Energize your training material by using video that branches

Engaging learners from remote locations can be a challenge for trainers and enablement professionals. Videos of training that are constantly that are interrupted by notifications and pings coming from the constantly-on digital workspace could cause anyone to keep their attention.

On top of the digital distracting factor at work, establishing an effective training and onboarding system isn't simple. An earlier Gallup survey found just 12% of employees feel their workplace is a good place to start onboarding new hires.

The first question is what's the purpose of video branching?

A video that branches is a kind of video that is interactive, meaning the viewers' participation directly affects the course of the story.

Video clips that branch give viewers the unique opportunity to be engaged by participating in the story. A viewer is able to ask questions to the viewers with designated decision areas. In response to their response, the viewer will be directed to another section of the video. It is crucial to create a an engaging workflow with potential storylines and let your employees choose their own path to learning.

Two scenarios for video branching

Video branching is a fantastic instrument for creating custom learning and onboarding experiences. Two great uses situations where learning and enablement teams benefit from interactive learning

Learning pathways for individuals

A typical video to teach can lead viewers on an straight path towards the process of learning. In the case of a typical employee onboarding program may walk new employees through company culture, company product or services along with the many departments and leaders, and various duties and roles. It could be delivered as a single or series of videos that equal hours of content to wade through.

Through video branching the training and enablement teams can break the video into parts which can be clicked permitting new employees to move into key areas that pertain to their specific needs within a single video.

Simulation-based learning

Training on the job only beneficial if the employees understand how to put their learning into practice. Therefore, a scenario-based approach to training can be an effective and enjoyable method to teach employees. Video branching gives training and enablement teams the chance to create compelling stories, presenting a range of situations and demonstrate the outcomes employees will face in the workplace.

Here is an example provided by Radisson Hotel Group that shows the way video branching could offer the best scenario-based training experience for hotel workers.

A simple branching structure for branches can be constructed.

When deciding on the branch structure you'll require for your first video you've made, you should try to streamline your viewers experience. If, for instance, you had created a choice element with three possible results, and then two more options, you'll have 27 outcomes to account in your video.

Try master loops, wherein the story unfolds in a single loop. If the student chooses the wrong choice when they arrive at a decision-making stage, the story loops until they reach the point where they made their decision to select an alternative option. Once they've chosen an appropriate result, the storyline will be repeated. Master loops are excellent for training based on scenarios and videos questions.

If you're thinking about other options for you, make sure you create a storyboard of the content that you want viewers to see. You can create diagrams, flowcharts, or decision trees to display your video experience through every step.

Four items to consider before the shooting of a branching-style video

The process of creating a successful video branching experience starts with the video content you create. Video branching incorporates different videos into a captivating story to the viewer. Due to this, it is crucial to plan when you shoot and then edit before layering in your video branches.

When planning your next shoot or script, take the following guidelines:

1. Map out your viewer user journeys before shooting. You can use a flow diagram, or other instruments like twine, to aid in.
2. Photograph all possible scenarios for outcomes and scenes. You should let your camera take longer to run than the normal time.
3. Think about what will happen on the screen when the viewer must make an important choice.
4. Think about how you would want to move to the display of choice to the user choices. Consider how you will look.

Making a video that branches by

Although branching video require some effort upfront by planning, shooting and editing but the end product could double your effort for your viewers. In this post we'll teach you how to create the story's branching using .

Make sure you have all of your options on the same time.

At first it is necessary to save your video files in a single file. Then, you can edit them all together to create an entire video file (one one in succession) instead of separating the segments into distinct ones.

Create a decision point

Make hotspots available to your video , and then use the 'jump to timing in the video' action for viewers to jump to a specific point in the film, or check the outcomes of a certain choice.

Add playback segments

To stop users from needing to skim through the videos, or make a decision, you could make playback segments. Playback segments permit creators to break video content into parts so viewers have the ability to navigate within the segment. This is a crucial feature when creating videos that have branches, since it keeps the branching structure, as well as stops viewers from benefiting from the branching structure.

Below is an example of training EMS video that includes playback sections.

You can choose between a pause or loop

It is crucial to understand which decision is coming up next.

You could, for instance you could pause the film using the use of an event timer to stop the movie from playing until the decision is made.

Consider making a looping portion of the content with your hotspot. There is the option of using an event trigger that allows users to go into the video to create loops.

In making your decision make sure to consider whether the video includes specific information that could be a decision-making point (like the signals used to show viewers what's on screen) and the way you'd like viewers to respond to make a selection.

Develop your Transitions

When your viewers make the decision and makes a point, you'll want to be aware of the transitions that the video makes.

There is a possibility of creating an uninterrupted continuation of the video or you may want to consider different effects to alter the mask in the video.

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