In today’s dynamic world, learning strategies has evolved to a great extend leveraging latest technology. The education and training industry is fast adopting innovative blended learning strategies that gives the best of both world – traditional classroom based learning that aids facilitator based learning for maximum impact and technology based E-Learning for anytime anywhere access of content. Videos are increasingly becoming a preferred mode delivering learning content.
Experts from E-Learning video production companies opine that video strategy for blended learning has evolved greatly over time and increasingly becoming more and more cost effective and more impactful.
There are several advantages of using video strategy in blended learning. Some of these are as follows:
1. No doubt, videos can communicate ideas and concepts effectively by using a mix of moving images, sound, and text. This means that a video engages the learner in multi-sensory learning, that is learning through two or more senses. The utilisation of multiple senses allows for more cognitive engagement. This promotes deep thinking and triggers learners to think of the concept from different perspectives. This, in turn, enables the learners acquire problem solving skills.
2. Nothing can beat videos when it comes to demonstrate procedures for mastery learning. If you want to teach procedural content, using videos would have the best possible learning impact. Videos can present a string of procedures in a comprehensive way that can be referenced again and again.
3. The vast population of learners have a variety of learning styles. Auditory learners learn the best through listening; Kinesthetic learners learn the best when they do an actual activity; while visual learners are comfortable to retain information when ideas, words and concepts are associated with images and visuals. Videos have something for everyone. Auditory leaners can enjoy the audio narration, visual learners can enjoy the rich animation and text/images, while kinesthetic learners can enjoy the demonstration of activities. Videos as a single platform caters to all categories of learners.
4. Videos can utilise a wide variety of media styles such as white-board drawings, animated avatars, animated explainer videos. These are very modern and visually engaging for learners. Imagine you are seeing an animation of how an engine works. This is possible only through an animated video. No amount of text, however well-written, cannot match the impact an animation will have.
5. Another major concern for blended learning is accessibility on a variety of devices. With availability of many devices with widely varying configuration and technology, it is increasingly difficult of create something that can run on all platforms. However, videos has the greatest advantages that they can run on any media player, be it mobile, tablets, PCs, TVs, and so on. Videos can be delivered over a wide range of platforms, including social media and can be accessed on the go by anyone. This makes blended learning experience truly amazing.
6. Videos can be employed to illustrate how not to do something and then getting the learners to spot the mistakes. This can be followed up by showing them the correct way of completing the task. This makes videos unique in terms of having an all-round knowledge transfer. This is extremely helpful for training softskill and technical skills.
7. With availability of advanced software, making videos has become very cost effective, less time consuming and highly engaging. Editing videos to add or delete content is also very easy.
8. Delivering videos is easier than ever over any other format. Videos can be delivered via a simple web link, social media, servers, video sharing platforms such a YouTube. Videos can be distributed in short bursts to learners’ devices without too much effort. Video sizes can be optimised as per the need. This makes videos a unique platform to deliver content.
In short, videos add life to the blended learning content by making it effective and engaging. It increases learner engagement and participation by reducing cognitive overload and maximizing retention. Videos provide a simpler and practical learning experience in a cost-effective manner. Hence, industry experts recommend videos as an essential component of blended learning programs. Thus, we can say that videos have the potential to play a crucial role in making blended learning fun, effective and user friendly Videos being flexible to be accessible across any device and platform gives a great option for truly engaging learning.