Many organizations are looking at digital learning to train their employees. Today there is a repository of digital training resources that can be mixed and matched to suit different training needs. Digital learning allows businesses to scale up their training to reach a larger section of employees who may be spread across different locations but still allows them to track and monitor learners on an individual basis.
There are many content formats through which digital learning can be delivered; these include e-learning courses, videos, mobile learning modules, podcasts, webinars, and much more. Among these, videos are a versatile resource because they can be used either as part of classroom training, as part of e-learning, or as independent, short, learning nuggets with a single learning objective as part of microlearning strategy. Videos can fit in with a blended learning strategy very well.
There are various reasons organizations are choosing videos as a part of their digital learning strategy. Let’s explore a few of them and also the benefits of using videos in your digital learning strategy.
Videos for Mobile Learning
With the ubiquitous mobile devices used by employees to access and share information related to their work, it is natural to use it for their learning as well. Organizations too are turning to mobile devices to deliver training to their employees. Short e-learning videos that are not more than 5 minutes can be accessed on mobile devices, making it an ideal way to deliver learning. For instance, a five-minute video on how a product works can help sales personnel explain to customers better on how it can meet their needs. Short videos delivered on mobile devices attract and retain the attention of your learners.
Deliver Various Types of Training
Videos are used to deliver a wide variety of training programs from product training to process training or even compliance training. Short modules in the form of videos create the desired impact on induction training and teaching software applications becomes easier with videos.
Videos can reduce the learning curve for new hires. They are an intelligent choice when you want to teach your new hires about scheduling meetings or signing e-mails or setting up conference calls. A library of videos can be created that can be accessed by new hires so that they get these basics right.
As for product training, videos can effectively teach employees more than just an understanding of how a product or service works. They can accurately describe how it works and how it differs from that of your competitors. Videos can provide the required in-depth knowledge to your employees.
Videos come in handy for compliance training, especially when one needs to explain important and delicate compliance issues such as sexual harassment laws or emergency procedures.
Effective Engagement of Learners
Videos can effectively engage learners, especially when it is a self-paced online course. Videos usually follow a step-by-step process for describing a process or graphically explaining a concept which engages learners. Moreover, learners can view the videos as many times as they would like to, until they get it right. This convenience helps deliver a personalized learning experience to your learners.
Reduced Cost of Production
Videos are a cost-effective solution when training budgets are small. They are produced with minimum overheads. A simple video can be created using your mobile phone’s camera. Even employees can record and share tips and related aspects with their peers. With the demand for better ROI on the investment in learning and development, videos can bring the desired results with smaller budgets.
Better Knowledge Retention
Training is effective only if the learning is retained effectively by learners. Videos ensure that learning sticks. Cognitive load is reduced when learning with videos because they offer both auditory and visual inputs which result in better knowledge retention.
Videos hold the attention of your learners more effectively than other learning mediums. This is because studies have discovered that the human brain processes videos faster than text.
Learning Accessibility
Videos are accessible on mobile devices which make it easy to access anytime and anywhere at the learner’s convenience. They can replay them when they need clarification. The accessibility of videos makes it easy to train sales teams about a new product, a product update, or a new sales technique. Videos can help them learn new techniques to convince customers or learn how to handle customers in a better way.
When it comes to digital learning, videos are a natural choice, given the reasons we have mentioned. Moreover, today’s learners prefer videos for learning because of their short duration and crisp content. What do you think? Do share your thoughts.
