E-learning video production guide for associations
Video is everywhere, and the Institute’s learning programs are no exception. Modern professionals increasingly prefer video content because it is engaging, memorable, and extremely useful.
In fact, research shows that viewers retain up to 95% of messages when delivered in video format, compared to only 10% via text. This statistic is a game-changer for training. This guide explains why video is important in eLearning and shows you exactly how to create highly effective educational videos for your association, even when working with limited resources. Learn about the best types of videos for engagement, scripts and storyboards for maximum impact, DIY production tips, and important accessibility practices. Let’s take a closer look at how videos can be a powerful tool in your learning toolbox.
ebook
Microlearning for associations: A handbook for engagement, retention, and revenue
Discover how to turn long, one-shot courses into short, focused, and impactful experiences for organizations that meet learners where they are.
Why videos are important in modern learning
E-learning videos are extremely powerful because they combine visuals, audio, and storytelling. This multisensory approach effectively engages your audience and helps them stick with your lessons.
Here’s why video should be a core part of your association’s eLearning strategy.
Humanize your brand: Video allows you to humanize your content, such as by having leaders share success stories. Demonstrate complex processes: Easily demonstrate step-by-step instructions, including tutorials on how to use new industry software. Compatible with busy schedules: Members may skip a 5-page article, but they’ll happily watch a 3-minute instructional video on their commute to work. Break through barriers: Thoughtful videos that utilize visual cues and clear narration transcend reading and language barriers. Reduce feelings of isolation: Seeing faces and hearing voices promotes connection, making remote learners feel less isolated.
Create engaging training videos with a clear storyline and varying levels of interactivity
Micro-epiphanies: In a screen-first world, learning that moves is learning that moves people.
Types of eLearning videos that drive engagement
Not all videos are created equal. Mix and match formats to stay engaged and appeal to different learning preferences. Here are some styles that are very effective for related learning.
Micro-demos and tutorials: These are short 2-5 minute screencasts or live demos that quickly solve a single problem or teach a specific skill (e.g. “How to submit a certification application online”). Expert interviews and talks: Featuring veteran members and industry experts in Q&A or mini-TED-style talks to lend authority and share real-world insights. Role-play a scenario: Record a scenario (such as a difficult conversation with a client) that demonstrates the wrong and right way to react. These can easily be taken in person or remotely via Zoom. Animated explanations: Simplify abstract concepts without the need for a large studio using motion graphics or simple animations, such as flowcharts showing regulatory compliance steps. Event Highlights: Leverage existing webinars and conferences by editing key moments into highlight videos and adding on-screen text and graphics to highlight important data.
How Animation Styles Enhance Your Corporate Training Videos: A Comparison of Vyond and Custom Video Animations
Real industry examples
(Tip: Follow Microlearning Lab for the largest portfolio of e-learning videos and interactive microlearning.)
Micro Epiphany: Match the style of your video to your lesson. The format should amplify the message, not distract from it.
Scripting and storyboarding for effective videos
Great eLearning videos start in the planning stages, long before the cameras turn on. Writing a script will give you clarity and make your videos concise.
1. Configure the script
Define your goals. Determine your North Star. What should viewers learn and do after watching? Keep it conversational: Use simple language, short sentences, and active voice (e.g., “Many new members misunderstand this rule.”) Avoid difficult jargon unless you’re speaking directly to an expert. Use the classic formula. Organize your script into an introduction (telling what you’re going to learn), a demonstration or explanation (teaching it), and a conclusion (summary and next steps).
2. Map your visuals (storyboard)
A storyboard is a visual outline consisting of a series of rough sketches or frames with notes for each scene.
Avoid “talking heads”: Combine scripts and storyboards to plan out cuts to graphs, bullet points highlights, or screenshots. Optimize your pacing: Plan to change something on screen (graphics, camera angle) every 30 to 60 seconds to re-capture your audience’s attention, and mark those changes to your editor. Embed interactivity: Make notes in your script where to pause for reflection questions, or where to embed quizzes and links if your platform allows.
Micro Epiphany: Shooting a video becomes easy if you have a good script and storyboard.
Remote and DIY video production tips
You don’t need a big budget or a professional studio to create engaging content. Many organizations are producing high-quality videos remotely using minimal equipment.
From Script to Screen: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Video Production Process for Training Videos
Camera and stabilization: Use what you have. Modern smartphone cameras and laptop webcams record in HD. Invest in a simple phone stand or tripod for steady shots. Audio upgrade: Using an external microphone (even a simple $30 clip-on mic) can greatly improve sound quality. Lighting and Frame: Get natural light near a window or use an affordable ring light to record. Avoid backlighting (bright windows behind the speaker) and frame the shot so that the speaker’s face and shoulders fill the screen against a clean background. Remote platforms: Tools like Teams and Zoom can also function perfectly as recording studios. Be sure to click “Record”. Note that many tools record individual speaker views for cleaner editing. Edit and brand: Cut text, overlay, and add picture-in-picture using simple software like iMovie or Camtasia. Adding your association logo, brand colors, and a consistent title slide will make your homemade videos look professional.
Micro Epiphany: Use the tools you have and focus on clarity. Great content shines through modest production. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. When the value of your content is so high, your audience will tolerate some technical flaws.
Accessibility and captioning standards
Ensuring all members benefit from content is about more than just compliance. It’s about inclusion. Accessibility accommodates people with hearing or vision impairments, non-native speakers, and people with different learning preferences.
Captions and subtitles: All videos must have captions. We aim to meet the WCAG 2.1 AA standard for accurate captioning of pre-recorded audio. You can auto-generate them (like YouTube) or upload .srt files, but always check them manually for accuracy. Complete transcript: Provides a text version of audio content and key visual descriptions to assist learners who use screen readers or who prefer to skim and search for specific information. Visual contrast and color: Ensure high contrast (for example, dark text on a light background) so that text is easy to read. Don’t rely solely on color to convey meaning to colorblind learners. Also use labels and symbols. Player controls: Use a video player that allows users to play/pause, adjust volume, and skip forward and backward using the keyboard.
Micro Epiphany: Accessible video isn’t just kind, it’s beneficial for everyone. Clarity for one often means clarity for everyone.
Next step: Start your pilot video
By prioritizing video and making it accessible, you can meet your members wherever they are with their eyes on their screens and ready to learn. To get started, follow these steps:
Choose a pilot video: Choose a simple learning topic that would benefit from visualization, such as a demonstration of a common FAQ. Be clear about purpose and format. Write and sketch: Before shooting, write a short script and sketch a visual storyboard for your pilot. Test your setup: Record a quick 30-second test on your phone or webcam to check audio, lighting, and video quality. Adjust as necessary. Check accessibility: Add captions to your finished video and ask your colleagues and members to check it for clarity and accessibility. Apply these lessons before scaling up production.
stay tuned! Then, continue to improve your custom eLearning toolkit using best practices for creating courses that stick.
Get Microlearning For Associations: A Playbook For Engagement, Retention, and Revenue today. It distills years of design expertise, data-driven insights, and real-world examples to create an actionable roadmap for association leaders and L&D professionals.
additional resources
After downloading the Ultimate Guide for Associations, check out these resources to learn more about producing video training.
Share with
