So, for those who’d rather not leave it to the professionals, we at Video Arts have compiled a handy list of best practices for when it comes to creating educational videos. Aren’t we kind?!
Decipher your objective
Before you even begin to think about making an educational video, you need to work out what it is you are trying to achieve by making the video. What do you want people to think, feel and do differently as a result of watching your film?
Know your subject
Make sure either you or someone else you are making the video with knows the subject matter. Think about the learning points you’re trying to get across and find a subject matter expert to validate them.
Know your audience
Who are you producing the video for? Age and job function are key things to look at first – there’s no point producing an education video for Generation Z that’s filled with references to Dynasty or cassette tapes, equally baby boomers may not appreciate references to more modern popular culture. A good-quality education video should be relevant to its audience, so make sure they are the biggest influence when it comes to how you deliver your message.
Use high-quality equipment
These days most Windows and Mac laptops and notebooks have the built-in features necessary for creating a video but make sure the device has a high-quality camera and microphone. Good sound quality is a must so if the internal mic is not sufficient, use an external USB mic.
Hire the right people
Most people can learn how to build a basic storyboard to create the structure for an educational video but not everyone can write an engaging script or deliver the dialogue in an engaging way. By using the right people who are best at the different aspects of making a video, you’re more likely for the end result to be a professional one. Don’t try to do it all yourself.
Make it snappy
Humans now have an attention span that is shorter than a goldfish’s so there’s no point making an hour-long video because people will just switch off. Even if you’re producing lots of content, break it down into short bite-size clips of around three minutes each to keep the attention of your learners.
Enable functional interactivity
Make sure learners are able to pause videos and easily go back and forth through the content to allow them to access the video at their own pace. Giving videos meaningful titles will also help learners easily find relevant material.
Need help creating or curating education videos or perhaps you’re looking for a well-designed learning platform to host and manage your video and e-learning resources, such as Video Arts Play? Get in touch with us – we are an award-winning e-learning provider, renowned for delivering corporate training in an entertaining and memorable way through video.
