Using Video in eLearning

Video is really taking off in the eLearning world and can add to the effectiveness of content. However, when using video there are many things to think about.

Typical steps to get video into an online course:

1. Script the video on paper
2. Record (sound and audio)
3. Edit
4. Compress/Render
5. Insert into eLearning authoring tool
6. Place on server
7. Open up access to the learners

Each one of the steps above takes various technical skills.

A big challenge when using video is to keep a high-level of quality but not have the files size too big. There are various techniques that help when compressing and deploying video. Flash .swf and .flv (Flash Video) is a great way to overcome these issues.

I found an article that focuses on compression, security, and deployment and could help you deploy your eLearning videos.

The article below addresses a scenario where a company needs to train 1500 employees using a 30 minute video. They are worried about security and the quality of their video. They will also have many employees accessing the video at the same time. Limited bandwidth is a worry.

Article: “Deploying Online Courses with Video Content” (Syberworks)

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Use Flash? Check out these Flash interactions and eLearning game activities.

Instructional Design for Videos

A lot of training is using video and it’s becoming very easy to create and distribute. As things become easier and cheaper we often see the quality decrease. For example, if you had to spend $10,000 to hire a camera crew to come out and do a video shoot then you’d probably have all of the scripts and talent well prepared. However, if you can quickly create a video on your handheld camera and upload it to YouTube then you might be tempted to just “wing-it”.

Here is a great article by Jeremy Vest on things to keep in mind when doing instructional design for video.

7 Sins of Online Video Instructional Design
April 30, 2009
By Jeremy Vest (Chief learning officer of Splash Media and author of “Exploring Web Design.” )

(Post from SalesMarketing.com)

With the popularity of video sites such as YouTube, which now accounts for 25 percent of all searches on the Web, the consumption of video training is now a reality in most organizations and colleges.  This accessible forum has made it easier for organizations to produce and provide online training videos.  While this technology is available to anyone, companies do need to take time to consider the quality of the online training videos they are producing and providing.  The following will give you a perspective of common, yet avoidable, mistakes most companies make when creating online training videos:

1. Not connected to learners
Have the subject matter expert (SME) address the camera, and do not just show screen shots. Change up shots; do not keep static too long. The more impersonal you make your training videos, the less likely your learners will feel a connection to the SME.  This will cause a less engaged overall learning experience. Click here for an example of a connected online video.

2. Poor planning before the shoot
More…

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Fun Learning Games.

Adobe Product Online Training

There are lots of ways to learn more how to use your design/development software. I recently came across a new video training site from Adobe. Lots of great, short videos.