Using Video Backgrounds in E-Learning #329

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.