Video learning on-demand: less work and more effective!

• 3 min read

Video LearningAccording to research from Bersin by Deloitte, in one month alone – specifically May of 2012 – 163 million unique video viewers streamed more than 26 billion videos, and watched them for about 5.8 hours on average.

This is a major trend that we absolutely must consider in elearning scenarios. People like to watch video, much more so than following a slideshow. And videos are also more effective. People are more engaged by human faces and voices and you can deliver more information in a shorter time frame. Nowadays for specific content such as language training it is practically passé not to have a video presenter in a lesson. And, perhaps surprisingly, video is often used also for compliance training where the personality of the presenter is one of the most motivating and engaging factors.

By using videos it’s also possible to show how to do specific tasks and procedures.

Video is, simply put, less work and more effective

Today delivering a good quality video requires few(er) work hours (that includes time to produce such content), however this has not always been the case. Thanks to the availability of good software and apps, trainers can produce excellent quality videos simply by using a webcam or a Smartphone camera.

Video is mobile learning ready 

Videos are also well suited for delivery through mobile devices. So if you’re planning to embrace a mobile learning project, you need to reflect on the opportunities to deliver video instead of Powerpoint or manuals.

Success Factors:

  1. More effective
  2. Less writing effort
  3. Mobile learning ready

Videos: on-demand, just-in-time learning

Video lessons delivered through a mobile application exemplifies “just in time learning”. It can be used for on-demand performance support, an on-the-job knowledge check, or simply as an additional resource.

On-demand learning has some distinct benefits, such as integrated learning on the job, timeliness and learner control.

By adding the mobile element to learning we start to see even more benefits, including:

  • Portability;
  • Anytime, anyplace connectivity;
  • Flexible and timely access to elearning resources;
  • Immediacy of communication;
  • Empowerment and engagement of learners, particularly those in dispersed communities;
  • Active learning experiences.

According to Bersin & Associates:

“Traditional training programs have been built on what has been called the “just-in-case” model, in which content is delivered to learners who might have a need for it in the future. We know from research that this method may not be very useful.10 Unless something is relevant to the work at hand or of immediate need, it can soon be forgotten.11 Mobile learning offers a new way of learning that causes significant disruption in the traditional approach to workplace learning.”

The rise of On-Demand Mobile Video for Learning and Development, May 2012

Thanks to the availability of modern smart devices, LMS video learning can also support a collaborative learning strategy: you can get learners to use a mobile device for taking pictures or a video and send that content back to trainers/ teachers for assessment purposes.

The next step is to allow User Generated Content!

“It should not be an excuse, but rather a reality we must acknowledge: L&D organizations can’t realistically provide all of the learning content and resources needed across all aspects of a complex business. Therefore, an emerging role of learning professionals is to cultivate and curate workforce knowledge sharing, putting people in the spotlight to show what they know, to share with global community, and to take the lead.”

Steven Rath Morgan, Elearning, Volume 10 May / June 2014