How to Create Training Videos

Training is an art and science. Although different in a way, training as art and training as science are actually interrelated and inseparable. 

When people refer to training as an art, it simply means being creative or persuasive in relating things to your learners. They also define it as a science because a trainer is somehow compared to a researcher that needs to observe, diagnose, design, monitor, and evaluate their mentees. Different learners working on different subject matter require an intricate approach to be involved in the process.

How, then, can you innovate as a trainer?

training is an art and science

The unstoppable development of new technologies and the massive change brought about by the pandemic have led to revisions of most training curriculum, approaches, and methods. One striking trend is how the use of videos for employee training more is gaining increasing popularity.

A study by SAVO Group shows that the average employee can already forget 65% of the material viewed during training, in just 7 days after a training session. After six months, that number reaches 90%. However, when a video is incorporated in presentations, participants become more engaged and they consume information better. In fact, during those times when comprehension is tested right away, those who were able to consume information with the help of videos score higher than those who have not.

So if you are a coach or a mentor, creating and incorporating training videos is the way to go these present times.

How Training Videos Work

Well, understanding your audience is perhaps the most vital part of educating. This is because you need to know how to connect with them.

You can connect with them by relating your topic to their current situation and problems, answering their queries, and demonstrating to them solutions to make it through. You can do all these even more effectively with training videos that are uniquely tailored for them.

Training videos appeal to senses which is why it is easier to facilitate learning as training videos make use of your auditory, visual, logical, verbal, and sometimes social way of learning. The videos you will create can also come in handy as you can conveniently save them in your drive and access them wherever you are. 

Types of Training Videos

If there are different ways of training in a workshop or a conference, there are also various types of training videos that you can utilize and develop for teaching.

The types of training videos are as follow:

Animated Videos

If you want the friendliest approach to teaching, then try animated videos. However, to make it more engaging, it’s important to know and learn the sequence of narrative visualization.

Before animation was only created by the two of most Iconic studios namely Disney and Warner Bros. They used stop-motion animation and were painstakingly crafted by an artist. But now it is produced in every trainer’s household and as long as you have video editing skills and video editing software. 

At present, there are already video editing software solutions that are not so complicated like Powtoon, Doodly, GoAnimate, and the like. But if you still want to use something that is worth exploring, try Adobe Flash and After effects.

Demo Videos

Demo Videos are the go-to instructional training videos for learning a step-by-step process. Most of these videos are produced as  “how-to” videos. You can usually find this type of videos being used in cooking and baking channels, or even in doing tutorials on how to use a certain tool or technology.

Of course, you should have a strategic plan. You have to begin by knowing your learners. Gather some relevant information as to what they are struggling with and how they use a certain product that you are an expert on. From there you will get your topic and do your storyboard. 

Demo videos can be specifically crafted to address a particular step in a how-to guide. Most trainers use demo videos to clarify processes through actual demonstration.

Interactive Videos

Interactive videos can be a recorded webinar with many participants or simply training videos. MOOCs use this type of video most of the time because they usually have a longer training course with some questions and answers along the way or a recorded video of an educational talk at the conference. It is designed not just to evaluate your learners but to connect with them using some quizzes or questions that will appear on the screen.

Topics about building your business, career development, personal development and even improving one’s workplace apply are the topics that can be presented best using this type of video. 

Live-Action Videos

The live-action training video needs a bit of acting. These are multiple footages that are put together to convey a certain message that is beneficial for your audience. A good example of this is an inspirational video.

It can be narrative and it can have a script. These videos are typically fabricated to inspire, teach you how you should behave and how you can solve a problem, especially in your role. 

Animated Graphics

Animated Graphics use animated calligraphy or text to convey a message. They are explainer videos that are enhanced by dynamic sounds, animation, and engaging storyboard

Most trainers use animated graphics as they are not only engaging but also safer in terms of characterizing certain elements of the discussion or topic.  

Steps in Creating Training Videos

steps in creating training videos

1. Choose a Topic That Is Best Explained in a Video

Just like any blog post, it is necessary to choose a relevant topic for your training video. This doesn’t need to be too fancy. But keep in mind that it should help you in connecting to your audience. 

Not all topics need videos. You must be able to identify which aspect of a topic is to be showcased in a video to maximize your resources. . Knowing this will help you in tailoring your topics to the present needs of your audience. 

Unless your topic is valuable to your audience, they would ignore your video, watch it for a couple of seconds and skip it. Certainly, it is because they are not getting the information that they needed, and you might be wasting their time. Or, the topic is too easy to be in an explainer video.

2. Identify the Type of Video Appropriate for the Topic

 Identifying which type of video is most suitable for a particular topic can be very challenging. Even if you are able to do just about any type of video, choosing the right type of video can still make a huge difference.  If you have to train the employees on how to use a particular software, you need a video that can showcase the process. Certainly, the use of animated graphics alone will not be enough.

In other words, these training videos are like events that have certain themes and nature. For instance, a role play for sales and technical support processes should use live-action videos to demonstrate real scenarios in the workplace. You want to pick the right type of video for training your audience on how to handle things that they will certainly deal with along the way.

3. Create Your Storyboard

Along with your chosen topic and type of video, create a simple outline or sketches for your storyboard to guide you through your footage. A storyboard is a simple plan of a scene typically with some directions and dialogues for a movie or a training video. 

And something as simple as a set of bullet points to tackle or a script can help you to be certain that nothing will be left out when you record the video. Storyboards are also essential when getting a video pre-approved before production. The management would usually want to know first the content of the video before spending on creating one.

4. Use an Efficient Video Editor

Once you are done with recording, then it’s time for editing. One of the notable steps to take to edit and improve your training video fast is to use efficient software and equipment. 

Creative Bloq’s list of popular video editing software includes the following:

  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Final Cut Pro X
  • Adobe Premiere Elements
  • Adobe Premiere Rush
  • Corel VideoStudio Ultimate
  • Filmora9
  • CyberLink PowerDirector
  • Pinnacle Studio

The right choice of video editing software will help you develop creative educational content and save you valuable time in creating and rendering the video.

As a tip, choose what works for you, in terms of usability, user interface, and features, so that your editing will look as neat, interesting, and effortless as possible.

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About the Author: Staff

This article is written by a staff writer at Trainer Hangout.