Training Videos- we’ve all watched them at one point or another during our career. Whether it was a how to video or on boarding process, did you want to bring the popcorn or a pillow to watch these training videos?
The challenge for employers: Companies have a lot of standard information about their corporate history, policies, system and procedures that they need to relay to each employ. To ensure that each employee is hearing the same information, training videos have become popular, instead of 3-5 day seminars with live people teaching. Even though the videos do standardize the consitancy of the information, it leaves out the personal touch and flexibility of Q & A. Employee are more willing to ask a question to a live person than to track someone down, at the risk of feeling stupid or not know who is the right person to ask. In the long run, most employees dismiss their own questions, until such time they are in a situation that requires them to actively pursue the answer.
What has your training video quality experience been like? Were the videos short and snappy or long with a quiz at the end? The most torturous training videos are the ones that have been used for the past 20 years; or they feel that way when viewing them. Now, not that employees need to be entertained at all times with pyro going off and car chases in the training videos; however, the granular, grayish tint of the video does give a hint to what format you’ll be watching. To go along with the “vintage” videos, they are often narrated with the most monotone narrator that can have the most enthusiastic employee’s eyes drooping in 3 minutes.
There are some basics for creating a good training video that will be a success tool for your employees for long time. When you’re filming someone speaking, make sure the set is brightly lit that is comfortable to the eye. There’s no need for a crazy back ground, but complimentary primary colors that are rich in texture, will help stimulate the viewer’s eyes. Have the speaker use hand gestures, facial expressions and body movements to break up the static look. If you can film on site to show real life hands on usage, that will be more stimulating to the brain of the viewer.
While the video is being narrated, cross back and forth between a wide static shot and “power point” text. If applicable, stimulate the viewer with a cut away video with the subject matter for an example. At certain points in the video, add background music to help keep the movement of training. But most of all…. don’t make the videos too long! Break up the teaching material into blocks. This will also help the employee organize their time better, as to when they can fit in a few videos as a time to their work load responsibilities. Videos that go on for 30, 45-60 minutes, are hard to fit into a busy day. Also, make sure the training videos are formatted so that the view can start back where they left off, instead of having to rewatch the entire video.
You’re training videos may not be enticing enough for your employees to share popcorn in the office while watching them, but you certainly don’t want them to be looking for pillows! Happy training ~