What Is an Online Course?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nSimply put, an online course is any web-based lesson that can be viewed on a computer or mobile device. Courses can take many forms, depending on training needs and the resources that a company is ready to invest in their development. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nHere are a few eLearning content types that can be used as separate courses or combined into a single course. Most of them can be created with authoring tools like <\/span>iSpring Suite<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Slide-based courses<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis is what most people imagine when they hear about eLearning. Such courses look like PowerPoint slides with the \u201cNext\u201d button and typically include text, images, and videos. They can also feature interactive units and narration.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Quizzes<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nQuizzes or tests come as a part of most online courses. They are interactive tasks that allow you to check learners\u2019 knowledge and see if the learning objectives have been addressed. They can also serve as engaging activities that separate training modules and provide learners with a sense of progression. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Role-plays<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nRole-plays are interactive exercises that imitate real-world conversations with customers, staff members, colleagues, or other persons. They use branched scenarios, which means they let learners take the dialogue down different pathways, depending on the responses they select. Role-plays are perfect for teaching customer service and sales skills. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Podcasts<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis is another great way to teach new content, but it is most suited for passive, non-assessable learning. <\/span>Podcasts<\/span><\/a> are good for presenting topics that revolve around mindset and motivation, as well as cases and scenarios, in the form of stories. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n5. Training videos<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTraining videos<\/span><\/a> are an extremely popular format for sharing knowledge. There are several ways you can use them for your training purposes:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Standalone video tutorials.<\/b> You can create a video course that will consist of a series of recordings on your topic. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Embedded videos.<\/b> You can add YouTube\/Vimeo videos on specific topics or recordings you\u2019ve made to your course and mix them together with other interactive content items.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- ILT training playback. <\/b>You can record your webinars or live training sessions and share them with the learners who didn\u2019t attend the training. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why Use Videos for Training?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nVideo training is not new, but it’s becoming more popular every year. And that\u2019s not surprising, since learning this way is extremely convenient. With a single click, you\u2019re watching a lesson wherever you are \u2013 at home, in the subway, or in line at the bank.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re still not using videos in your online courses, perhaps it\u2019s time to start! Here\u2019s why it\u2019s a great idea:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nGreater engagement<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nPeople are <\/span>75%<\/span><\/a> more likely to watch a video than to read something. Given their nature, videos can engage people in a way that static text materials cannot. So, by adding a video to your course, you give your learners both what they need and want.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nBetter knowledge retention<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ve mentioned that people prefer viewing videos, but what\u2019s also important is that watching is far more effective than reading. Our brain processes visuals better than text, and video images are remembered longer. This was confirmed in a study conducted by the SAVO group, in which visual content was shown to increase knowledge retention by <\/span>up to 65 %<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nFewer training costs<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWith modern technologies, creating training videos doesn\u2019t require professional video <\/span>production skills<\/span><\/a> or big financial investments. Besides, as opposed to face-to-face training, you don\u2019t need to spend a fortune on travel and accommodation costs and trainers\u2019 services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nSpeaking of numbers, IBM saved $579 million in 2 years after they started their video learning program, while Microsoft reduced their training costs from $320 per hour per learner to only $17.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nBottom line: <\/b>adding video content to your course can provide a more cost-effective, engaging, and memorable learning experience for all your trainees.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Choose the Right Type of Video<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDepending on your learning objectives and the topic of your course, you might opt for different types of videos<\/a>. Here are some options and where to implement each of them:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nTalking head videos<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSuch videos feature a narrator who speaks directly into the camera. They\u2019re that simple, but with the right <\/span>video editing tools<\/span><\/a>, you can make them more engaging and effective in terms of comprehension. For example, you can add special effects, <\/span>freeze frames<\/span><\/a>, complementary graphics, and <\/span>on-screen text<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nA <\/span>talking head video<\/span><\/a> is a perfect solution when you want an expert in a particular area or topic to explain some important notions and share valuable information with your employees. For instance, add a video with a time management expert to your course who will explain his best practices for greater productivity. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nYou may also want to use a <\/span>talking-head video<\/span><\/a> with your onboarding course, for instance. Viewing the welcome video with a CEO and a few members of the company will help new employees feel connected to the team. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nScreencasts<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nScreencasts<\/span><\/a> are typically created to demonstrate a process that\u2019s shown on the screen. This is the best option if you want to explain to your employees how to use the software they need to perform their job duties, e.g., making a guide to Microsoft Excel or creating a step-by-step guide to using an LMS.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nSuch videos can include a talking head element of the instructor speaking in the corner of the screen and other accompanying visuals that help to eliminate monotony and boredom on the part of the learners. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nLive-action videos <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLive-action videos look like a movie and require many people (think cast and crew) and gear (cameras, sound equipment, lighting), as well as a well-developed plot and a relevant setting for shooting. They are usually complicated to produce and quite expensive, so for training purposes, this video type may exceed both budget and needs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, live-action videos are successfully produced for global learning projects and yield great results. One such project is <\/span>\u201cLifesaver,\u201d<\/span><\/a> a complete training film created to teach CPR. It includes interactive elements – a viewer can make the choices they\u2019d have to in an actual situation. If they make the wrong decision, someone dies.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nAnimated videos<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAnimated videos<\/span><\/a> are created with drawings, <\/span>illustrations<\/span><\/a>, and computer-generated effects. With moving graphic elements, you can make an engaging story and explain complex notions or provide a quick guide on how to use a mobile app, for example. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you have enough skills to create moving graphics and specialized software, it may be a good idea to produce an animated video for your employee training course. Still, this type of video is more often used for teaching customers how to leverage a company\u2019s products or services. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWe hope this article has provided some insights on how to use videos as a part of online courses. Even simple talking head videos and screencasts that almost everyone can make with minimal overhead can help you significantly improve your students\u2019 learning experience and results.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nStoryblocks<\/a> is a great resource for creating these different types of videos and can help make the creative process faster and the content that much better. Check out our plans<\/a> today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With current technology, eLearning is no more an option in education and corporate training, it\u2019s a firm alternative. the trend for online learning accelerated – many companies, universities, and schools transformed their traditional instructor-led training to the virtual classroom and self-paced e-courses. In this article, we\u2019ll explain what a typical online course is and how to make it more effective with the help of video.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":843,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"topic":[14],"class_list":["post-609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-video-editing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Here are a few eLearning content types that can be used as separate courses or combined into a single course. Most of them can be created with authoring tools like <\/span>iSpring Suite<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is what most people imagine when they hear about eLearning. Such courses look like PowerPoint slides with the \u201cNext\u201d button and typically include text, images, and videos. They can also feature interactive units and narration.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Quizzes or tests come as a part of most online courses. They are interactive tasks that allow you to check learners\u2019 knowledge and see if the learning objectives have been addressed. They can also serve as engaging activities that separate training modules and provide learners with a sense of progression. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Role-plays are interactive exercises that imitate real-world conversations with customers, staff members, colleagues, or other persons. They use branched scenarios, which means they let learners take the dialogue down different pathways, depending on the responses they select. Role-plays are perfect for teaching customer service and sales skills. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is another great way to teach new content, but it is most suited for passive, non-assessable learning. <\/span>Podcasts<\/span><\/a> are good for presenting topics that revolve around mindset and motivation, as well as cases and scenarios, in the form of stories. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Training videos<\/span><\/a> are an extremely popular format for sharing knowledge. There are several ways you can use them for your training purposes:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Video training is not new, but it’s becoming more popular every year. And that\u2019s not surprising, since learning this way is extremely convenient. With a single click, you\u2019re watching a lesson wherever you are \u2013 at home, in the subway, or in line at the bank.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re still not using videos in your online courses, perhaps it\u2019s time to start! Here\u2019s why it\u2019s a great idea:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n People are <\/span>75%<\/span><\/a> more likely to watch a video than to read something. Given their nature, videos can engage people in a way that static text materials cannot. So, by adding a video to your course, you give your learners both what they need and want.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve mentioned that people prefer viewing videos, but what\u2019s also important is that watching is far more effective than reading. Our brain processes visuals better than text, and video images are remembered longer. This was confirmed in a study conducted by the SAVO group, in which visual content was shown to increase knowledge retention by <\/span>up to 65 %<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n With modern technologies, creating training videos doesn\u2019t require professional video <\/span>production skills<\/span><\/a> or big financial investments. Besides, as opposed to face-to-face training, you don\u2019t need to spend a fortune on travel and accommodation costs and trainers\u2019 services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of numbers, IBM saved $579 million in 2 years after they started their video learning program, while Microsoft reduced their training costs from $320 per hour per learner to only $17.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bottom line: <\/b>adding video content to your course can provide a more cost-effective, engaging, and memorable learning experience for all your trainees.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on your learning objectives and the topic of your course, you might opt for different types of videos<\/a>. Here are some options and where to implement each of them:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Such videos feature a narrator who speaks directly into the camera. They\u2019re that simple, but with the right <\/span>video editing tools<\/span><\/a>, you can make them more engaging and effective in terms of comprehension. For example, you can add special effects, <\/span>freeze frames<\/span><\/a>, complementary graphics, and <\/span>on-screen text<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A <\/span>talking head video<\/span><\/a> is a perfect solution when you want an expert in a particular area or topic to explain some important notions and share valuable information with your employees. For instance, add a video with a time management expert to your course who will explain his best practices for greater productivity. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n You may also want to use a <\/span>talking-head video<\/span><\/a> with your onboarding course, for instance. Viewing the welcome video with a CEO and a few members of the company will help new employees feel connected to the team. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Screencasts<\/span><\/a> are typically created to demonstrate a process that\u2019s shown on the screen. This is the best option if you want to explain to your employees how to use the software they need to perform their job duties, e.g., making a guide to Microsoft Excel or creating a step-by-step guide to using an LMS.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Such videos can include a talking head element of the instructor speaking in the corner of the screen and other accompanying visuals that help to eliminate monotony and boredom on the part of the learners. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Live-action videos look like a movie and require many people (think cast and crew) and gear (cameras, sound equipment, lighting), as well as a well-developed plot and a relevant setting for shooting. They are usually complicated to produce and quite expensive, so for training purposes, this video type may exceed both budget and needs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, live-action videos are successfully produced for global learning projects and yield great results. One such project is <\/span>\u201cLifesaver,\u201d<\/span><\/a> a complete training film created to teach CPR. It includes interactive elements – a viewer can make the choices they\u2019d have to in an actual situation. If they make the wrong decision, someone dies.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Animated videos<\/span><\/a> are created with drawings, <\/span>illustrations<\/span><\/a>, and computer-generated effects. With moving graphic elements, you can make an engaging story and explain complex notions or provide a quick guide on how to use a mobile app, for example. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have enough skills to create moving graphics and specialized software, it may be a good idea to produce an animated video for your employee training course. Still, this type of video is more often used for teaching customers how to leverage a company\u2019s products or services. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope this article has provided some insights on how to use videos as a part of online courses. Even simple talking head videos and screencasts that almost everyone can make with minimal overhead can help you significantly improve your students\u2019 learning experience and results.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Storyblocks<\/a> is a great resource for creating these different types of videos and can help make the creative process faster and the content that much better. Check out our plans<\/a> today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With current technology, eLearning is no more an option in education and corporate training, it\u2019s a firm alternative. the trend for online learning accelerated – many companies, universities, and schools transformed their traditional instructor-led training to the virtual classroom and self-paced e-courses. In this article, we\u2019ll explain what a typical online course is and how to make it more effective with the help of video.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":843,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"topic":[14],"class_list":["post-609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-video-editing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}1. Slide-based courses<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/27110252\/video2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Quizzes<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/27110252\/video3.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Role-plays<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/27110251\/video4.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Podcasts<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Training videos<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Why Use Videos for Training?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Greater engagement<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Better knowledge retention<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fewer training costs<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Choose the Right Type of Video<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Talking head videos<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/27110251\/video5.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nScreencasts<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/27110250\/video6.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLive-action videos <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/27110250\/video7.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAnimated videos<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n