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Explore the elements from Brian Washburn’s book
What’s Your Formula? Combine Learning Element for Impactful Training

video
noun_Video Camera_3235761

Video

(VIH-dee-oh)​

Solid Elements

SOLID

What is a Video?

Video as part of a training program can come in all shapes and sizes, from hour-long, professional produced films to homemade 30-second vignettes shared as part of microlearning.

Other Common Names

Other common names for video include:

  • Screen recording
  • Movie
  • Training film

Key Properties of Video in a Training Program

All training-focused videos share the following common properties:

  • Action-based, visual media (as opposed to still photos)
  • Flexibility to be used as a standalone resource or integrated into broader learning activities
training video

Insights about Video in Learning Programs from What's Your Formula?

  • "Using a video in your training program—whether you’re creating instructor- led training or asynchronous e-learning experiences—can offer variety to the way in which information is being presented, and can give learners a consistent experience because the video will always be the same."
  • "Video doesn’t need to take a lot of time or cost a lot of money to produce. This may be the way to go if you have a smartphone and want to quickly model a certain behavior, capture a specific point using a guest speaker or demonstrate a process. While smartphone video may not have the editing or lighting necessary to give it that “professional” look and feel, there may be times when you just need to get your point across with a video and a more refined product isn’t necessary. I’ve gone this route on a range of projects, from a CEO welcome message for new employee orientation to a compare and contrast set of video clips for effective presentation delivery that was embedded into an e-learning module."
  • "If you’re looking to take your video usage to the next level, then interactive video will bring a new level of engagement to your training program. In the classroom, interactive video could simply be one where you play a video until a certain point, pause the video, ask participants what they might do in that situation, and then restart the video to see how it actually plays out. In an e-learning environment, interactive video can be viewed as a sort of choose-your- own-adventure learning experience where there are natural pause points in the action and learners are asked to determine what decision should be made in the video. When they make their selection, the video branches and the scenario carries on as if the learner was controlling the action in the video. This can be done at your desk using software like Camtasia, or you can ask a vendor to work this type of video into your next e-learning project."
Whats Your Formula book
Order your copy to learn more about video in training and all of the related elements.

Elements that "Bond, Learning Bond" with Video

handoutsHandouts

It’s not enough to just play the video and assume your learners will focus on the most important parts. Supplying a handout or a page in a participant guide with questions or notetaking prompts can help ensure learners focus on the most salient points.

follow upFollow-up

You can send out links to videos shown in your training program or small video files following each training session to help remind participants about your content or expose them to deeper exploration of ideas just touched upon in your program.

elearningElearning

Video that is integrated into an e-learning module may help break up the monotony of screen after screen of written information. For some e-learning modules, the use of video can be the most dynamic section, illustrating technical procedures or highlighting key concepts in action. Take care with your video size, however, or it may take your module a while to load. This can be an area of particular sensitivity when distributing e-learning content to learners with internet bandwidth issues.

35 MicrolearningMicrolearning

Microlearning can come in many forms, and video is one of the most prominent. Offering short clips of a SME speaking or a glimpse of a technical procedure in action can be just enough information for an employee to digest in one sitting so that they’re motivated to use your concept or topic to solve a problem.

role playRole Play

Introducing video into the role play segment of your training program can ensure participants take the simulated situations seriously, because video provides unique insights into their own style and abilities. Asking someone in a small group to use a camera to record a role play interaction, then asking everyone in the small group to review the role play on video before giving feedback allows every participant to actually see themselves in action. Were they using the concepts taught in the training session? How is their body language? Did they say “uh” or “um” too much? The camera never lies.

emailEmail

Related to the element of follow up, using email to send video files and clips can help prime your learners for the course (if sent in advance of a training program) or remind them about key concepts (if sent following a training program).
checklist

Download the Element Sanity Check

Even if you haven’t yet purchased the book (what are you waiting for?!) you can get access to worksheets that will help guide you through the use of the elements of amazing learning experiences.