11 Common Types of eLearning Video For Immersive Online Education

Today, there are many types of eLearning videos for online course creation. Regardless if you are an edupreneur, an experienced educator or a new course creator who just started creating your first video online course, eLearning video content is a great educational tool that you should consider.

Creating online video courses can greatly enhance your learner’s experience, making online learning more of an exciting story with you as the lead role, than a simple lecture that is boring and bland.

What are eLearning Videos?

E-learning videos are dynamic, multimedia tools that bring your content to life, simulating your visual and audio senses that creates a more lasting impression which helps in improving your ability to learn.

Videos can range from the simplicity of talking head lectures to the complexity of interactive scenarios with active learning elements. 

With eLearning videos, it offers options to cater to diverse learning styles.

Why Create eLearning Videos for Online Courses?

The main reason why you should create eLearning video for your business is because video is the most popular format in the web for online learners.

As we are getting to more digitally oriented more people are turning to video content for learning:

• Approx. 50% of internet user age 16 to 24 watch online video to learn.
• Approx. 47% of internet user age 25 to 34 watch online video to learn.
• Approx. 45% of internet user age 35 to 44 watch online video to learn.

Just one thing to be sure, the popularity of eLearning videos is growing rapidly especially for young adults who are more drawn to video-based learning experiences.

Better Business Potential and Lead Generation

Leveraging eLearning videos isn’t just about education; it’s a potent tool for business.

• Opens up your eLearning content to more groups of audience.
• Leverage your ability to upload your video content to multiple platforms.
• Make your content more sharable which create more leads to your eLearning business.

Whether you aim to create a profitable online course or use videos for content marketing, eLearning videos represent a goldmine of untapped potential.

Varied Learning Styles

People learn in different ways. Some prefer to absorb information through visual aids, while others thrive on interactivity.

eLearning videos cater to these varied learning styles, ensuring that your content resonates with a broad audience.

Common Types of eLearning Video for Great eLearning Experience

Today, there are many types of video in eLearning, and with the advances in Learning Management System (LMS), you can added different popular types of videos to your course that keep learners engaged and make online learning fun and enjoyable.

1. Slide Presentations: Engaging Visual Narratives

Slide presentations videos offer a dynamic way to convey information clearly and visually.

Creating visually appealing slide decks through platforms like Google Slides or PowerPoint allows you to combine graphics and narration for an enriched learning experience.

Benefits of Slide Presentations:

• Visual Appeal: Engage learners with aesthetically pleasing slides.
• Easy Creation: No need for extensive video editing, making it accessible for all.
• Narrative Support: Enhance your lecture with complementary visuals.

Tips for Effective Slide Presentations:

• Utilize Graphics: Include images, graphs, and charts for visual impact.
• Concise Text: Keep text brief and to the point for better retention.
• Narration Mastery: Polish your voiceover skills for a professional touch.

2. Talking Head Videos: Building Trust Through Connection

Despite initial hesitations of most video creators, talking head videos stand out as a powerful tool for online educators.

Equip with a camera or smartphone, and a microphone, you can create video content that don’t only help you establish a personal connection with your audience, you can foster trust and rapport with your audience making the learning experience more personal and interesting.

Benefits of Talking Head Videos:

• Personal Connection: Put a face to your content, making it more relatable.
• Trust Building: Humanize your online presence for increased credibility.
• Synchronous Learning: Mimic the traditional classroom experience.

Tips for Effective Talking Head Videos:

• Lighting Matters: Ensure good lighting for a clear and professional appearance.
• Script Concisely: Plan your content to avoid rambling and maintain engagement.
• Camera Comfort: Overcome shyness by practicing in front of the camera.

3. Screencasts: Step-by-Step Visual Guidance

Perfect for tutorials and explainer videos, screencasts allow you to guide learners through processes by recording your screen.

Whether showcasing software functionalities or step-by-step procedures, screencasts offer an immersive learning experience.

Benefits of Screencasts:

• Practical Demonstrations: Ideal for showcasing technical tasks.
• Enhanced Clarity: Visualize processes that may be challenging to explain verbally.
• Accessibility: Engage learners with a hands-on approach to learning.

Tips for Effective Screencasts:

• Clear Narration: Ensure your voiceover is articulate and easy to follow.
• Highlight Key Steps: Use cursor effects or highlights to draw attention.
• Test Accessibility: Ensure your screencast is accessible on various devices.

4. Webinars: Live Interaction for Dynamic Learning

Take your eLearning strategy to the next level with webinars. Hosting live presentations or Q&A sessions provides an interactive dimension to your courses, fostering real-time engagement with your audience.

Benefits of Webinars:

• Real-Time Interaction: Engage with learners through live discussions.
• Q&A Opportunities: Address queries directly, enhancing understanding.
• Recorded Sessions: Repurpose live content for on-demand viewing.

Tips for Effective Webinars:

• Engaging Content: Prepare compelling visuals and engaging presentations.
• Technical Readiness: Ensure a stable internet connection and reliable equipment.
• Interactivity Tools: Utilize polls, quizzes, and chat features for audience participation.

5. Interactive Videos: Immersive Learning Experiences

Transform passive learning into an interactive adventure with the inclusion of clickable elements, quizzes, and alternative learning paths within your videos. This approach keeps learners actively engaged throughout the content.

Benefits of Interactive Videos:

• Increased Engagement: Keep learners involved through interactive elements.
• Active Participation: Encourage decision-making and responses during the video.
• Immediate Feedback: Quizzes provide instant assessment and reinforce learning.

Tips for Creating Interactive Videos:

• Choose the Right Platform: Opt for tools that support interactive features.
• Strategic Placement: Integrate quizzes and clickable elements at key learning points.
• User-Friendly Design: Ensure interactive elements are intuitive for seamless engagement.

6. Interviews: Diverse Perspectives for Enriched Content

Bring variety to your eLearning content by incorporating interviews. Whether featuring subject matter experts, industry professionals, or individuals with unique insights, interviews offer diverse perspectives and enrich the learning experience.

Benefits of Interviews:

• Varied Viewpoints: Introduce learners to different experiences and expertise.
• Conversational Style: Make complex topics more approachable through dialogue.
• Audience Connection: Humanize content by showcasing real people and stories.

Tips for Conducting Effective Interviews:

• Prepare Thoughtful Questions: Structure questions to elicit valuable insights.
• Technical Considerations: Ensure clear audio and video quality for a professional look.
• Edit for Conciseness: Trim interviews to keep the content focused and engaging.

7. Animated Videos: Adding Playfulness to Learning

Inject creativity into your eLearning courses with animated videos. This versatile format not only captures attention but also simplifies complex concepts, making it an ideal choice for a diverse range of subjects.

Benefits of Animated Videos:

• Visual Appeal: Leverage engaging visuals to enhance content comprehension.
• Concept Illustration: Use animation to explain abstract or intricate ideas.
• Versatility: Apply animation to various topics, from science to storytelling.

Tips for Creating Engaging Animated Videos:

• Script Clarity: Ensure a clear and concise script for effective storytelling.
• Visual Consistency: Maintain a consistent visual style for a polished look.
• Tailored Animation: Align animation style with the tone and subject matter.

8. Whiteboard Animations: Storytelling through Illustration

Whiteboard animations or whiteboard videos offer a unique storytelling approach, where text and images appear on-screen as if being drawn on a whiteboard.

Probably the most popular form of faceless video you find on video platforms like YouTube.

In fact, in my own YouTube channel, I do whiteboard videos to help explain interesting concepts. The secret to time your voice with the animation right is by recording your own voice first, before you create the animations.

I learn this the hard way previously, and spend hours trying to time my voice over to the video.

This format brings an element of narrative storytelling, making content more engaging and memorable.

Benefits of Whiteboard Animations:

• Storytelling Impact: Convey information in a narrative format for better retention.
• Visual Engagement: Illustrate concepts dynamically, keeping learners hooked.
• Emotional Connection: Drawing while narrating adds a personal touch to the content.

Tips for Effective Whiteboard Animations:

• Sequential Storytelling: Plan a logical sequence for an organized narrative.
• Expressive Drawing: Emphasize key points through expressive and deliberate drawing.
• Purposeful Animation: Ensure each animation contributes to the overall learning objective.

9. Demonstration Videos: Practical Learning in Action

Demonstration videos bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering visual guidance on performing tasks.

Demonstration can be performed for part of the process, or the full process, this is a form of how-to video where you showcase physical demonstrations or screen captures of software processes, these videos enhance practical learning.

Benefits of Demonstration Videos:

• Practical Guidance: Show step-by-step processes for hands-on learning.
• Visual Context: Provide visual cues to enhance understanding and avoid misunderstandings.
• Task Diversity: Suitable for a range of demonstrations, from equipment assembly to software tutorials.

Tips for Creating Effective Demonstration Videos:

• Clear Instructions: Articulate each step with clarity for easy understanding.
• Quality Production: Ensure high-quality video and audio for a professional presentation.
• Task Relevance: Align demonstrations with the course’s learning objectives.

10. Instructional Videos: Nurturing Skills through Guidance

Instructional videos is where the focus is on imparting specific skills or knowledge.

These videos act as comprehensive guides, offering learners a structured pathway to acquiring new abilities.

Benefits of Instructional Videos:

• Skill Development: Guide learners through practical skills and knowledge.
• Step-by-Step Guidance: Break down complex processes into manageable steps.
• Mastery Building: Support learners in acquiring proficiency through detailed instruction.

Tips for Crafting Effective Instructional Videos:

• Skill Segmentation: Divide content into digestible sections for focused learning.
• Assess Progress: Incorporate quizzes or assessments to gauge skill mastery.
• Clear Demonstrations: Ensure each step is visually demonstrated for clarity.

11. Livestream Videos: Real-Time Engagement for Enhanced Learning

Bring the vibrancy of live events to your online courses with livestream videos.

Hosting live sessions, whether for lectures, discussions, or live Q&A session, adds an element of immediacy and direct engagement to the learning experience.

Benefits of Livestream Videos:

• Real-Time Interaction: Foster direct engagement with learners during live sessions.
• Authenticity: Capture the spontaneous nature of live events for a genuine connection.
• Community Building: Encourage real-time interaction among learners, creating a sense of community.

Tips for Successful Livestream Videos:

• Plan Ahead: Outline the agenda and structure for a well-organized session.
• Interactivity Features: Utilize chat, polls, and Q&A to involve your audience.
• Record for Later Access: Make recorded sessions available for learners who miss the live event.

Top Benefits of Using Videos for eLearning

As you are looking to create videos for eLearning, it is good to understand the inherent benefits of eLearning video in helping your learners reaching their earning goals.

Having engaging videos in your online courses is not just a trend but a strategic move towards effective and engaging education.

• Enhanced Engagement: Videos captivate and retain the attention of learners, ensuring active participation.
• Building Trust and Rapport: Face-to-face interactions, even virtually, establish a sense of connection and trust.
• Varied Learning Paths: Different video formats cater to diverse learning preferences, ensuring inclusivity.
• Flexibility and Convenience: Learners can access video content at their own pace, fostering a flexible learning environment.
• Real-life Application: Case study videos and demonstrations bridge the gap between theory and practical application.

Best Video Formats For eLearning Videos

As you are making elearning videos, you need to know how you should format each of your video.

Here are the five most popular video formats and the unique benefits they bring to your eLearning content.

• MP4: A versatile format compatible with various devices, ensuring accessibility for a broad audience.
• AVI: Maintains high video quality, suitable for scenarios where visual clarity is paramount.
• WMV: Ideal for streaming, offering a balance between quality and file size.
• MOV: Preferred for Apple devices, ensuring seamless playback on iPhones and iPads.
• FLV: Known for its small file size, making it suitable for online streaming and sharing.

Most Common Video Format for eLearning Course

MP4 is the most common video format and it is a universal file format that is compatible to most streaming platforms, windows and iOS devices, with high amount of compression, while maintaining high video and audio quality. MP4 are often smaller file sizes and can be converted to other video types like MOV or AVI.

When in doubt, just save your video in MP4 and you are 99% sure there won’t be any issue with your hosting.

Examples and Real-life Applications

To provide a practical perspective on the effectiveness of [Keyword], let’s delve into real-life examples that showcase how these video types have been successfully implemented.

• Talking Head Videos: The vulnerability shared by Brené Brown in her TED Talk, “The Power of Vulnerability,” exemplifies the impact of a personal and authentic talking head video.
• Interactive Videos: Coldplay’s “Ink” interactive video demonstrates how gamification elements can transform a music video into an engaging learning experience.

Get Started in Including Video in eLearning

E-Learning videos offers highly engaging way to make online education and workplace training interesting.

From the visual appeal of slide presentations to the real-time engagement of livestream videos and social learning, each format brings a unique flavor to the online learning experience.

Getting started with the top eLearning platforms is key to providing a varied format of learning experience to your learners.

When creating your course video contents always:

• Choose the right format that resonates with your audience.
• Choose the video type that best illustrate the point to aid reaching their learning goals.
• Combine various types of eLearning video thoughtfully to create a holistic and engaging curriculum.

Tailor your approach to your audience in what they want and need and leverage the benefits of each video type.

With the right video types in your online course, you can create an immersive learning journey that resonates with learners.