In the blog post , 7 Component Considerations to Consider to Make the Most of PLM eLearning, I introduced the various eLearning components to consider. My previous post, 5 Software Simulation Scenarios for PLM eLearning elaborated on Software Simulation scenarios. This blog post is focused on 5 possible video creation options for PLM eLearning. Your decision on what video creation option to use can depend on the complexity of the concepts, the purpose of the video, a learner’s existing knowledge of the process, your company’s preferences, and feedback from learners.
1. STANDARD VIDEO SCREEN CAPTURES (SCREENCASTS)
Video screen captures, or screencasts, allow you to create a video that records the steps of a process. There are many different software products now available that provide this functionality. Some have extensive editing capabilities and tools that enhance the viewing experience with highlights, zooming and text overlays. You can choose to add audio as well using Text-to-Speech technology or human voiceover. The ease of creation and the ability for videos to be played on all your devices make them a great choice to use for documenting your custom PLM processes. A snippet of a video screen capture is shown here.
2. VIDEOS RECORDED AS DEMO (SELF-PLAYING) SIMULATIONS
This option also records the steps on screen like a standard video screen capture but is doing so slide-by-slide and therefore allows you more control over editing. The end result is essentially the same since you can save to video format. This option is a good choice to use if you foresee changes to your PLM software’s interface that would cause you to change the video. Instead of re-recording the video, you can simply edit the slides then save it again to video format. Another advantage of this method is that you can easily create a software simulation from it using the same slides and then just add the interactions required.
3. ANIMATED GIFS
Our clients have chosen the animated GIF option for creating short videos that don’t require sound. Animated GIFs can be used to record the steps of a PLM process or they can help emphasize an important tip from the process. Animated GIFs can be used like images to help explain a concept visually but with the added animation element included. Therefore, they can make the concept memorable and therefore help with retention. Similar to searching for stock images, you can also search for animated GIFs to use in your eLearning and can be used to convey emotions or feelings like emojis. An example of this use of an animated GIF is shown below.
4. RECORDED SLIDE PRESENTATION WITH INSTRUCTOR DEMOS
This option is probably the closest to a traditional instructor-led learning experience with human voiceover instruction throughout and could include a webcam view of the instructor. The end result is also in video format and can be viewed and shared like the other options.
5. INTERACTIVE VIDEOS
An interactive video can be viewed as an enhancement to options number 1 and 2 above. Additional overlay slides and bookmarks can be inserted throughout the video to provide enhanced interaction for the user. For example, a bookmark can be inserted within a video and be referenced within a knowledge check for the learner to return to a specific topic for review purposes.
I’m hoping this brief overview is useful to you when you are considering creating engaging video content for your PLM eLearning initiatives!
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