The phrases "staff training video" can arise images of high sky hair and Zack Morris cell phones the size of bricks - monstrosities of the '80s we'd prefer stay in the history books. (This Wendy's video is a classic.) All things in the '80s of course was huge- including enterprise production costs.
Nowadays, in the era of the cloud computing and smartphones, making training videos can be as easy as cutting out your cell and hitting record. But the real difficulties remains unchanged: Creating compelling videos that staff don't just love, but actually learn something. David Kelly, a New York-based program director for the eLearning Guild and progressive education enthusiast, provides a few dos and don'ts for best practice video training:
THREE DON'Ts
Don't think a training video will break the bank. The common perception is that creating an staff training video is a great undertaking, one many departments aren't enough to fund. With inexpensive cameras and smartphones, creating a short, meaningful video is no longer impossible.
Don't waste your viewer's time. "Make it memorable, and keep it short," Kelly says. Bite-sized pieces of video with a niche focus hold attention and provide a clear pathway toward mastering a skill. Rambling videos addressing so much skills in one time that don't provide as much value, as employees' eyes will begin to glaze and lost focus over a few minutes in. Thirty minutes is more than enough.
Don't overlook mobile. Optimizing videos for users to view on mobile devices should always be considered for those on-the-go employees. Especially in industries like field service, mobile videos can be very useful. Imagine you're a cable repair man, in a repair gondola 50 feet in the air, able to watch a short tutorial on your smartphone will save you the time and hassle of watching it on your desktop.
THREE DOs
Encourage user-generated content. Kelly has witnessed a shift in video creation over the years - content that used to be generated primarily by training agency has taken on a life of its own with a greater focus on user-generated content. This grassroots training approach represents the fundamental change in video production, one that benefits the end-user greatly.
Splurge on accessories. Small add-ons such as a microphone for your iPhone can go a long way when it comes to video quality - they're minor investments that will drastically enhance the quality of your video. With all the money you saved on scrapping a production crew, it's a worthy investment.
Get interactive. You can almost hear the "cha-chunk" of the VCR coming to a grinding halt, but interactive doesn't have to mean watching a cheesy video for five minutes, then stopping it for discussion time. Showcasing a specific skill and then having viewers copy said skill through a test or simulated experience may be one of the most easiest training tools. Video by nature is not interactive, but weaving in these factors will improve the learning experience.
All nice ideas. While you’re at it, why not use your socially enabled learning management system as a way to deliver, track and build social dialogue around your new video training? Just a thought.
Nowadays, in the era of the cloud computing and smartphones, making training videos can be as easy as cutting out your cell and hitting record. But the real difficulties remains unchanged: Creating compelling videos that staff don't just love, but actually learn something. David Kelly, a New York-based program director for the eLearning Guild and progressive education enthusiast, provides a few dos and don'ts for best practice video training:
THREE DON'Ts
Don't think a training video will break the bank. The common perception is that creating an staff training video is a great undertaking, one many departments aren't enough to fund. With inexpensive cameras and smartphones, creating a short, meaningful video is no longer impossible.
Don't waste your viewer's time. "Make it memorable, and keep it short," Kelly says. Bite-sized pieces of video with a niche focus hold attention and provide a clear pathway toward mastering a skill. Rambling videos addressing so much skills in one time that don't provide as much value, as employees' eyes will begin to glaze and lost focus over a few minutes in. Thirty minutes is more than enough.
Don't overlook mobile. Optimizing videos for users to view on mobile devices should always be considered for those on-the-go employees. Especially in industries like field service, mobile videos can be very useful. Imagine you're a cable repair man, in a repair gondola 50 feet in the air, able to watch a short tutorial on your smartphone will save you the time and hassle of watching it on your desktop.
THREE DOs
Encourage user-generated content. Kelly has witnessed a shift in video creation over the years - content that used to be generated primarily by training agency has taken on a life of its own with a greater focus on user-generated content. This grassroots training approach represents the fundamental change in video production, one that benefits the end-user greatly.
Splurge on accessories. Small add-ons such as a microphone for your iPhone can go a long way when it comes to video quality - they're minor investments that will drastically enhance the quality of your video. With all the money you saved on scrapping a production crew, it's a worthy investment.
Get interactive. You can almost hear the "cha-chunk" of the VCR coming to a grinding halt, but interactive doesn't have to mean watching a cheesy video for five minutes, then stopping it for discussion time. Showcasing a specific skill and then having viewers copy said skill through a test or simulated experience may be one of the most easiest training tools. Video by nature is not interactive, but weaving in these factors will improve the learning experience.
All nice ideas. While you’re at it, why not use your socially enabled learning management system as a way to deliver, track and build social dialogue around your new video training? Just a thought.
