Boost Learning Outcomes with Interactive Video Environments

What is video-based learning?

No matter how intriguing the idea of reading a lengthy guide on organizing sock drawers or an article on squeezing 20 Excel sheets into one page may be, today’s users are more likely to opt for short training videos that uncover these secrets in no time, all accompanied by some nice music. And the numbers are screaming it loud and clear:

• A study by the Pew Research Center shows that 51% of YouTube’s extensive user base turns to the platform specifically for instructional content and eLearning videos.
• A similar study by the German Council for Cultural Education showed almost half of the pupils between the ages of 12 and 19 use the YouTube platform for learning because of unlimited repetitions of sessions and more easily understood explanations.
• According to Forrester Research, employees are 75% more likely to watch a video than read documents, emails, or web articles.

And there’s a sound rationale behind this: according to Forbes, viewers remember 95% of the content when presented through video, whereas only 10% is retained when reading the same message in text.

For educational content creators and distributors, this obsession with easily digestible videos can become a golden ticket, which, like any treasure, should be handled with care. In a landscape saturated with educational videos on platforms such as YouTube and intense competition among educational platforms, merely offering video lectures embellished with animations, graphics, slides, and music is hardly enough to captivate prospective corporate education seekers and maintain a loyal student community.

So what makes an educational video stand out and become a competitor with a blockbuster? Which interactive features would captivate high school students and hook busy professionals? Oxagile’s years of hands-on experience collaborating with educational platforms unlock practical answers to these questions.

Successful video-based learning examples

Since the term “video-based” covers a wide range of components, we’ll outline the technical capabilities it entails and highlight ideal situations to incorporate them into an EdTech solution to help you identify those elements that promise the highest value in your case.

1. Real-time communication

Our clients in the education sector often start listing their training video issues with the primary one being the absence of synchronous two-way communication between students and teachers. Fortunately, it is easily solved by incorporating live video conferencing, instant messaging, audio and video chats, screen and whiteboard sharing, media exchange, and other RTC-enabled capabilities to drive meaningful real-time collaboration.

Let’s outline the idea in these scenarios:

A young student named Billy starts watching a long presentation. As he goes through it, he encounters a complex explanation that confuses him. He pauses to look up a clearer explanation on Google, and in just 5 minutes, thanks to the magic of recommendation algorithms, he’s off reading a Wikipedia article completely unrelated to what he initially wanted to clarify.

On a different platform, which opts for live video-based learning, another student named Jack uses instant messaging whenever he has questions for immediate clarification and is enjoying the luxury of whiteboard sharing during presentations, saving him from the hassle of scouring the entire internet for quick feedback and explanations.

Perhaps there’s no need to say whose learning experience is more enjoyable and faster, right?

Top use cases where RTC can shine:

• Study groups
• Webinars, presentations, and broadcasts
• One-on-one tutoring and coaching sessions
• Oral and written examinations
• Foreign language practice

2. Video-based branching narratives

Ever heard of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, an interactive film where viewers control how the plot unfolds by making choices on behalf of the lead character? Well, this is a great example of a video-based branching narrative, which is basically a non-linear story with multiple options for viewers to choose from.

In eLearning settings, a branching narrative allows learners to try different hypotheses, challenge their assumptions, and explore the positive and negative consequences of their choices.

A peek into the concept in real-life situations:

Our young and quickly growing friend, Billy, joined a retail company and underwent sales training primarily through PowerPoint presentations and lectures. And, naturally, he faced difficulties adapting to various customer behaviors and objections and couldn’t close a single sale without senior manager consultations.

Meanwhile, Jack found himself at a company that used corporate eLearning videos with embedded branching storytelling, which helped him develop the right decision-making and advance the skill of dealing with “online is cheaper” debates and even customers’ demands for a cat’s birthday discounts.

Can you guess who contributed to a boost in the store’s revenue?

Cases when video-based branching narratives slay the game:

• Enabling learners to experience the impact of different approaches
• Playing out risky scenarios in a safe environment
• Reinforcing the impact of learning
• Soft skills training
• Customer service training

3. Interactive transcripts

Running beside the video, time-synchronized transcripts highlight words as the video progresses. Additionally, these transcripts can be generated in real time, providing a live feature. This means lectures, webinars, or any online event can be automatically transcribed as they happen, maximizing the interactive potential of video training.

A glimpse into the idea within specific cases:

Here’s our Billy, settling into his first office job, eager to refresh his memory identifying phishing attempts after a recent data security employee training. He begins searching for the specific part in the video, but after wasting a lot of time, he gives up. A few days later, the company gathers all employees again to talk about how Billy fell for a suspicious website, and now everyone needs to undergo training. Again.

In contrast, Jack, the lucky employee, is taking advantage of video-based learning on the same topic, where videos are complete with interactive subtitles, making it super easy to search for the information he needs in the transcript and quickly navigate directly to that point in the video.

Do we need to explain that this seemingly small detail not only saved the company a significant amount of funds, but also preserved its reputation?

Key instances showcasing the value of interactive transcripts:

• Live note-taking for lectures and discussions
• Accessible video-based learning for students with special needs
• Providing study aids for self-paced learning
• Maximizing discoverability and improving SEO

Otter.ai introduces live notes for Zoom

4. AR, VR, and 360-degree video

Nothing screams interactivity louder than the cutting-edge artificial and virtual reality technology. In AR and VR-enabled interactive video training, learners are immersed in simulated environments and real-life contexts to acquire knowledge and practice skills. 360-degree videos, also known as spherical or panoramic videos, provide an alternative approach to using interactive videos that do not require headgear.

In addition to superior engagement, immersive videos help create cost-effective and safer training scenarios by allowing learners to experience a target environment and interact with objects in a controlled way.

How might this idea play out in real-world scenarios?

Our acquaintance, Billy, is currently undergoing Spanish language training to impress a potential new client from Spain. However, due to the lack of interactive elements in the video-based learning, he struggles to apply the learned phrases and expressions in real-life situations, which causes his motivation to decline, ultimately slowing down his language progression and confidence in communication.

In contrast, Jack, drawing from his prior experiences, opts for immersive Spanish courses where students interact with AI-driven characters, engaging in daily conversations and real-life scenarios, accelerating both language acquisition and cultural understanding. All that is powered by Jack’s extensive familiarity with Madrid, enriched by 360-degree tours during the course, shines during interactions with the client, ultimately earning his favor.

Situations where AR, VR, and 360-degree video can really stand out:

• Risk-free medical training and surgical simulations
• Corporate video training for workplace safety
• 360-degree content for an enhanced curriculum
• Virtual tours of museums, historic places, etc.

360-degree interactive tour of the solar system

From tech perks to a full-fledged solution

In addition to incorporating all the previously mentioned video-based components individually into learning platforms, you can take advantage of a ready-made solution — a flexible video conferencing platform. It effortlessly integrates with various existing educational platforms and seamlessly fits into any standalone educational process. This enables content owners to easily organize and conduct lessons, webinars, seminars, and other educational activities.

The platform’s adaptability to tailor to the specific requirements of educational institutions permits customization of both the interface and functionality. This includes incorporating features for file sharing, lesson recording, creating group chats, utilizing interactive whiteboards, and integrating other educational tools.

Discover VCP in 1 minute

Created to make educational experiences easier and boost student engagement, our VCP solution is adaptable and perfect for private tutors as well as for big corporate training initiatives. Explore the video to discover the features and ideas that could be your winning elements or inspiration.

Benefits of video-based learning

Video has steadily morphed from a source of entertainment into a reliable educational tool not only because of the sheer enjoyment of the features we’ve discussed earlier by students, but also thanks to the diverse advantages it offers to content creators and distributors.

• Video learning analytics
  In a conventional classroom setting, gauging learner engagement relies primarily on interpreting facial expressions. Certainly, it’s also possible to attempt to gather their feedback on the content through surveys, but this method is often accompanied by a multitude of limitations, ranging from students’ reluctance to participate in surveys or provide honest responses to the surveys quickly losing relevance.And on the contrary, when it comes to video-based learning, one can gain access to precise, real-time data regarding student engagement. You can monitor the number of viewers for each video and the duration they devote to it. Additionally, with video learning, you can pinpoint the exact moment when students disengage from the video, offering insights into their level of interest. Furthermore, you can identify segments of a video that learners rewatch, indicating the significance or potential confusion associated with that particular information. This, as well as many other data insights and metrics you can receive from students’ interaction with your content, allows for targeted follow-ups with students or employees to glean a deeper understanding.
• Universal accessibility
  When developed correctly and adhering to some core principles, interactive videos can function effectively across various web browsers and all types of devices, be it a computer, smartphone, or tablet, with just a few minor limitations. The same video content can deliver a consistent and compelling learning experience regardless of whether the learner is using a laptop in an office or a mobile device with earbuds while commuting. No doubt, such broad compatibility simplifies the production procedure, erasing worries about making multiple versions or adapting to different operating systems.
• Captivation and high student retention
  In the fast-paced world of today, learners tend to quickly lose interest and disconnect when the learning experience is slow, uninspiring, or passive. On the flip side, various studies affirm that interactive and immersive video experiences, deeply involving learners in the content, significantly reduce user drop-off. Moreover, incorporating a narrative-driven approach in videos encourages learners to explore the content by following dynamic storylines, blending captivating characters with hands-on experiential learning and ongoing guidance from tutors. This leads to a perfect fusion of effective learning and enjoyment, eliminating the necessity for constantly coming up with new, complex methods to keep users engaged and satisfied.
• Flexibility and adaptability
  Among the many ways we can learn, video learning really shines with its incredible flexibility. Video content can work well as a stand-alone microlearning tool online. It easily fits into different learning settings, be it a classroom, a comprehensive digital course, or even as a standalone learning resource. What’s more, most interactive video platforms come with user-friendly, cloud-based authoring tools, greatly amplifying the learning and teaching experience.

Conclusion

Leveraging video-based learning solutions to enhance educational platforms or employee trainings goes beyond what we’ve shared here. At Oxagile, we have hands-on experience in enhancing existing solutions by organizing video content, syndicating it, customizing configurations to meet specific requirements for third-party educational platforms, as well as transforming regular videos into interactive educational content.

We have a 360-degree view of all video powers in the eLearning space and go the extra mile to bring this knowledge to life in real projects. Whether you’re already running your online platform or you’re a content owner with loads of content but feel a bit lost on how to transform it into a seamlessly functioning educational hub — we’re here to guide you on how video-based learning can help to expand your customer base and make training more effective and cost-efficient.