Refresh your learning materials with video branching

Jan 20, 2023

Engaging students from distant locations is a problem for those working in education and facilitation. Hours of training videos punctuated with pings, messages and notifications from the digital workstation that's always online makes it challenging for any person to remain focussed.

In addition to the distraction of online use working, developing an effective onboarding and training program isn't easy. An earlier Gallup study found that less than 12% of workers believe their work environment is doing a good job at integrating new recruits.

First, let's look at what exactly does video branching mean?

Branching video is a type of video that's interactive. That is, the viewer's participation directly impacts the plot of the video.

Branching videos allow viewers an opportunity to engage in the content by engaging in the narrative. It is possible to ask questions of viewers who have designated decision points. If the answer is a yes, the user is taken to the next part of video. It is essential to craft the most engaging sequence of narratives possible and then let the viewers choose their preferred method.

Two use cases for video branching

Video branching can be an effective method of creating custom learning experiences, as well as to facilitate onboarding. Two great uses scenarios in which enablement and education teams could make use of interactive:

Learning pathways for individuals

A traditional learning video may take viewers through the steps of a linear education. For example, a general employee orientation program could guide newly hired employees through company's corporate culture, the product or service offerings, as well as the director and supervisory roles, as well as the various tasks and duties. It could be delivered in a single clip, or in a set of video clips that provide one hour worth of content to read through.

Through video branching, training and enablement teams are able to divide the video into parts that are clickable, enabling employees to work in those areas of their job which are most relevant to their requirements within the same video.

Training based on scenarios

The training on the job is only efficient when workers understand how they apply their skills. It's the reason why simulation-based training can be an effective and effective method to teach employees. Video branching offers groups of facilitators and trainers the opportunity to create captivating stories, and to show various scenarios and dramatic outcomes the employees could face in their work.

Here is an example provided by Radisson Hotel Group that shows how video branching is able to create the perfect scenario-based training experience for hotel employees.

Creating a simplified branching structure

If you are planning the design of your branching in the first video you've made, you must try to streamline your user's experience. For instance, if you had to choose between three possible outcomes and then two other options there would be 27 different possibilities to incorporate in your video.

You can also try a master loop where a single story plays out. When your child decides to go with an unsuitable option at a certain point, the story will play on until they return to the point of decision to select an alternative outcome. If they choose the right result, the story continues. Master loops work well to train students using scenarios and videos assessments.

For other branching use cases, take the time to make a storyboard for the information you would like viewers to be able to experience. You can create flowcharts or decision trees to visualise the process of viewing video through each stage.

Four tips to be prepared for an upcoming branching video shoot

An enjoyable experience with video branching starts with the video content you have. Branching videos combine different video clips to make an engaging story for the viewer. This is why it is crucial to consider your footage and then edit before layering in your video branches.

When you are planning your shoot and script, consider these guidelines:

  1. Map out your viewer user journeys before shooting. Utilize a flow chart or tools like twine to assist.
  2. Take pictures of all possibilities of outcomes and sceneries. It is recommended to let the camera roll for longer than you normally do.
  3. Think about what is happening on the display when a user is forced to choose.
  4. It is important to think about what you'll do to transition from the decision screen and then to user options. Consider how this could appear on the screen.

A video that is able to branch with

When branching videos take a bit of work upfront in terms of planning, filming, or editing them, the end output can double your effort to your viewers. In this article we'll provide you with the most effective ways to build your narrative that is branching employing .

Each of your choices should be on one time line

If this is your first attempt, you'll be required to upload all the video content to a single video file. Be sure to make sure you edit them all together in one video file (one one right after another) instead of separate parts.

Create a decision point

You can make hotspots accessible to your video. You can utilize the 'jump timing within the video' function to take your viewer to a specific point within the video. Or, you can view the result of an option you have made.

Add playback segments

To prevent viewers from being able skip around videos and bypass the decision-making process, you can create playback segments. Playback segments let creators divide video into sections to make sure that viewers can move around within the segments. This feature is vital when the creation of videos with being branch-based because it allows you to enforce the branch structure and prevents viewers from getting around the branch structure.

Here is an example of an educational EMS video that includes playback segments.

It is possible to choose between a pause and loop

It is crucial to determine what stage to take at.

In this case, for instance, you could decide to create a pause using a timer that stops the movie in its tracks until a choice is taken.

You could also think about the possibility of creating a looping segment of content with your hotspot. Use a time trigger to trigger a certain moment in the video and then make loops.

Before making a choice make sure you consider whether your video contains specific information for a reason to make your decision (like the prompts in your video that let viewers know about the content) and how you want viewers to engage with you in order to reach a conclusion.

Create your shifts

Once your viewers have reached an important decision You'll need to be cognizant of the changes the video is likely to create.

You can create continuous footage of your video. You may also want examine different effects that could mask variations in the video.

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