Interactive material with video branching
Engaging learners from remote locations could be difficult for training and enablement professionals. The endless training videos interrupted with pings and messages of the digital workspace that is always on can make it hard for anyone to stay focused.
Alongside the online distraction at work, creating a successful training and onboarding program isn't simple. A recent Gallup survey found just 12 percent of employees think their company has a successful time onboarding new employees.
In the beginning, what is the purpose of video branching?
A branching video is a kind of video that is interactive, meaning viewers' participation directly affects the plot of the video.
Branching videos allow viewers to be involved through interactive storytelling. You can ask questions to viewers using a set of to-be-decided points. In response to the decision, the user is directed to a different part or section of video. It is crucial to create a an engaging workflow with potential storylines and let your employees decide on their preferred learning route.
Two use cases for video branching
Video branching is a great method to create personalized learning experiences as well as onboarding. Two of the most effective uses situations where learning and enablement teams can benefit from interactive learning:
Learning paths that are custom-designed for you
A traditional learning video may guide viewers along the steps of a linear education. For example, a general employee onboarding course could take new hires through the company the company's culture, its products or services, the various leadership and departments, and different roles and responsibilities. Content could be distributed in a single video or series of videos that equal hours of content to wade through.
With video branching, training and enablement teams can divide the content into pieces that are clickable, enabling new employees to get into the areas important to them in a single video.
Simulation-based learning
The process of learning on the job only efficient when workers know the best way to use their knowledge. This is why training using scenarios can be a powerful and engaging way to teach employees.
Video branching offers groups of trainers and facilitators the ability to build out engaging storylines, showcase various scenarios and dramatic the outcomes employees might confront on the job.
Below is an example from Radisson Hotel Group that shows how video branching can make the most effective scenario-based training experience for hotel workers.
Creating a simplified branching structure
In determining the branches structure you'll need for your first video that you've created you should try to streamline the experience for your viewer. If, for instance, you created a decision point that has three possible outcomes following two additional decision points, you would already have 27 possible possibilities to incorporate into your video.
Instead, try using a master loop where the story is played out in a single sequence. If your student chooses a wrong outcome when they reach a decision-making point then the situation plays before they go back to the decision point in order to pick the other option. If they select the correct result, the story continues. Master loops are excellent for video-based instruction and questions.
To find other scenarios for branching Take the time to sketch out what you would like your viewer to see. It is possible to create flowcharts or decision trees to show the video experience at each step.
Four things to prepare for a branching video shoot
A successful video branching experience starts by incorporating your video content. Videos that branch combine multiple video clips in order to create an interactive experience for the viewers. This is why it's crucial to think carefully the sequence of your videos and edit before layering on your branches.
When planning your next film and script, think about these four suggestions:
- Map out your viewer user journeys before shooting. You can use a user flow diagram, or other tools such as twine to help.
- Photograph all outcomes that could occur as well as scenes. Be sure to let the camera run longer than you typically would.
- Consider what happens in the screen while a user is forced to choose.
- Think about how you would like to move from the decision screen to the user choices. Consider what the transition might be as.
A branching video can be created using
When branching videos take some effort upfront by planning, shooting and editing, the final product can quadruple your efforts for your viewers. Below, we've outlined the steps to create your branching storyline by using .
Bring all your choices to one timeline
For the first time, you'll need to save your video files to on a single video file. Make sure you modify them all together to create one long video file (one right after the other) rather than separating them into different parts.
Create a decision point
Add hotspots to your video. You can make use of the 'jump to the time of video' function to take your viewer to a specific point in the video, or to see the results of a specific decision.
Add playback segments
In order to stop viewers from having to move around the video and avoid decision points, you can create playback segments. Playback segments allow creators to split videos in parts in order that viewers only be able to scrub through the segments. This is an important feature in creating videos with branching, as it enforces your branching structure and prevents viewers from evading the branching structure.
Below is an example an instructional EMS video that includes playback segments.
Select between a pause, or loop
It's crucial to know what will happen at each decision point.
You could, for instance, make a pause point with an event timer that can stop the video from playing until a selection has been made.
You could also think about creating a looping section of your content using your hotspot. You can use a time trigger to jump into the video to make loops.
When making a decision, consider if your video is filmed with specific content for a decision point (like instructions that inform viewers what's on screen) and how you want viewers to engage with you and make a choice.
Build your transitions
Once your viewer makes a choice and a decision at some point, it's important to understand what transition the video will make.
There is a possibility of creating a seamless continuation of the video or to look at different effects that could alter the mask in the video.