Engaging content with video branching
Keeping remote learners engaged could be difficult for training and enablement professionals. A long amount of instructional videos interspersed by pings, messages and messages of the digital workspace that is always on makes it challenging for anyone to stay focused.
In addition to the constant digital interruptions at work, designing a successful training and onboarding plan isn't an easy task. A recent Gallup survey found just 12% of employees think their company does a great job onboarding new employees.
The first question is what exactly is video branching?
The branching video is one type of video that is interactive, meaning the viewers' involvement directly influences the outcome of the storyline.
The branching video format gives viewers to be involved through interactive storytelling. You can ask questions to viewers with dedicated decisions points. Based on the reply or response, the viewer will be taken to the next portion in the film. The trick is to construct the most compelling flow of possible stories and allow your staff to determine their own path to learning.
Two scenarios for video branching
Video branching is a great method to create customized learning experiences and onboarding. There are two great use scenarios where enablement and training teams can leverage interactive:
Individualized learning pathways
The traditional video for learning can guide viewers along a linear learning pathway. A typical employee orientation program could guide new hires through the company the company's culture, its products or services, different departments and leaders, and different roles and responsibilities. It could be presented via a single video, or a several videos which amount to hours of content to wade through.
By using video branching, the trainers and teams for enablement and training can divide the content into segments that can be clicked, allowing new hires to jump into key areas that are the most pertinent to their needs within a single video.
Simulation-based learning
Training on the job is only successful if employees know how to apply their knowledge. This is why training using scenarios can be a powerful and engaging approach to train employees.
Video branching gives training and enablement teams the ability to build out engaging storylines, showcase diverse scenarios and show scenarios that employees could confront at work.
Below is an example from Radisson Hotel Group that shows how video branching is able to create the perfect scenario-based training experience for hotel staff.
A simplified branching structure can be created.
In determining the branches structure you'll need to create your initial interactive video It is best to make it easier for your viewers experience. If, for instance, you had a decision point with three different outcomes, following two additional decisions, you'd already have 27 possibilities to incorporate into your video.
Try the master loop, where the story is played out in a single sequence. When the student selects an incorrect outcome at a decision point then the situation plays until they are back at the decision point in order to pick another outcome. If they select the correct result, the story goes on. Master loops work well for video-based instruction and tests.
If you are considering other branches for your use Take the time to storyboard what content you want your viewers to experience. Create flowcharts as well as decision trees to show the video experience at each stage.
Four things to prepare for the shoot of a branching video
Building an effective video branching experience begins with the video content you have. Videos that branch combine multiple video clips to make an interactive narrative for viewers. This is why it's important to carefully plan your footage and then edit prior to layering your branches.
When planning your next film and script, think about these four guidelines:
- Map out your viewer user journeys before shooting. You can use a user flow diagram or tools like twine to aid in.
- Take pictures of all possibilities for outcomes as well as scenes. Make sure you let the camera run longer than you usually will.
- Imagine what's happening on the screen when the viewer is forced to choose.
- Think about how you would like to transition from the decision screen towards the choices of the user. Also think through what that would look as.
Building a branching video with
When branching videos take a bit of work upfront in terms of planning, filming, or editing them, the final product can quadruple your efforts for your viewers. Here's a guideline on the best ways to develop your storyline that branches using .
Bring all your choices to one calendar
To start, you'll want to transfer your video content into a single file. Be sure to make sure that they are edited as an entire video file (one one right after another) instead of separating them into separate segments.
Create a decision point
Add hotspots to your video and utilize the 'jump timing in the video' action to take your viewer to a specific point in the video or view the outcome of a particular option.
Add playback segments
To prevent viewers from having to skim through videos or bypass decisions, you could make playback segments. Playback segments allow creators to split videos in parts in order that viewers only scrub within that segment. This is an important feature in creating videos with branching, because it helps enforce your branching structure and prevents viewers from taking advantage of your branching structure.
Below is an example of a training EMS video using playback segments.
Select between a pause, or loop
It's important to decide the next moment of decision.
For example, you might decide to set an pause with an event timer that can stop the film from running until a decision is reached.
Consider making a looping portion of your content using your hotspot. It is possible to use a time trigger to jump into a specific time within the video to make loop.
When making a decision make sure you consider whether your video has shot specific content for a decision point (like signals that show viewers what's on the screen) and how you want the viewer to respond to make a decision.
Build your transitions
When your viewers make an option and decides on a moment, you'll need to understand what transition the video will make.
There is a possibility of creating a seamless continuation of the video or you may want to consider different effects to mask changes in the scene.