Using Video Backgrounds in E-Learning #239

Video Backgrounds in E-Learning #329: Challenge | Recap

Challenge of the Week

This week, your challenge is to show one or more ways course designers can use video backgrounds in e-learning courses. You don’t need to build an entire course or demo this week. We’re only looking for single-slide examples that show background video or animation.

Before you get started, let's look at some ways to add looping motion to your course backgrounds.

Video Backgrounds in E-Learning

Slide backgrounds are one of the easiest ways to create a sense of place and location in your course designs. Because backgrounds are the most significant on-slide element, they help set the context for your learning content more than any other object. 

So how can you improve on the perfect background? Try using full-screen videos as slide backgrounds.

Companies like Wistia are creatively using video backgrounds to engage their visitors the moment the page loads.

Video Backgrounds in E-Learning

View Wistia’s video backgrounds

Natural environments like offices, factories, classrooms, and other workspaces, help create a sense of authenticity. Like still photographs, videos can also add a sense of location and context to your slides.

Video Backgrounds in E-Learning

View an example of a video background in e-learning

Cinemagraphs in E-Learning

Cinemagraphs are another option for creating animated slide backgrounds. Unlike videos, cinemagraphs are more like static photos that include a small area of the looping animation.

40 Examples of stunning Cinemagraphs

Amazing Cinemagraphs from Around the Web

This approach works well for e-learning because it reduces the amount of on-slide animation that helps create depth and richness.

Share Your E-Learning Work

  • Comments: Use the comments section below to share a link to your published example and blog post.
  • Forums: Start  your own thread and share a link to your published example.
  • Personal blog:  If you have a blog, please consider writing about your challenges. We’ll link back to your posts so the great work you’re sharing gets even more exposure.
  • Social Media: If you share your demos on Twitter or LinkedIn, try using #ELHChallenge so your tweeps can track your e-learning coolness.

Last Week’s Challenge:

Before you dive into this week's challenge, check out the creative ways course designers are using drop-down menus in e-learning:

23 Examples of Drop-Down Navigation Menus in E-Learning Design #328

Drop-Down Menus in E-Learning RECAP #328: Challenge | Recap

New to the E-Learning Challenges?

The weekly e-learning challenges are ongoing opportunities to learn, share, and build your e-learning portfolios. You can jump into any or all of the previous challenges anytime you want. I’ll update the recap posts to include your demos.

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