About using video in training

If a good picture is worth thousand words, how much would worth the right video?

Even if this concept comes from a “cliché”, this post is about sharing my practice concerning the use of video in a training room. Why to use them? What to use? Where to look for? Some tips and tricks on including them while designing your session and for making them effective for your trainees.

We all dream that one day we’ll be answering as fast as Trinity to the question: “Can you fly that thing?”

Though at the moment is article is written, the answer would be close to the Agent Smith ending: “No!”.

Why to use video in training?

We are in a world where visuals have a lot of importance. Over 80% of information one perceive comes from what we see, which also explain how easily we are so distracted when something unusual cross our sight.

Not being an actor, I find it sometimes difficult to make my trainees, or myself, act or set up a scenario that would illustrate my points. For this video are great as you can, with short searching effort, broadcast the right scenario with sometimes famous actors which makes your points accessible.

I also use to choose video when I want to visually make a point regarding attitude and behaviour I’d like my trainees to reflect on. It is also useful to demonstrate a skill, illustrate a behaviour or to have a recognised expert delivering part of a topic, in a more assertive way then I would. Following this time with a discussion can bring very interesting discussion points when you choose a controversially rich sequence.

Another element, next to the illustrative and learning part, is that video are entertaining by nature. We are formatted to relax when we know we’ll be watching a video. It’s a shared moment between trainees as it helps them enjoy a fun moment together.

Which video to use?

It depends on the purpose you want to reach. Is it just for fun? Do you want trainees to think, do you want to inspire them? Do you want them to do something? The clearer the purpose and the message to convey, the better to choose the video.

First, it’s important to define the purpose you want to reach then to pick the video that meet exactly that purpose. Here is a video about Creativity and that anyone can innovate: What can creativity do, used to triggers audience mind and open up to tools which can stimulate their creative minds.

Second, strive to choose a meaningful video matching your purpose in the right amount of time. If you can make your point crystal clear with a 30 seconds video, it’s not needed to choose a 10 minutes sequence. The attention span of your audience is limited and should be taken into account.

The third point would be to choose something entertaining, even for a serious topic. Something colour full, that people know or can relate to very easily. If trainees can connect the video to something they already know, the anchor will facilitate the retention of your point. I use to introduce my Strategic Planning sessions with a video like Strategic Planning for Happy Endings. Full of reference trainees know and still with enough elements to start a complex discussion about the Strategic Planning topic.

Last point here is to collect, collect and collect. Whatever you are looking for, keep in mind that serendipity is your ally. If you find something that might be interesting, save the link somewhere you can reach later on. I personally have few Spreadsheets on which I collect video links I find on various topics I deliver. I also store some critical ones on my computer in case there is no Internet at the delivery location.

The best video to pick fits the purpose of your learning block, takes into account the attention span of your audience and resonate into your audience imagery.

Where to look for?

As you probably already know, the number one source at the moment celebrated its 5th anniversary few months ago. Youtube is without contest, a huge source of video of all kind. Though like in many fields, having several other sources can help as sometimes, some videos can be made unavailable for copyright reasons. Therefore, I would suggest you to also keep an eye on Google Video, Dailymotion, Vimeo, where I sometimes found materials that were not available on Youtube.

Another source would be to take the video yourselves or a friends’ camera and use them later on. That’s one of the practice I have for training such as Presentation Skills, Effective Feedback and other sessions parts. I started few years ago to collect some short videos from my sessions and lately we managed during an event to collect over 10 GB of materials from most of the sessions. And the next step is learning to edit these videos as in the example: Team Value Game, for learning purpose.

3 Tips when using videos on training

In order to finish nicely this post, I would like to share with you some trips when using videos on your training and other working sessions.

#1 Test the video on site

It might sound obvious so it doesn’t cost to remind it regarding the number of time I saw this rule not respected.

Checking the technicalities (image, sound, light) before having to use them will ensure that the effect you want to reach has higher chances to occur the way you planned it.

#2 Introduce the video

As written above, we are formatted to see video as entertainment. So even if you don’t present up front the purpose of the video, introduce the video and tell them what will come next in order for your audience to realise that it won’t be just for fun. And if it is just for fun, announce it too.

#3 Watch your audience

Because you picked the video, you know it, maybe even by heart. So, according to the purpose of the video, you should pay attention to your audience. To what do they react, or not, did they notice the tiny detail that shows that they got your point completely, are they having fun, do they talk about it in the noise that follows immediately the end of the projection?

If you pay attention to the audience, in the debriefing time you will have after the video, you have elements you can use to animate the discussion and make them think deeper.

Visual support, such as video, can be of great use in training. By adding visual support to aural message, we ease the learning of our trainees as they get the information faster, in a more understandable way and, by linking it to known patterns, they will retain it longer. And I strive to make of them a fun moment I would like my trainees to remember about the session long after it’s over.

And you? How do you experiment video in your sessions?

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