Ensuring that learners engage in online courses and training can be challenging for online education providers. This is where interactive video can be very helpful. Interactive video e-learning is changing the way learners engage with videos. It allows them to click, choose, and respond within the video itself. Active participation significantly improves learning outcomes.
Why engagement is essential in e-learning
A lack of face-to-face interaction and accountability in online learning can affect online course participation. It doesn’t take much for learners to lose interest and drop out, especially those who already have very busy schedules. Online courses and training have to offer more than just information to prevent this from happening.
Learners are more likely to participate, complete tasks and have a positive attitude if courses or training include relevant interactive activities. These activities help to support and reinforce content. They help learners to connect with the content and fully explore it. Using the right video hosting platform with video engagement tools is essential for educators who want to add relevant interactive elements to videos and fully engage learners.
Benefits of interactive video vs. passive video
Active participation
Interactive video encourages participation. With passive videos, learners watch, but they don’t participate. Interactive video demands attention from them. They may have to practice skills, solve problems, or complete assessments. Directly involving learners makes them more motivated. The experience of learning is more immersive and enjoyable.
Personalization
Interactive video allows learners to make their own choices. They can choose how to interact with videos depending on their knowledge and abilities. Feeling more in control over the learning experience gives them more motivation to learn.
Accessibility
Interactive video is accessible to more learners because of the use of features such as captions and transcripts. This helps learners with disabilities and removes barriers such as language differences. Today interactive videos need to be mobile-friendly so learners can access them on various mobile devices and still experience good quality despite the smaller screens. Localizing e-learning content is another way to make it accessible to learners all over the world who come from different cultures.
Useful data insights
Active learning strategies provide data that passive learning doesn’t offer. Online educators can gather data that offers them useful insights into learner behavior. For example, quizzes offer immediate feedback that they can use to identify gaps and adapt their instruction methods.
Better outcomes
One of the main benefits of interactive video e-learning is that it leads to better outcomes. With more engagement and personalization, learners understand more and remember what they learn.
Types of interactive elements
Video quizzes
A video quiz asks questions (true/false, multiple choice) to test the knowledge of learners. Learners must listen carefully so they can answer the questions. Answering multiple-choice questions not only allows them to see how much they understand but also gives educators feedback on their progress. Educators can also design a quiz where learners are only able to proceed by choosing the correct answer.
Branching videos
Branching videos are non-linear and can set up a scenario where the learner makes a choice and sees the results play out. Learners are more likely to complete branching videos because they want to see the results.
Hotspots in videos
Hotspots are clickable areas with a video. By clicking hotspots, learners can trigger actions such as opening links or displaying more information. They can jump to a different part of a video or to another video.
Live video
Live video provides the opportunity to interact in the form of Q&A sessions using live chat. Learners can watch a tutor holding a lecture by means of live streaming and interact via comments and questions. Video conferencing helps educators and learners to interact from across the world.
Gamification
Online educators can use elements from gaming such as scoreboards, points, and reward systems. The element of friendly competition helps to motivate learners and make them keener to participate.
The Cincopa platform allows you to use a wide variety of interactive video tools. These include quizzes, polls, surveys, and branching logic. Its engagement analytics help online educators to create more immersive learning experiences.
Use cases for e-learning interactivity
Onboarding
Personalized video messaging from a manager or team can welcome new hires.
Interactive walkthrough videos can guide new hires through a platform, systems, etc. They can access clickable hotspots and pop-up information.
A way to check whether new hires fully understand compliance and safety videos is to use quizzes and assessments.
Assessments
Quizzes give learners immediate feedback and allow them to assess if there are gaps in their knowledge. Educators can track learner performance and gain insight into where support may be needed.
Scenario-based assessments give learners realistic situations where they have to problem-solve and make decisions.
Course navigation
- Giving learners interactive tours of course materials means they can explore at their own pace and check out all the different features.
- Online educators can use elements like animations or clickable diagrams to help learners with course navigation.
- Learning paths personalized to the needs and preferences of individual learners can guide them through online courses.
Best practices for building effective interactive videos
Understand the audience
Understanding an audience is essential for creating effective interactive videos. Considering the behavior, preferences, etc. of learners will help online educators to offer types of interactivities that resonate with them. For example, younger learners are likely to prefer quick, gamified interactions.
Develop a flowchart or storyboard
Online educators need to visualize the journey of a learner through an interactive video. With a visual of the video structure, it is easier to plan how to incorporate interactive elements, including branching scenarios. This helps to make all the elements more cohesive. This step-by-step guide offers more guidance on how to create interactive videos.
Keep interactive elements clear and simple
Learners should find interactive elements easy to use. They shouldn’t have too many choices to make as this could be confusing. A few well-placed elements will keep the learner experience smooth and engaging.
Use clear CTAs
Clear and compelling CTAs tell learners exactly what to do, such as “Click here to learn more,” or “Choose your path.”
Make timing strategic
Placing interactive elements at key points in videos helps to maintain the interest of learners. Using too many early on isn’t advisable. It’s best to build up to more involvement as learners proceed through videos. Otherwise, these elements could overwhelm learners rather than keeping them engaged.
Measure engagement and interactions
It’s vital to keep assessing the performance of interactive elements. Regular testing and feedback from learners helps to keep them functioning properly so learners have a seamless learning experience.
Video analytics tools can track how learners respond to every clickable element or branching scenario in videos. Some of the key metrics include their interaction and completion rates. Do learners click on some hot spots more than others? Are there some parts of videos they skip? Where do they tend to drop off? Insights like these can help online educators to improve their interactive videos.
The Cincopa platform allows online educators to measure granular analytics and get valuable insights into learner behavior when interacting with videos.
Conclusion: Engage learners with more than just content—they need action
Interactive video e-learning engages learners with more than just information. It demands that they take action. This may involve filling in a form or clicking a link to watch another video. These give learners a more thorough understanding of course material and help them to retain it. Online educators can go to the Cincopa home page where they can sign up for a free trial and explore how the platform supports interactive learning.
