During content creation, one of the things that you will have to work on are eLearning videos. This tool is proven to be effective in educating students about any lesson. That is because videos have a way of capturing the interest of learners in ways that a lecture cannot. The use of images has a higher retention rate – more so if the video is done in a way that is relatable to everyday life.
A lot of educators and instructors have used videos to help captivate students into completely absorbing the message of the lesson. Whether the learning process happens in a traditional classroom or through the Internet via a virtual classroom, videos will always be beneficial to the course.
Of course, while you are in the midst of content creation, you have to decide how you will create the video that you will use in class. There are three different methods of creating eLearning videos.
Narrative slides
This is probably the most simple form of eLearning video that you can work on. You can use either PowerPoint or Keynote to create the video. Simply create each slide and make sure to use more images rather than text. You can even record your narrative so you do not have to say anything while the slide presentation is happening. When you save the file, make sure you do it as a movie so you can play the video and just step aside as your students learn through the content you have placed within the video. For those use Windows, you are better off using PowerPoint while Mac users will benefit more if they use Keynote during the content creation.
Screencasting
The second option to create videos in your eLearning course is through screencasting. This is a technique used that allows you to record whatever is happening in your computer screen as a video. This is great for technical training courses. You can add a voiceover while you are recording what is happening in your screen. If you are creating step by step videos, this is the best format that it can take. Make sure that the screencasting tool that you will use allows for some editing. You may want to customize what is in the beginning and end of your video to make it appear more visually appealing to those who will view it. There are certain tools that are best used for Windows or Mac users. Make sure you select the right tool that will work best for the operating system that you are using. For instance, iMovie is best for Mac. Jing, RecordIt and Camtasia are great for either one of them. Screenflow and QuickTime Player are exclusive to Mac users.
Animated videos
Using animations may seem like most complicated form that your video can take. But thanks to the many tools that you can use – it is not. An example of this are white-board style drawings. The tool that you will use during the content creation of this video usually have built-in images, music, themes and text. It takes a lot longer to create this but it is still easy to do. It is also the most visually engaging – especially for online learners. You can choose between PowToon, Video Scribe and GoAnimate to create an animation in your video.
These three forms will help you create a more engaging learning environment for your learners and students. However, make sure that you take careful note of how long your video will take. If the lesson is long, you may want to segment your videos instead of making it one long one. Put activities in between like quizzes, discussions, etc. While the eLearning video is very effective, it will still depend on the overall structure of the content creation to make the whole learning process successful.
Image courtesy of renjith krishnan for FreeDigitalPhotos.net