Energize your training content with video branches

Jan 20, 2023

Engaging remote learners is an enormous issue for trainers and other professionals. Interminable training videos that are interrupted by messages and pings in the digital world that is always on can make it difficult for any person to keep their attention.

On top of the technological interruptions that workplace making the perfect training and onboarding plan isn't an easy task. A recent Gallup survey found only 12% of employees believe their organization has a successful process of onboarding new hires.

The initial question is: the definition of video branching?

A branching video is a kind of video that is interactive. This means that the viewer's' involvement directly influences the content of the video.

The format of branching videos allows viewers to be involved via interactive storytelling. It is possible to ask questions to viewers using dedicated decisions points. In response to the action viewers are directed to an additional part in the film. The trick is to construct an engaging sequence of possible storylines and let your employees determine their own learning path.

Two scenarios for video branching

Video branching can be a powerful method to create custom learning experiences that are tailored to your needs and also for onboarding. There are two great use instances where the learning and enablement teams can benefit from the use of interactive technology:

Learning paths that are custom-designed for you

The typical learning videos can guide viewers on a unstructured path of learning. If it's an employee onboarding course, it may walk new hires through the corporate culture of the organization, the product or service, various leadership and departments as well as various duties and tasks. The content may be shared via a single video, or a series of videos that add up in hours of material to peruse.

Through video branching those in the learning and help can split videos into easily accessed segments, allowing new employees to get into key areas that are the most pertinent to their needs within a single video.

The training is based around situations

Training on the job is most effective when people know how to apply their learning. This is why training using scenarios can be a powerful and engaging way to teach employees. Video branching provides participants in the training enablement the ability to build engaging stories, present diverse scenarios and show outcomes that employees may encounter at workplace.

Below is an example from Radisson Hotel Group that shows how video branching can create the perfect scenario-based training experience for hotel staff.

A simplified branching structure can be constructed.

If you're planning your branch structure, you'll have to create your initial interactive video. It's best to make it easier for your viewers experience. For instance, if you have a decision point with three potential outcomes following the two decisions, you'd already have 27 possibilities to think about in your video.

Explore master loops where an entire story plays out. When your learner selects the wrong outcome at a critical stage, the situation continues to unfold until they're back at the decision point for a different option. When they have chosen the right outcome, the storyline continues. Master loops can be used in video-based tests and instruction.

For other possibilities to branch, you should make sure you storyboard the content you would like your viewers to see. Develop flowcharts, as well as decision trees to show viewers the process of watching videos throughout the entire process.

Four things to prepare for an upcoming branching video shoot

The procedure to create a successful branching experience begins with your video footage. Video branching blends different clips to make an interactive narrative for viewers. That's the reason it's so important to take your time planning your footage and edit it prior to adding your branching video elements.

So before planning your shoot and script, consider these suggestions:

  1. Map out your viewer user journeys before shooting. It's possible to utilize the flow diagram, or even tools like twine for.
  2. Take pictures of all possibilities for outcomes and scenes. You should let your camera run longer than you normally would.
  3. Consider what's happening on screen when the viewer is required to take a choice.
  4. Consider how you would prefer to move between the screen of decision-making and the options of the user. Also think through what that would appear on.

Making a video that branches by

Though branching video requires some work in the beginning by planning, filming and editing, the end result will likely quadruple your effort for your viewers. Below is an outline of how to create the story's branching with .

Combine all of your ideas into one calendar

To start, you'll want to save your video files into a single document. You must modify them all in order to make an overall video file (one one immediately following the next) instead of separating them into separate segments.

Create a decision point

Create hotspots for your video , and use the 'jump timing in the video' feature to take viewers to a specific location in the video, or see the results of a specific alternative.

Add playback segments

In order to stop people from being able skim through video or avoid decision points, you can create playback segments. Playback segments let creators split videos into sections in order to make sure that viewers can be able to scrub through the segments. This is a crucial feature for creating videos that incorporate branchingbecause it makes sure that your structure is branching and prevents viewers from benefiting from the structure of branching.

Below is an example a video for training EMS video that includes playback sections.

Choose between a pause or loop

It is essential to establish the next point of decision.

In this case, you could decide to hold the film in a stoppage by using an event timer, which will stop the movie from playing until a specific selection is taken.

Consider creating a looping section of your video content by through your hotspot. Use the timer to go into the video or create loops.

In making your decision be sure to consider whether the video is filmed with specific content as a decision-making factor (like prompts that tell viewers what's in the video) and the way you would like viewers to engage with your brand and then make the decision.

Create your transitions

If your audience makes a choice and make a decision it's important to determine the kind of change your video is going to make.

It is possible to create an uninterrupted continuation of the video or perhaps think about different effects for altering the look on the face.

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