Video Types

Video is an important part of what makes microlearning successful. Here we take a look at some of the video types you can use as part of your training approach.

 

Video is proven to make training more engaging and effective for knowledge retention.

What's Covered

Live Action

Slideshow Animation

Screen Record

Animation (Basic)

Animation (Advanced) 


Live-Action

Filming people in action can be a brilliantly effective way of conveying messages and information to your learners. This may be in the form of talking heads, role play or interviews. To make your video even more accessible think about adding subtitles. We’d always recommend recording live-action in a quiet room with a plain background or a company logo. 

Use Cases:

  • Welcome messages to introduce your company, SLT and/or training team

  • Customer testimonials 

  • ‘Top Tips’ from your top performers

  • Demonstrating physical product features

  • Soft skills such as customer/prospect interactions

Key Benefits:

  • Easy to record on a mobile phone 

  • Minimal technical experience needed

  • Audio can be recorded simultaneously

  • Personal 

  • Relatable 

Example: live-action eduTalk video.


Slideshow Animation

This is perhaps the simplest option available to content creators. By converting existing presentations you can quickly make videos for learners. Adding narration/voiceover elevates your presentation and there are many simple, effective tools to help you. 

Use Cases:

  • Converting existing presentation materials

  • Key benefits of a system 

  • Key benefits of a product

Key Benefits:

  • A great way to get started if you have existing materials

  • Quick and easy

  • Minimal technical experience required

  • Ideal for breaking down complicated topics

  • Easy to localise by simply translating the text

See how you can turn your powerpoint presentation into a video with a simple export.  

Example: Uber Eats on Cash Deliveries. 


Screen Recording 

You can record all or part of your screen. This can be especially helpful when giving a tutorial on a system. It’s also a quick and easy way to record presentations whilst adding narration. If you add narration creating a script outline will save you time and effort through the process. 

Use Cases: 

  • Tutorial videos 

  • Demonstrations of a software product

  • Using an existing talk/lecture/presentation

  • Ideal if you have your own mobile app! 

Key Benefits: 

  • Quick and easy to record

  • Inbuilt tools on smartphones 

  • Minimal technical experience required

 

We highly recommend Screencast-o-matic if recording from your desktop, it’s an ideal way to record software or a presentation that’s open on your screen. Take a look at our video guide below! 


Animation (basic)

You can use animated text over images to convey key information simply and effectively. Stock imagery is a great alternative if you don’t have a bank of images, and they can be combined with music alongside your own text and videos to create animated presentations. 

Use Cases: 

  • Short video for Messages or flashcards 

  • Internal training

  • Sharing quick tips 

  • Sharing short information pieces 

  • Ideal for simple topics  

Key Benefits:

  • No experience required - ideal for beginners!

  • Converts existing text, copy, and even blogs in minutes

  • Use existing images or stock images

Tools such as Lumen5 and AdobeSpark make it simple to create basic animations yourself. 

Example: a short video made with Adobe Spark using text with stock images.


Animation (advanced)

There are a number of different types of animation. Depending on your use case you may wish to include characters or motion graphics in yours. 

Animation is typically more complicated to produce than the other options available and unless you have in-house specialists, such as an animator and graphic designer, you will need professional assistance which might make this an expensive option. 

Use Cases: 

  • Courses on regulations 

  • Complex systems and/or processes 

  • Sensitive topics 

Key Benefits:

  • Often appropriate for sensitive topics e.g. discrimination 

  • Very engaging

  • Useful when explaining something abstract

  • More relatable 

  • Use of cartoons or characters making it easier to localise

Example: whiteboard animation, with permission IMIGe Ltd.