More and more e-learning organisations are turning to online video to deliver their courses. Why? Well, quite simply video enhances learning. Now, that’s a pretty big statement to make. But bear with me, I can explain why…

1. Observation and demonstration.

As far back as 1977 Bandura realised that people learn through observation (remember the famous Bobo doll experiment?). People learn and imitate behaviours they have observed in other people. So use that to your advantage. Video allows you to tap into that observational learning, for example providing a demonstration that your students can model behaviour on.

2. Brings realism.

Critical to any learning taking place is for students to understand how abstract theories and concepts can apply to the real world. Show them a real life situation where their learning can be applied and they’ll be motivated to connect to the issues you’re presenting.

3. Cross modal learning.

Our brains process information in different ways. Experts from the learning field have found that visual information accounts for 55% of our learning, audio information for 38% and text 7%. Where video excels is in providing information across all three channels. Target your audience whether they be visual, audio or text-based learners and you’ll have the best possible chance of instilling knowledge and skills that stick.

4. Rich source of information.

It has been reported that the information that just one minute of video conveys can amount to as much as 1.8 million written words. Sounds pretty dramatic, doesn’t it? But consider, for example, trying to describe a complex emotion like love, or grief, or nostalgia. Now imagine using video to simply show the interplay of facial expressions that convey those emotions. Every day we interpret social signals such as body language, emotional cues and verbal intonation. We are experts at reading and translating that information. So, play to your students strengths. Using video enables your e-learning course to make full use of all of that extra information that text alone just cannot convey.

5. Video engages.

But don’t take my word for it, here Susan Weinschenk Ph.D. gives a great (video!) overview of why we, as humans, are fundamentally drawn to video. We are hard-wired to pay special attention to faces (thanks to a part of the brain dubbed the Fusiform Facial Area), emotions are contagious, and movement grabs attention (a throwback to our caveman days when our very survival depended on noticing and reacting to movement). And what tool can you use to bring all of these powerful elements together? Yep, you guessed it – online video.

So, does the future of effective e-learning lie in video? There’s plenty of examples of successful businesses that use it to great effect (Dr. Najeeb Lectures is just one). But let us know what you think.

Following the Vauxhall helicopter crash last month the UK’s largest crane was brought in and we have watched its construction right outside our London office window.

Check out the video to see the crane in action (and a showcase of the very varied weather conditions here in London).

Time lapse is a great way to create a visually stunning video. Get creative with time lapse and you could create a big buzz around your brand. Give consumers a birds eye view of the factory floor, show off a dramatic view, give a unique perspective on a real world event – there’s a ton of possibilities.

The e-learning business is booming. A quick search online returns thousands of results offering training courses in a multitude of flavors. For a small fee you can develop your business skills, brush up on the medical sciences, or bend your body into a series of complex yoga positions – whatever you’re interested in learning there’s a course out there to teach you how.

And what do many of these courses have in common? Video.

Gone are the days when learning materials consisted of a few slides and static lecture notes. Visual demonstrations and interactivity are now the name of the game. Video hosting platforms can be used to enrich the learning environment and ensure your e-learning course remains at the forefront of this ever-growing market. Thanks to technological advancement knowledge and skills training is becoming more and more accessible, reaching a whole new audience who are eager to learn.

So, what is it about video that is so appealing to professionals and students alike? The answer can be summarized in a single word: “engagement”.

Students don’t want to read a long page of text, they want to be shown how to do things, watch animated instructors, and see visual representations of the content. Done properly video can be absorbing, emotional and super effective in conveying complex messages more concisely – and often more elegantly – than text alone. If a picture is worth a thousand words, video must be worth millions.

By combining visual, audio and text-based content videos maximize learning by utilizing cross-modal channels. E-learning courses that rely on text and images alone run the risk of being left behind, in favor of more video focused content.

The engaging nature of online video makes it a powerful weapon in the arsenal of any e-learning professional, helping to make online courses more effective, more popular and, ultimately, more profitable. It really is possible to grow a million dollar business by selling your video content – just ask Dr. Najeeb.

You’ve worked to create an engaging, informative online video, you’re really excited, it’s going to be a great way to get your business recognised and engage your consumers.

But, how do you make sure that everyone watching associates that interesting, creative video with your brand?

Answer: make your mark with Brand Overlay

This week’s video has a few tips on using vzaar’s Brand Overlay feature and maximising the promotional potential of your online video. Check it out…

For more information take a look at our Brand Overlay help article or simply get in touch with any questions.

A quick note on this morning’s helicopter crash. Our London headquarters is based in Vauxhall and whilst we are all ok there may be some disruption to customer support service as some of the team are finding it difficult to get into the office.

Our thoughts go out to all those who have been affected.