As video becomes increasingly popular. In almost every media, for almost every purpose. The education sector is taking note, adapting and implementing this amazing tool in the form of educational videos.
Videos have many advantages over more traditional methods of education.
Retention is a big one when talking about the needs of students and employees.
Video has a retention rate over 580% higher than text, the very tool we’ve been using to teach for hundreds of years.
Add the fact that the reach of video is limitless and opens educational possibilities to everyone.
The learning experience is enhanced by the use of video by creating better environments and engaging people’s brains in a way never before possible.
In this article, we will show you why video is such a powerful tool for educational purposes.
Why is video such a wonderful tool for learning?
The base of it is that it engages our 2 primary senses, sight and hearing. This creates an almost hypnotic experience.
If you’ve ever seen a small child stare at the TV for hours, you know exactly what we mean.
As attention spans have grown shorter, video producers have had to try harder to engage their audiences.
This becomes particularly important when talking about education. Since some of the concepts can be difficult to process, even with the help of such a powerful instrument.
This is why educators will have to be mindful when creating content for their class.
It encourages digital literacy
For those of us who went to school a while ago, we might remember how teachers struggled with computers and new technologies.
Making it seem like the digital world and the world of learning were two complete opposites, and utterly incompatible.
Today, the digital world has taken over and become a crucial part of our education. Forward-thinking schools and private schools have incorporated many new subjects into their teaching curriculums, computer science, basic programming, and other modern skills are becoming part of a basic skill set.
Schools that use video as part of their teaching methods develop a digitally-driven environment that encourages teachers to use technology to their advantage as well as bring their students into the digital age with a head start.
The possibility of remote teaching
As we learned from the 2020 pandemic, the ability to do things remotely can be an absolute lifesaver, millions of students took to their computers and tv’s to receive an education instead of losing an entire year of school.
This also presents the opportunity to reach people and children in remote locations that might not have easy access to teaching facilities.
Not to mention the widespread phenomenon that is online courses.
When in history had you been able to get a certification from a London university all the way from California?
Educational videos have created a wonderful era where learning almost every skill or trait is at the reach of your fingertips with just a few clicks!
Be mindful of the cognitive load when using educational videos
Before information is stored in our long-term memory, which has basically unlimited storage capacity, it has to go through sensory memory and working memory.
These two are very limited, which is why you have to be mindful not to overload it.
Content that doesn’t directly contribute to the learning process, runs the risk of overloading your cognitive capacities and make the parts of the brain involved in the learning process shut down in a way.
Try to remember your student years.
If you ever pulled an all-nighter, you might know exactly how it feels to be taking information in and suddenly hit a dead end.
No matter how much you keep on reading or studying, nothing sticks. It’s a very frustrating experience. How can you avoid this in your class or at work?
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Use drawings or animation
This might be out of reach for some instructors but if you have the opportunity to use some of these tools it’s a no-brainer. It seems that no matter how old we get, cartoons will always have a grasp on our attention, use this for the benefit of your students.
Here’s a fun, educational video we created for EMDW about Wastewater Treatment:
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Keep it simple
It’s imperative that you narrow down what is essential for the subject or specific course you’re trying to teach, any extra information, pictures, or text can result in a lack of coherence that creates more confusion and foils the learning experience.
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Segment your content
When presenting your course make sure it’s divided into digestible sections that are easy to follow. Most courses will have far too much information for just one sitting, by segmenting you ensure your students or employees can get the knowledge in portions that are easier for the brain to process and assimilate.
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Help keep the pace by providing cues
It makes sense to tie your entire course together and guide your students through it by using visual aids and repetitive cues that give an indication of how a student should approach the lesson or what to expect during segments.
As we’ve mentioned engagement is the center of learning when talking about video, it’s what actually makes the benefits of video come to fruition and there are many ways you can approach it.
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Make your videos short
Attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, when assimilating large chunks of information it’s best to break it down into shorter lessons.
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Let your personality shine
Wearing your heart on your sleeve is scary for a lot of people, but being genuine and vulnerable pays off when connecting with your audience.
No one wants to listen to a memorized script, it’s far more human to connect through personal experiences.
Such a versatile instrument will be extraordinarily productive regardless of what kind of class you’re planning.
Final Thoughts
From a school teacher to an online course developer, we can all get the best out of what modern technology has to offer while also setting students up for success. It seems that no matter how you look at it, everyone wins when you use educational videos.
Your students and employees will thank you for the effort, you’ll see your classes and/or business improve, and you’ll get a nice feeling of satisfaction from creating such a valuable aid for your the people you care most.
If you’d like to know more about how to engage your audience through video marketing, take a look at our weekly posts.
