Video has quickly become one of the fastest ways to gain and keep attention. According to a Forrester report, employees are 75% more likely to watch a video than read a document. Beyond work, your learners engage with video daily—it’s why YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok are so popular. This begs the question: are videos the best way to learn?
Video packs a powerful learning punch for formal and informal training—here are three reasons we think video is a critical learning medium.
Why use video in learning?
1. Video simplifies learning
It’s probably no surprise that adults learn by doing. When learning is too conceptual and not grounded in real world experience, many learners find motivation in short supply. The benefit of video is that it not only simplifies concepts by visualizing them, but it shows learners how something works in the real world.
For this reason, we highly recommend using motion graphics or live-action sequences in training videos that are trying to simplify the complex, especially when it’s a multi-step process you’d like learners to replicate. For a regional grocery chain client, we helped their business analysts and associate buyers by creating a live-action, scenario learning video that showcased how decisions made in corporate offices impacted everything from warehouses to store shelves. Showing contextual reality through video is a great way to improve learning outcomes.
2. Video is a tool for powerful storytelling
Admit it, videos give you the feels. When you’re reading text, your brain is busy reading, but when you’re watching a video, your brain is busy feeling. What’s great about feeling something is that it’s a perfect engagement method for people to learn something, too.
Beyond emotional impact, video is a powerful storytelling device, allowing you to visualize realities for your learners. You can use a learning video or training video to show employees what success and failure look like, giving them something to work towards in their job role.
It’s great to use the emotive quality of video to motivate your learners to value certain behaviors, procedures, or products.
3. Video delivers high value and impact
Research has shown that 83% of human learning takes place visually. It stands to reason that video learning is a more efficient use of time, especially for an audience with a short attention span (uh, hello, everyone these days)!
With this in mind, it’s also important to remember that video quality is roughly equal to the amount you invest. Production quality has an impact on the final product—consider set design, lighting, audio quality, and script, and partner with a team that shares your vision and understands your objectives.
What are you waiting for?
Are you considering corporate training videos for your learners? If you are, I’m sure you’re already seeing the benefits. If you aren’t, start! Video is no longer something that’s just nice to have—your learners expect it.