Videos are the future of eLearning. Visual information is processed much faster and is easier to remember than text-based information. So why wouldn’t you use that to your advantage and utilise video-based learning to boost your staff’s training? However, today’s viewers have a much higher expectation of video content. In educational videos the need to be engaging is more necessary than ever. With that being said, we’ve laid out seven expert tips to make your eLearning videos more engaging than ever, and keep your staff’s eyes glued to their screens.
1. Short and to the point
Keep short attention spans in mind and create videos that are short, snappy and bite sized in nature. Keep your videos within: 2-9 minutes, and not more than 20. Any longer and you risk the chance of your staff either dropping off or feeling like these eLearning videos are a chore to finish.
2. Mobile friendly
One of the major advantages of eLearning is that it can be accessed anywhere at any time. This advantage, of course, extends to videos. Odds are that the majority of your staff will view your videos on their phones. Therefore, make sure that you’ve catered for this in your content. Avoid using small and fiddly assets that would only be clear on a large screen. Make your videos clear and easy to understand, no matter where they’re viewed.
3. Multilingual
Companies are becoming more multicultural and diverse than ever, and your videos should reflect that. For example, allow for visual space that will need to be added or removed when changing the language of a voiceover. Spanish and German often takes longer to read versus English. Therefore, your footage will need to extend or be clipped down depending on that.
4. Audio matters
When you think video, it’s more than likely that audio is an afterthought. However, audio is one of the biggest make or break parts of any successful video. If a voiceover or audio track is low quality, or doesn’t match the visuals, it will throw a wrench in the overall experience. Invest as much time and effort into your audio recording, as your video recording.
5. Show don’t tell
As said earlier, we process visual information so much faster than text. Use your eLearning videos to show skills in action. How-to videos are particularly effective, as you’re giving your staff a real scenario to view and learn from. Try to create immersive scenarios with a realistic storyline. This will help your staff to know how to apply these skills in their day-to-day.
6. Tell a Story
Having a central storyline with a basic plot and memorable characters are a great way to grab your staff’s attention. Having a character that needs to learn a skill or is showing that skill is a great example of this. Your staff will be able to walk through the process with them. The video then becomes more than just another training module. It becomes an interactive element that they can relate to and engage with.
7. Size matters
An often-overlooked point is the final delivery of your video. Bear in mind where your eLearning video will be placed. You may need to compress or change the resolution of your video to make it more accessible. In places with a slow internet connection, having a video that’s a chore to load and view will ultimately not get watched at all. Having a compressed video which is smaller in size takes less time to load and even opens up the option to be downloaded for viewing offline.
Following these 7 easy steps shows that you don’t need to be Steven Spielberg to create great and engaging eLearning videos. Check out our blog on How You Can Start Hospitality eLearning For Free to start delivering your videos to your staff once you’ve created them.