Using Video Backgrounds to Visually Engage Learners #95

Video Backgrounds in E-Learning #95: Challenge | Recap

Slide backgrounds are one of the easiest ways to create a sense of place and location in your course designs. Because backgrounds are the largest 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.

Video Backgrounds in E-Learning

Video backgrounds are trending in web design right now.

Companies like Wistia, Airbnb, and PayPal 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 work spaces, 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

Interactive Maps with Video Backgrounds

Community member Stanford Kekauoha originally shared this creative example in the Interactive Maps #86 challenge. Stanford's example features subtle background videos for each of the map locations. 

View the Hawaii Interactive Map w/ Background Video

Cinemagraphs in E-Learning

40 Examples of stunning Cinemagraphs

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

Melissa Milloway has been playing with this concept in some of her recent projects like this Espresso Matchmaker example.

View demo

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

Challenge of the Week

This week, your challenge is to show one or more ways video backgrounds can be used in e-learning courses.

You don’t need to build out a full course or demo this week. We’re only looking for single-slide examples that show background video or animation.

Resources

Website Examples

• Wistia
• Airbnb
• PayPal

Resources for Royalty Free Videos

• Coverr offers free videos for your homepage or e-learning courses
• Pexels is another great resource for free stock videos

Tutorials and Articles

• How to Loop Audio or Video in Articulate Storyline
• 3 Uses of Cinemagraphs in E-Learning
• Learning to Create Cinemagraphs – What I Learned
• Pictures that Move: Creating Cinemagraphs with Photoshop, After Effects, Flixel, and Cliplets
• Design Better Quizzes Using Custom Background Images

Last Week’s Challenge:

Before you get started on this week’s background video challenge, take a look at the video interviews your fellow community members shared over the past week:

Video Interviews in E-Learning Recap #94: Challenge | Recap

Wishing you an animated week, E-Learning Heroes!

New to E-Learning Challenges?

The weekly 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.