The power of tutorials for managing your digital project

Why video is essential to learning

• The use of video is key to training and supporting your employees in new digital projects. There are several reasons for this:
• The format is consistent with the ways in which video is consumed in people’s everyday lives. Tutorial videos, “tips & tricks” and “how to” videos have long been part of the category of most-viewed videos online. This contemporary format can easily be used as part of a vocational training strategy.
• These videos can be viewed anywhere and in any circumstance (as in mobile learning). And since they’re designed to be viewed anywhere, they’re also short so they can be viewed on the go, including while commuting. Mobile learning is undoubtedly popular, as shown by a study conducted by Brandon Hall Group, an American research firm, according to which 100% of the best-performing companies regularly use mobile learning.
• Video is a versatile medium, regardless of the chosen training system. It can be used both for remote and in-person training. But that’s not all. This kind of educational content can also be used to enhance blended training systems, where participants study a topic outside of training hours to optimise their in-person training time with practical cases or questions. According to 97% of respondents in a study conducted by Talentsoft in 2018, this kind of training will be increasingly popular in the future.
• The medium’s versatility also depends on the interface. As part of your training process, you can share a video in an email or simply embed a link redirecting the user to the platform that hosts your content (LMS or Novastream-type platform or YouTube). You can also include a tutorial video in a training capsule as part.
• Micro-learning is also becoming increasingly important in companies. In this case, frequent learning replaces intensive learning with dense formats, according to the Talentsoft report. This kind of training is based on snack content, which is easily consumable and can be viewed anywhere. Fast learning (less than 15 minutes long) is an effective response to the challenges faced in training employees. The trend towards short or sometimes very short courses (which are just a few minutes long) has also been confirmed by the Talentsoft study on the future of training. Plus, the speed with which micro-learning modules can be created and updated is ideal for adapting knowledge to the constant changes produced by the digital transformation.
• According to Talentsoft, the new methods that are considered effective for training include virtual reality, mobile learning and video learning. In parallel, digital learning processes will become increasingly blended to ensure their success. The use of different methods within the training process is also the number one priority of the training departments surveyed, according to Talentsoft.
• The provision of freely available digital training materials is also a way to identify those who can be the best ambassadors for this transformation, based on an analysis conducted through the LMS. These videos can be included in each stage of the project: both at kick-off and in refresher courses.
• Developing video as a training medium also helps to promote mentoring in change management. To avoid any resistance in a change management project, it’s essential to prepare employees and identify those who will be the future ambassadors of the solution. The creation of videos by these future mentors makes it possible to provide relevant training materials created by employees who once experienced the same issues as the employees in the process of adopting the new solution.

How to make your video

In the tutorials, it’s become common for trainers to film themselves giving explanations. Illustrative media (screenshots, recordings, pictures, diagrams, etc.) are also used to enhance and support what the speaker is saying.

But be careful not to lose the learner’s attention! To make sure this doesn’t happen, some good practices should be put in place when making tutorial videos. Each item shown on screen must have an educational purpose. This kind of content should also be concise, resolve a specific problem and provide a certain amount of key information to employees who need it. These videos also require you to check the script to decide which parts should be used and which can be cut or sped up in the editing process.

In terms of format, you should focus on short and dynamic videos that will capture learners’ attention.

“Summary” tutorials / tips & tricks / checklists / pitfalls to avoid

An explanatory video shouldn’t be longer than a few minutes to limit the amount of information and optimise memorisation. This kind of video is used to provide good practice guidelines on a given topic and includes the most important concepts of your in-person training content. These explanatory videos don’t necessarily include advanced motion design or lots of illustrative media. For example, you can:

• film a whiteboard, draw and write the concepts on it, speed up the video and then add a voice-over;
• film a speaker facing the camera, summarising the key points of the training module in a few sentences;
• film someone showing the unfortunate consequences of bad practice;
• review the main concepts at the end of this kind of video.

The demonstration tutorial

This is the most traditional tutorial format but also the most effective. This kind of video is used to show how to do something, step by step. If your digital project requires the quick implementation of new software, this kind of video can be a very useful part of your training process. These tutorials include:

• Screenshots showing actions performed on a computer;
• A procedure or process to be reproduced: in this case, you can film a person doing it.
• The voice-over is essential here because it allows you to talk about what isn’t shown and to add information to the video description to make it perfectly understandable.

The feedback tutorial

This format is a cross between the traditional tutorial and the success story. It helps explain how a theoretical concept can be put into practice. Here too, video is the best way to illustrate previously learned ideas. So this kind of tutorial can be useful for reinforcing certain skills.

Plus, these tutorials can be used to show how a concept is applied in a specific case at the company. They provide context to a new concept. To do this, you can conduct an interview or film the testimonial of a user explaining the context of use, the difficulties encountered, etc. It’s also the perfect kind of video for convincing those involved of the advantages of implementing your digital project.

This type of video allows you to include storytelling in your learning videos. So it has a dual role: to educate and to promote.