4 Elements of Effective Video Content for Online Courses

As a course creator, how do you create great videos to your students?

It's one thing to become an expert in your field. However, it requires a completely different skill set to create video content that will keep your students interested and engaged to make a difference.

If you've struggled with understanding how to make videos for your courses, today you're going to find some tips to get you past that hump.

  Check out this video, created by video instructor Lucas Bischofberger, to learn the fundamentals of creating efficient course material using video.  

Four Essential Elements for A Successful Video Course Content

After using video to create a number of classes, Lucas identified four key aspects to take into consideration when making videos for online courses. In this article, we'll discuss the most important aspects in this post, but to get all the detail from Lucas make sure you watch the free video above!

Element 1: Have a human presence within your video content

Demonstrating a human presence may be different from one person to the next person, but the idea is that you want to show a bit of who you are in your content. By personalizing the learning journey, your students will be more interested and committed in getting all the way to the finish.

Take a moment to think about the times you were at school. Which teacher made the most impression on you? Which classes did you learn the most? Are they dull, or hard to get to comprehend? It's unlikely. Most likely, they allowed you to in on who they were as a person. The more you are able to create opportunities for human connection to your students, the better the experience can be for your pupils.

There are several options to do this:

  The heart is the best way to communicate  

As an example, when you record your classes or speaking to the camera, consider speaking off the cuff rather than writing from the script. It can make all the difference for your listeners. While the educational content is the same, through this modification in your delivery, you can establish trust and build a relationship to your target audience more quickly.

  Bring your personal style to life  

One other option is sharing some details about your own life. You don't have to get overly personal and you don't wish to send your class out of line. However, by being transparent about your life and what makes you unique as an instructor, you'll infuse personalization into your teaching and help humanize the digital relationship you have with your students.

  Get in front of the camera  

Another option is to put your face in front of a camera. If you're in the office or home studio setting up a simple background , and then filming yourself taking a selfie can provide an anchor for your students throughout the process of learning. If you're moving through many points on a screen and you are able to show your face, doing it now and again will help make it easier to see and feel.

2. Make sure you have good audio in every video

Having good audio on your videos is crucial.

Did you have to view 30 videos from a single course that had poor audio? You probably wouldn't stick around very long.

Spending a little bit of time looking into good audio equipment and setup techniques will pay dividends in the end. Also, having equipment that can support good audio doesn't have to break the bank.

There are a lot of choices when picking an appropriate microphone. Take your time looking for a setup that is not only within your budget but also easy enough to set up like an USB condenser microphone. Here are a couple of possibilities to consider:

• The Audio-Technica, AT2020 USB sells for about $180. Just plug it into USB into your PC, ensure it's positioned to capture your voice, then you're ready to go.
• There is a Blue Yeti USB microphone that sells at $99 has the same quality.

Even though having amazing visuals and lighting for your video is great, sound is even more important. Why? Consider how many times you have closed your eyes during the course of a movie. Most likely, not except when you stop the video. If students write notes, or looking away from the screen with good audio, that they'll be able to follow along in the class.

Also, do your research and then get the best audio.

Element 3: Directing your target audience's attention

If you're recording your self or your screen for the video classes It's worthwhile to consider ways to direct your audience's focus to the images on screen in order to keep your content flowing in an engaging manner.

If you only recording audio on top of the powerpoint slideshow for about approximately 25 minutes, the pupils will have a difficult time understanding the presentation.

There are many methods to draw the attention of certain areas post-production based on the program you use. In the example of Lucas in the video the program he is using ScreenFlow to produce fluid movement focused on specifics, zooming out, and highlighting content using call-out boxes and slow-moving elements on the screen.

The tools mentioned above are a fantastic method to ensure that viewers are focused as you move through your content. Consider making your screen a canvas, and aim to keep things moving at a consistent, steady method.

To learn more about the way Lucas uses ScreenFlow to draw attention to himself using various call-out features, watch the free video here!

Element 4: Consistency

This element is all about giving your students a consistent experience when they are seated to learn from you. While your definition of consistency might differ from someone else's There are some standard aspects you could consider in order to create a consistent video experience.

In particular, you should look for methods to establish a distinctive style and look of your video format. This could mean that your video begins with the exact introduction that helps students to feel at home or finish them the same way. Maybe there's a particular camera angle, position of content on screen, or audio volume that you can use to make the most of.

Every project you are working on, try to replicate it using the same format. Keep track of the elements that seem to resonate with your audience and repeat the same idea. By keeping this consistent, you can allow your students to jump back into their learning from where they stopped. It is your goal to make it seem like you took the time to record every aspect of your curriculum all in one go.

  Conclusion  

If you integrate the four aspects listed above into your video creation process, you will have the right foundation for keeping students involved in their learning journey. Naturally, based on the subject of your online course you may need to consider other elements you'll want to consider in order to ensure that your content on video is the most efficient it can possibly be.

Be sure to place yourself in the position of an audience. If you were learning the similar subject from someone else, what things would you like to see in a film? What can make it more easy for you to learn? If you concentrate on these factors, then creating excellent video content to your target audience will be much more simple.

Want to learn more about ways to create and launch an online course? Join this year's Success Summit , the free online workshop for creating courses!

If you would like to try Screenflow, the Screenflow software Lucas employs for the demonstration you can use this hyperlink to get an offer code when you sign up.