Energize your training videos by branching them into video
Engaging remote learners can be a challenge for professionals in training and enablement. A long amount of instructional videos interspersed by pings, messages and messages from the always-on digital workplace can make it hard for any person to remain focused.
On top of the digital distracting factor at work, establishing a successful training and onboarding program isn't an easy task. Recent Gallup research found that just 12% of employees think their company is doing a good job of integrating new employees.
First, what is the purpose of video branching?
Branching video is a type of interactive video where viewers' participation directly affects the outcome of the storyline.
Video clips that branch give viewers an opportunity to engage in the content by engaging in the story. The viewer can pose questions to viewers with dedicated decisions points. Based on their response or decision, the user is directed to a different portion of the video. It is crucial to create a a compelling workflow of potential storylines and let your employees determine their own path to learning.
Two possible scenarios to use video branching
Video branching is an excellent instrument for creating custom learning and onboarding experiences. Two of the most effective uses cases where training and enablement teams can benefit from interactive learning:
Individualized learning pathways
A typical learning video can lead viewers on a linear learning pathway. For example, a general employee orientation program could guide new hires through company corporate culture, the product or services, different department and leader, as well as different duties and roles. It could be presented in a single video or sequence of videos, which equals hours of content to wade through.
Through video branching, trainers and teams for enablement and training can break the video into clickable segments, allowing new hires to jump into the areas the most pertinent to their needs in a single video.
Scenario-based training
Training on the job is only successful if employees know the best way to use their knowledge. So, scenario-based training could be effective and a fun approach to train employees.
Video branching provides training and enablement teams the possibility of creating engaging storylines, showcase different scenarios, and dramatize scenarios that employees could encounter in the workplace.
Here's an example from Radisson Hotel Group that shows how video branching can provide the ideal scenario-based learning experience for hotel workers.
Creating a simplified branching structure
When mapping out the branching structure to create your first interactive video you should try to streamline the experience for your viewer. As an example, if you had a decision point that has three possible outcomes following two additional choices, you'd already have 27 different results to consider in the video.
You can also try master loops in which one story unfolds. When your learner chooses the wrong option when they reach a decision-making point the story plays until they are back at the decision point in order to pick another outcome. Once they choose the correct outcome, the storyline is repeated. Master loops are excellent for video-based instruction and quizzes.
To find other scenarios for branching make sure you create a storyboard of the content you wish your viewers to experience. It is possible to create flowcharts or decision trees that show the video experience at each stage.
There are four things you need to consider when planning an upcoming branching video shoot
Building an effective video branching experience begins with the video content you have. Branching videos combine different video clips into an engaging story for the viewer. Because of this, it's important to carefully plan the sequence of your videos and edit before layering in your video branching components.
When planning your next shoot or script, take a look at these 4 tips:
- Map out your viewer user journeys before shooting. Use a flow diagram, or other tools such as twine to help.
- Photograph all outcomes that could occur as well as scenes. Make sure you let the camera roll longer than you usually will.
- Think about what is happening on screen when a viewer must make a decision.
- Think about how you would like to switch from the screen of decision towards the choices of the user. Think about how that would be as.
Building a branching video with
When branching videos take a bit of work upfront by planning, shooting and editing, the results can quadruple your efforts for your viewers. Here's a guideline on the best ways to develop your storyline that branches using .
Combine all of your ideas on one calendar
In the beginning, you'll need to save your video files to on a single video file. You must modify them all together to create one large video file (one right after the other) instead of separating them into separate segments.
Create a decision point
Include hotspots in your video. You can make use of the 'jump to timing in the video' feature for your viewer to go to an exact point in the video or to view the results of a specific option.
Add playback segments
In order to stop viewers from having to move around the video and avoid the decision-making points, it is possible to make playback segments. Playback segments let creators divide videos into segments so that viewers can only scrub within that segment. This is an important feature for creating video that is branching as it enforces the structure of your branches and stops viewers from cheating your branching structure.
Below is an example training EMS video that includes playback segments.
Choose between a pause or loop
It is crucial to determine the next decision point.
For example, you might make a pause point with the use of a timer, which can stop the film from running until a choice has been taken.
Or, you may consider the possibility of creating a looping segment of content with your hotspot. You can use a time trigger to jump to a time in the video to create loops.
When making a decision make sure you consider whether your video is filmed with specific content for a decision point (like instructions that inform the viewer what's happening on the screen) as well as how you'd like your viewer to interact and make a choice.
Make sure you are prepared for your Transitions
When your viewers make a choice and a decision at some point, it's important to know what kind of transition your video is going to make.
It is possible to create an uninterrupted continuation of the video, or think about different effects for change the appearance of the mask.