Today's Tip
Video and E-Learning: New Opportunities for Instructional Developers
 DSA would like to thank Dr. Tom Welsh for contributing this month's tip on using video in web-based training. Dr. Welsh is an active DSA Associate and Professor of Instructional Design and Technology at California State University, Chico. He regularly works on DSA e-learning projects and teaches the DSA workshop: Designing
Instruction for Web-Based Training.
On a recent DSA project, a client wanted to convey the importance of
a new training initiative to the company’s worldwide audience
of employees. The client knew that the best way to reinforce the initiative’s
importance and promote attitude change was to provide a direct appeal
from the CEO. The problem was, how could they provide high quality
video of the CEO and include the interactivity and tracking provided
by web-based training without making the technology requirements burdensome
on the employees?
Thanks to new video
technologies for the web – in this case
Flash Video – we were able to achieve all of the initiative’s
goals, combining the interactivity of web-based training with high
quality video, and LMS reporting, in one seamless solution that fits
nicely within the standard software set installed on 93.5% of the world’s
internet-enabled computers.*
Clearly, the web is ready to accommodate high quality video. With
this in mind, here are four reasons to re-consider using video in web-based
training:
- Video is one
of the best mediums for conveying meaning and allowing authentic
practice for instructional outcomes such as interpersonal
skills, attitude change, and, to a lesser extent, procedures.
- Production
costs have been driven down with the introduction of digital
video cameras and desktop editing tools.
- Video files
can now be streamed from any standard ISP or web server for immediate
playback.
- Development
tools, such as Flash, allow designers to Wrap interactivity around
existing video content and deliver it
all in one seamless package.
With web-based video, instructional designers have opportunities for
enhancing the impact and instructional value of web-based training.
Here are just a few examples:
- While taking
web-based training on selling techniques, a learner can view a video
of a sales
presentation and click a button when they
see a specific technique in being displayed. They receive immediate
feedback on their selection.
- While
taking web-based training on a new corporate-wide initiative, the
learner
receives
a one-minute testimonial from an Executive VP
regarding the importance of the initiative. After the short clip, the
learner is more clearly focused and ready to learn.
- While
taking web-based training on how to put on emergency response equipment,
the learner
can view a video demonstration of the
procedure along with text prompting. They can play, pause, rewind,
and slow the demonstration as they practice with sample gear provided
to them.
Of course, video production costs can significantly increase the overall
budget for a training project. However, this is not always the case.
Short, personal introductions to a course can be recorded and integrated
at relatively low cost. In addition, if it makes sense to accept lower
production values, video-based presentations of procedures and interpersonal
skills in action can add depth and authenticity to web-based training.
Do you want to
learn more about innovative instructional design techniques for web-based
training? Check out DSA’s Designing Instruction
for Web-Based Training workshop at http://www.dsink.com/calendar/.
Until next time,
Darryl
 P.S. Dr.
Thomas Welsh is an active DSA Associate and Professor of Instructional
Design and Technology at California State University, Chico.
He regularly works on DSA e-learning projects and teaches the
DSA workshop: Designing
Instruction for Web-Based Training.
Article © 2006
Darryl Sink & Associates, Inc
|
Vol.
2, No. 9 May 3,
2006 
