Education has been undergoing a digital transformation for some time and video has quickly become the preferred medium for online learning. Video engagement in e-learning is possible due to internet access, mobile devices and cloud-based platforms. The transformation doesn’t only reflect a technological shift but a deeper change in how humans consume information.
Many modern learners are digital natives who relate more to videos than they do to text. Online educators must use video-first strategies for reasons such as their convenience but also because they match how learners absorb and retain information today.
Why video boosts engagement, retention and satisfaction
Engagement
One of the main reasons for using video-first digital learning is that it has an impact on engagement. Dynamic video content boosts engagement.
For learner engagement, videos offer online education providers a way to personalize learning experiences. You can offer specific videos to learners based on their needs and interests. This is far more effective than a one-size-fits-all approach associated with traditional methods.
As an educator, you can also make videos interactive to increase engagement. You can include annotations that give learners more information or use interactive quizzes at appropriate points in a video. Branching scenarios where learners have to make decisions about what happens next can show them how their choices affect outcomes.
Retention
The narrative flow, movement and sounds work together to increase retention of information. The science behind this is dual coding theory. Learners process information through both visual and auditory channels, which creates stronger memory pathways. For instance, when an instructor explains a concept and shows diagrams at the same time, learners are more likely to remember the information than if they had only read a description.
Satisfaction
Learners often find that video-based e-learning is much less tedious than trying to learn from text-based documents. Seeing the face of an instructor humanizes the learning process. This helps to build trust and make the e-learning process more satisfying.
An e-learning video strategy also means learners have more control over the pace of learning. They can rewind and watch difficult segments again or skip over what they already know. This autonomy also offers them more satisfaction.
Using elements from gaming is common in online education. Learners can earn points for making the right decisions and receive badges when they reach significant milestones. Friendly competition against fellow learners can increase their motivation and they feel a sense of achievement when they perform well.
Online educators need to be careful when selecting a video hosting platform. You shouldn’t have to worry about all the technicalities, especially when you want to scale. It should be easy to host and organize the e-learning videos. Various tools should be available to help you make videos interactive and engaging.
The role of mobile-first and on-demand video in education
Mobile-first learning
The future of e-learning is not only video-first learning but also mobile-first learning. Most learners today have mobile devices and expect to be able to access e-learning videos on them. They want to be able to learn when it’s convenient for them, which may be during commutes, in breaks at work, or in the evenings at home.
Mobile-first learning capitalizes on microlearning, which is one of the most popular online education video trends. Learners tend to learn more consistently when they don’t have to carve out hours for study sessions. Giving them access to short video modules is supported by research that shows that learning in small chunks improves retention over the long term. The Duolingo language learning platform uses this approach effectively with its bite-sized lessons.
With the use of mobile devices, video messaging is a useful tool for online educators. It allows them to give learners feedback on their assignments. When learners can see a human face, it helps them to feel more connected.
On-demand learning
On-demand learning is another transformative aspect of e-learning. Rather than having to attend lessons at a specific time, learners can access videos at any time. Online educators who use live streaming for lectures can save the live stream, edit it and present it as video-on-demand (VOD) in video libraries. This means learners can easily catch up on any live streams they missed.
Busy professionals usually spend long hours working and have responsibilities at home. Corporate training managers who give them access to on-demand videos and webinars offer them the flexibility to decide what they want to learn and when they want to learn it.
Learners have access to videos when they need them most. This may be just before an exam or when applying a skill in the workplace. Just-in-time access makes e-learning more practical and relevant.
Examples of successful video-first e-learning programs
The effectiveness of video-first e-learning strategies isn’t just theory. They are the foundation of many successful e-learning programs across the world.
Corporate training platforms
Video-first e-learning is very successful in corporate training, especially when employees have the opportunity to put what they learn into practice.
- Deloitte trains its employees with short, interactive videos that teach everything from leadership to compliance. It reports that video course completion rates are higher and employees are better able to apply their skills.
- SafetyCulture’s mobile-first platform helps leaders and frontline teams to establish automated workflows. Its corporate videos don’t rely on flashy elements but use a straightforward approach that allows employees to focus on the talking voiceover. The message in the script is most important and the visuals support this. They take the time to ensure the video says what it needs to first and then worry about the visual elements. One of its videos focuses on good manufacturing processes for food safety.
- Step-by-step tutorials are commonly in use for the teaching of software skills. For example, Microsoft teaches users with hands-on walkthrough tutorials for Office 365.
- In the healthcare field, Kognito offers healthcare scenarios in its videos that allow employees to navigate sensitive situations. This enhances their communication skills and empathy levels.
- Labster offers learners a virtual lab environment where they can run their experiments without risks.
Large online learning platforms
Large online learning platforms are helping to democratize e-learning. People from all over the world can get access to videos that teach them a wide range of subjects. Many of the videos feature top experts and with captions and subtitles, they are accessible to people who speak different languages and those who want to watch without sound.
Coursera collaborates with leading universities to offer video lectures. With a video-first approach, learners from across the world can access the same lectures as learners who attend universities in person. It has discussion boards so participants are able to collaborate.
Khan Academy reaches millions of learners with its free video lessons on a huge range of subjects. Learners can learn at their own pace from a library of short videos created by experts. It also has tools to help empower teachers.
Platforms such as Codecademy gamify the development of technical skills. Learners are invested in the journey, as they can get points and unlock levels.
Video hosting for video-first e-learning platforms
Using a video hosting platform like Cincopa helps e-learning brands to host, organize and analyze video content. Online educators who analyze viewer behavior and preferences can gain insight into their interests and the effectiveness of e-learning videos. For example, you can see what kind of content learners watch and for how long. In-depth insights help you to make improvements to videos, increasing engagement and retention.
Conclusion: Why video is no longer optional in e-learning
Video engagement in e-learning is the main reason why it’s so successful. Video-first learning is driven not only by technological capabilities but also by the way learners prefer to learn today. They want access to engaging content that boosts their retention and gives them the satisfaction of being able to apply what they learn.
Mobile-first and on-demand access have elevated video e-learning to an extent that online educators can’t afford to ignore. It has become more flexible, accessible and inclusive than ever. When looking to the future, online educators who fail to embrace video will be left behind. You can find information on Cincopa’s home page and sign up for a free trial to explore not only the technological capabilities it offers but also the tools that will help you to establish successful e-learning platforms for today and the future.
