6 Steps To Create Interactive Online Training Videos

6 Steps To Create Interactive Online Training Videos
Summary: Interactive online training videos have the power to improve knowledge retention and learner engagement as it is. But you can make them even more powerful by adding hot spots and hyperlinks. In this article, I’ll show you the 6 steps to create amazing interactive videos for your online training course.

How To Create Interactive Online Training Videos

Interactive online training videos feature clickable objects and links that make online training more tactile and engaging. They stand out from other forms of multimedia by putting the corporate learner into the driver’s seat. Every viewer gets the opportunity to choose their next move and access online training content that’s relevant to them. Instead of merely watching an online presentation, they are able to pick their own personal path and meet specific learning objectives they need. Here is a step-by-step guide for adding interactive online training videos to your corporate eLearning experience.

Step 1: Identify Your Goals And Learning Objectives

Your interactive online training video has to support the learning objectives of your corporate eLearning program. Otherwise, it's merely a form of entertainment. So, before choosing or creating the online training video and adding the interactive elements, you must identify first your goals. What do your corporate learners need to know by the time the credits roll? Why are you using interactivity in the first place, and how will each component achieve the desired outcome? Answering these questions allows you to identify online training materials, video content, and interactions that align with your learning objectives. Now is also a good time to meet with your Subject Matter Expert and graphic designer to get their feedback. They can help you pinpoint the key takeaways and choose the ideal interactive elements.

Step 2: Find The Right eLearning Authoring Tools

This is one of the most important steps for creating interactive online training videos. Without the right eLearning authoring tools, you may not be able to bring your ideas to life. There are a myriad of tools to choose from. Thus, it's essential to narrow down your must-have features in advance. While some offer amazing asset libraries, others specialize in screen recording and video editing. Ultimately, the tool you purchase will impact your creation process moving forward. For example, an authoring tool that doesn't feature responsive design support will make mobile-friendly videos more complicated.

Step 3: Pick The Perfect Online Training Video

We've finally arrived to the moment you've been waiting for… choosing the online training video that's getting an interactive makeover. Take stock of your online assets and gather a few online training video candidates. Then create specific criteria to evaluate each online training video. For instance, the online training video must align with your goals, have a high production value, and feature the key takeaways. Once you've picked the perfect online training video, insert it into the editing tool by uploading or importing the file. You can then trim the footage, add filters, or jazz it up with special effects, depending on the software.

The "Start From Scratch" option: If you don't already have an online training video in your library, you'll need to produce one from the ground up. Thankfully, there are plenty of eLearning authoring tools that specialize in video creation for online training. Again, pay close attention to the features they offer and look for an authoring tool that blends flexibility with user-friendliness.

Step 4: Choose Your Interactions

Your online training video is ready to go. But before you upload it to your Learning Management System or site you need to add the interactions. The number of interactions you include is based on the length of your online training video. For instance, a 10-minute video should have no more than 4 or 5 interactions. However, a microlearning online training video should have just 1 or 2. Here are just a few ideas for interactions that you may want to include:

  • Links that redirect corporate learners to third-party sites, online articles, or supplemental online training resources.
  • A logo linked up to your online training course enrollment page.
  • Hot spots that lead to surveys, questionnaires, or other online feedback forms.
  • An annotation which poses a question or call to action. This can redirect to an online training module or activity.
  • Turn your online training video into a branching scenario by creating hyperlinked interactive paths. For example, give corporate learners three options to choose from. Each choice leads to a different online training video. If you want to take it a step further, create an entire "network" of online training videos with multiple outcomes.

Step 5: Timing Is Everything

Spacing your interactions is essential. If you crowd them together in one portion of the online training video, corporate learners may miss them entirely or they can lose their effect. In fact, it's best to insert your first interactive element between the 1-to-2 minute mark, and then wait another minute or so until the next hyperlink or hot spot. Of course, the time frame greatly depends on the length of your online training video. The opening interaction should grab their attention by asking a question or prompting them to reflect on the topic. For instance, encouraging them to ponder how the subject matter relates to their own lives or helps them achieve their personal goals. For best results, create a timeline that highlights all of the interactions and their corresponding links, icons, or annotations.

Step 6: Track Your Results

You've spent a lot of time creating your interactive online training video. Thus, you need to make sure that it's achieving the desired results. In other words, was it really worth the investment? Or do you need to make some minor changes? Analytics, corporate learner feedback, and Learning Management System reports offer valuable insights. Are your corporate learners clicking on the links? How do they feel about the online training video content, itself? Are there too many interactions? Not enough? This data also allows you to create more effective and targeted online training videos in the future.

Another important aspect of creating interactive online training videos is conducting audience research. Find out what matters to them and how they prefer to access the online training content. Their knowledge base, professional goals, and tech preferences play an important role in your online training video design.

Are you ready to take a seat in the director’s chair? Read the article 7 Tips To Create Hollywood-Worthy eLearning Videos to discover a few tips for creating Hollywood-worthy eLearning videos to enrich your next eLearning course.