ease. More specifically, they are only a few clicks, or a few swipes away, from being accessed across multiple devices.
Additionally, videos can deliver short, intensive bursts of information that are generally consumed in less time than it would take to read. So instead of wasting the educator’s and learner’s time, with back and forth live sessions, e-learning videos present information in a faster and more attractive way.
E-learning Videos Optimize the Gamification Process
E-learning videos can harness the power of interactive techniques and increase gamification. Educators can employ the strategies used in games, such as scoreboards, bonus points, quizzes, and feedback, to engage learners for longer periods of time and help them solve complex problems easily.
According to a study by Deloitte, 80% of learners claim to be more productive if the e-learning videos incorporate elements related to gamification!
E-learning Videos are Easily Shareable
One of the biggest benefits of videos is their shareability. In today’s connected, social-media-driven world, videos that are interesting and engaging have the ability to reach a huge audience.
For instance, e-learning videos can be easily integrated into Facebook, Twitter, or even YouTube. They constitute great platforms for addressing complex and difficult topics, and can be re-watched as many times as necessary by viewers.
A well-executed e-learning video can generate online discussions and help viewers who were unable to fully grasp concepts outlined in those videos, to understand them via others’ comments. Social media platforms thus fuel productive discussions and encourage audience participation.
E-learning Videos Enable Micro-learning
Microlearning is the process of breaking large pieces of information into smaller, bite-sized content for learners. Microlearning thus deals with smaller learning units and short-term learning activities.
E-learning videos can effectively dissect large, complex topics into smaller modules. Using detailed and explanatory videos allows learners to visually understand the bits and pieces of each topic. Learners will have time to watch these smaller modules to better absorb them, thus increasing memory retention, and shortening the learning curve for viewers.
This offers a great opportunity for corporations that carry out employee training. Employee training videos allow them to create small videos teaching certain skills and send them out to their employees to view whenever they can without disrupting the workflow.
Best Uses of Video in E-Learning
Well-executed, carefully-curated e-learning videos act as vehicles or catalysts that help transform current learning practices to better address the needs and expectations of today’s learners. While it’s not the best strategy to present all of your content using videos, it’s a great strategy to choose the best types of videos for each educational content.
Here are a few effective ways you can start including videos in your e-learning plan.
- Demonstrating a process in form of mind map explainer videos.
- Explaining abstract concepts in form of animated visuals.
- Presenting experiments done by other people or in form of animated videos.
- Providing real-life examples and evidence in form of news reports or third-party videos.
- Proving your point further by sharing TEDx talks or Youtube videos.
Tips for Using Video Effectively
Now that we know all about the benefits of video and how you can incorporate it into your e-learning strategy, it’s vital to keep in mind that not just any video works. If your e-learning videos are not attractive enough, they will not achieve their intended goal and will most likely bore your learners instead of helping them.
There are a few key things to keep in mind when using video in e-learning courses:
- Make sure the video is high quality and free of any glitches or technical issues. Poorly produced videos can be very off-putting for learners.
- Keep videos short and straight to the point. No one wants to sit through a long, drawn-out video.
- Use videos sparingly over your teaching plan. Too many videos in a course can be overwhelming and difficult to keep track of.
- Make sure the audio is clear and easy to understand. Poor audio quality can make it very difficult to follow along with a video.
- Provide transcripts or closed captions for videos. This is helpful for learners who prefer to read along with the audio, or for those who might have difficulty understanding the audio.
Final Thoughts
All in all, video is an omnipresent, ubiquitous technological medium at the disposal of learners and employees. And thankfully, they are here to stay as they are one of the fastest growing types of content on the internet. According to a study by Cisco, video content will account for a staggering 82% of all internet traffic by 2022!
So, are you convinced of the power of videos in e-learning? Now all you need to do is reach out to us so we can provide you with the best explainer videos for your courses!
Who are we?
VerveVideos.com is a Canada based animated explainer video production company that has worked with international names including Entreprenuer.com, and Hershey’s.
Are you ready to discuss your next animated explainer video project? We’d love to hear from you! Call us at +1-833-333-2578 or drop an email [email protected]
