The Playbook for Designing Instructional Videos Course

Jan 28, 2024

The creation of online classes requires a lot of hours of laborand can be an extremely time-consuming process, particularly if you make a whole lot of instructional videos.
    What can assist you in easing the creation and design process? Storytelling
   
    Elise London, the expert resident in video who produces all the marketing and internal classes we offer. She shares that the key for creating interactive virtual classes is to use stories to present and arrange the information.
   
    Being able to determine what is the most important story to tell behind the subject and structuring your content with storytelling techniques using hero's journey is a game changer. What you should accomplish to create your own, manage and develop an online course that is effective and will require the tools you'll need.

Jump ahead:

Choose the ideal subject for teach online

There is no need to come up with a brand new innovative, outside-the-box concept for your course.
   
    Pick a topic which is already popular. An understanding of the public and your objectives will assist. Here's how:

Find out what's happening now.

Utilize data measurement tools for example Google Analytics to find high-performing published pieces. Look for an eBook that addresses one particular subject that performs exceptionally well? Consider expanding it into a detailed video course.
   
    It's also possible to survey your email list to identify topics that people would love an online course. The same survey can be distributed through social media (if you've got an engaged crowd there) and to communities you're a part of.
   
    Keep in mind that the aim is to find a course area that is of an interest in.

Do it deep and not wide.




    The answer? Review the emotion an audience is required to deal with when dealing with a topic.
   
    Do you ask yourself:

  • What difficulties are our readers confronting as they attempt to resolve the issue?
  • Do you have feelings that overwhelm you and need aid to get rid of?

In the case of live streaming as an example there could be anxieties in the beginning of creating a live stream. A topic for a class would then be "How you could easily set up live streaming to ensure that you're not overwhelmed."

A tip to help you make your course's Name

When thinking about names for your class think about what your target public is thinking on the subject you're tackling and then incorporate this into your title.

Designing for and structuring the online course

Elise suggests using the tale of a hero as a basis for the course online. It includes:

  • Addressing the issues that students face. Find these by asking the right questions about the topics of your course.
  • helping them to overcome challenges and finding solutions. It is the perfect time to break the topic into segments and videos that each lesson answering an inquiry.
  • Leaving them with the promise of transformation. Provide more resources like checklists, templates, and different forms that can help students apply the knowledge they've learned.

Here's how to dig out your audience's concerns and objectives in preparing and structuring the program you're planning:

Discover the kinds of questions your target audience might have

Instead of contemplating the issue Instead, follow these steps:

  • Browse Reddit and Quora to create a list of frequently being asked.
  • Surveys and calls with students to answer questions directly.
  • Answer calls of customers of support and sales teams to address common questions.
  • Find Bestsellers' index pages on Amazon to get a better understanding of the subject areas they address in relation to the topic of their study.

If you've hosted webinars on this topic, it's possible to examine questions that participants have asked in order to help inform your study.

The course's topic can be broken down into buckets

Woman recording herself with smartphone. Image reads, "Concept > modules > video lessons"

Then, you can refer to the issues and issues of your target audience and break the topic down into narrative sections which build upon each other in the next stage on the learning journey.

"Instead of stating that we're going to demonstrate how using an interactive program' (which is a broad and difficult to wrap my mind around) instead, you should say "We're giving you a beginner's course, an advanced and intermediate capabilities. This way, the subjects [for your online course] will fit in any of three categories." Elise London, Senior content production manager

Just cut "disparate ideas " into smaller pieces, and place them in buckets to ensure that, when viewing the course from afar, things seem more manageable."

Pro tip on course structure

It is important to define your course's structure in order to accommodate students at any stage of their learning journey. It's often easy to overshare and make students confused due to the trap of details (a cognitive bias that assumes your students know as much as you are). Check the structure of your class to ensure the course is easy.

Video lessons to be planned

  1. It is important to discuss the challenges your students face with respect to the issue a video lesson can resolve.
  2. Respond to the questions with solutions to the issue they're facing.
  3. Review the video and provide additional resources that can help the students to change.

Videos on demand with scripts

pro tip

Script generator gif

Shooting your course video content

It will require tools

If you want a quality manufacturing and set-up tool kit, you'll need:

  • Microphone cameras (two at a minimum) and an auxiliary 3- or 4- point kit for lighting
  • learning Management System (LMS). It is the host for instructional video, making it easily accessible to students. Examples: Teachable, Podia, and Kajabi.
  • . An ad-free video platform for hosting, recording edit and even add elements of interactive elements to videos for educational purposes that you can upload later to your LMS.
  • Teleprompter. Display device that displays the text moving on screen in order so that it is easy to allow people who are using the screen to capture videos.
  • Music pedal. A foot-operated, budget-friendly keyboard which allows you to alter the direction of slide slides displayed on screen.

Making the perfect video production setting

Elise suggests:

1. Don't use overhead fluorescent light sources.

These can cast dark shadows on your face. The fluorescent light may flicker, creating an emerald shade, and also alter the quality of your video.

2. Record in the dark with no light source

Natural light patterns alter throughout the daylight. If you are making videos for hours at a time and the quality of light in your video won't look like it does, Elise warns. Additionally, it could cause problems if you choose to transfer sections from one video to another.

3. Set your cameras at different angles

The second camera can't "just make editing more interesting" (which is helpful even when you're using a script in the event you're able complete the entire process all in one shot) as well as to stop from boredom when watching the instructor's face."
   
    "More importantly, a different camera can be used to conceal the cut" Elise adds. "So should you determine that the message you're expressing will not come out on one go, the best method to hide that edit is to use B-roll, or simply cutting it into another camera."

4. Clean, clutter-free background

Avoid bright colors like magenta, orange, and yellow since these can create reflections in the color and can be distractions for the viewers. Choose neutral backgrounds such as dark blue, grey, or soft white. They are stunning when you view them on the camera as well as are comfortable for your eyes.

Recording your online video course

It's natural to feel somewhat nervous. If you've put in your time making the plan and writing down the direction of your recording, it should not pose a problem.

5. Always make use of the Teleprompter

Teleprompters are a great way to avoid being stuck in a screen freeze while trying to remember what you'll need to do in the coming.
   
    It simplifies recording and also aids with editing However "it also helps you maintain eye contact with your camera when you are looking at the teleprompter's screen," notes Elise.

6. Use a music pedal to change between slides

"Instead of having a mouse or keyboard you can see in your hand you can use the music pedal to switch the slides that you're playing. It's basically just the equivalent to using a USB Bluetooth keyboard with a left and right. This means that the user doesn't have to reach for the mouse or keyboard for it to advance."

Editing videos on-demand

Aim to edit for brevity and to provide a captivating experience for viewers using these best practices for professionals:

7. Edit ruthlessly

8. Incorporate B-roll video content in order for maximum engagement

A way to get past the monotony of video with talking heads is to switch between camera at a steady pace.
   
    Additionally, you can incorporate graphics, animations slide in stock footage or custom recordings for an immersive learning experience.

9. The layer of interactivity is

  • Enjoy a build-your-own-learning path
  • Hit the video hotspots below to dig into more learning sources
  • Jump from sections that are relevant to them (useful to create in-house videos onboarding)

Interactive videos boost viewer participation, resulting in better retention. Also, you can test the students' abilities through conducting video quizzes through Interactive.

Ready to design your online course?

Making a course that that you are adored by your audience is as simple as:

  • Make sure you are specific about the issue you're seeking to solve.
  • Converting the information into a coherent narrative
  • The content should be organized so that it's easy to comprehend and be able to follow

Also, don't forget that you are using the correct tools. can alleviate the strain of creating high-quality videos which provide a stimulating learning experience.

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