6 Types of Video You Can Include in E-Learning

In the past, capturing, editing, and publishing videos took expensive software, lots of time, and professional support. But with today’s resources and apps, it’s easier than ever for anyone to create and share videos. From tutorials on YouTube to viral TikTok trends, videos are everywhere.

The use of video in e-learning is continuously evolving. Video can serve as stand-alone content, or as a component of an interactive e-learning course. And there are many different options for creatively including video in your e-learning. Let’s take a look at six of the most popular types and when you might use them.

1. Software Tutorials

Whether you’re creating training for new hires, launching a new app, or showing learners how to get more out of an existing program, chances are you’ll need to teach people the ins and outs of software or web apps. Enter software tutorials, a type of video most commonly created via screencast. Screencasts are helpful for teaching learners because they allow you to demonstrate instructions rather than listing them in writing.

To create a screencast, you’ll need an app that can record your screen and microphone for walking learners through each step of the process. Peek 360 is a great app for doing this quickly and easily. And if you’d like to record a screencast while also recording your computer’s webcam—adding a personal touch to your screencast—you could try using Replay 360.

Want to see an example of a screencast recorded in Peek 360? Check out the one below.

2. How-To’s & Demonstrations

Have you ever started a home improvement project and turned to YouTube for a how-to video? In the case of this video on how to paint cabinets, over 5 million people have! That’s because it’s easier to learn how to do something by watching someone demonstrate the task than it is to listen to someone explain the steps to you. And this type of learning isn’t exclusive to home improvement—it’s also perfect for workplace training. 

How-to videos are simple but effective because when teaching a new task or process it’s a lot easier—and faster—to show it through video than to write out each step. Using how-to videos also allows learners to jump to a specific point and rewatch important steps. And demonstrating the steps in a process gives visual cues and context to instructions, which helps avoid misunderstanding.

3. Lectures

Lecture videos are often created when a presenter—such as a subject matter expert—delivers live training that learners might not be able to attend. Lecture videos are also a great option for storytelling or presenting lengthy content in a more personable format, like Ted Talks. 

With lecture videos, you can record content once and make it available to all learners on their own time. Simply record your presenter and add the video to your course, or upload it to your Learning Management System on its own. (Learn how to do that in this article: The Secret to Simplifying Your Video Training Workflow.)

This Rise 360 example shows how to combine lecture videos with interactive elements to reinforce the talking points.

View example

4. Interactive Videos

Speaking of interactivity, let’s talk about interactive videos. Want to share video content but also make sure your learners aren’t tuning out? Or would you like to let learners check their understanding as they watch? With apps like Storyline 360, you can take any video you’ve created and make it interactive by adding quiz questions or additional information. This keeps your learners engaged in the content and encourages them to pay attention to what they’re watching. 

To learn exactly how this is done, check out this article: Create Interactive Videos with These Storyline 360 Features. Want to see an interactive video in action? Check out this example.

View example

5. Animated Videos

Using animated videos or motion graphics is a fun way to deliver content in a playful manner—think cartoons for e-learning! They’re also great to use when you don’t have the ability to record in a specific setting or with a live person. Because you can illustrate and animate your video instead, you have a lot more options. 

For example, this course was created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since most people were quarantining at home, filming live video wasn’t an easy option. This made a motion graphic video perfect for this course on how to succeed while working remotely.

View example

6. Whiteboard Videos

Whiteboard videos—which are a subset of explainer videos—allow the presenter to tell a story or discuss a topic while “hand drawing” accompanying visuals. This style of training might take you back to your school days, when a teacher might explain a concept to you while drawing on the whiteboard or chalkboard. 

Another use for this style of video is in storytelling. Drawing while sharing a story can make the content more personal and emotional, which helps hold learners’ attention. This style of video became increasingly popular a few years ago on YouTube by creators who participated in the “Draw My Life” trend. 

Want to see a whiteboard video in action? Take a look at this example:

More Resources

Now that you’ve seen different ways to use video in e-learning, hopefully you’re inspired to incorporate video in your future projects. In the meantime, check out these helpful resources and practice your video-creating skills.

• 4 Examples of Courses with Video That Reel Learners In
• Record and Edit Videos Like a Pro with Peek 360 and Replay 360
• 4 Easy Tips for Writing Great Training Video Scripts

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