Involving material through video branching

Jan 20, 2023

Interacting with learners in remote areas is a major challenge for professionals in training and support. An abundance of educational videos interspersed with messages, and pings in the ever-present internet makes it hard for anyone to stay engaged.

Alongside the numerous digital interruptions at work, designing an effective onboarding and education program isn't simple. An earlier Gallup survey revealed that just 12 percent of employees believe that their employer is doing a good job of integrating new hires.

First, let's look at what is the meaning of video branching?

A branching video is a kind of interactivity-based video that participants' involvement directly impacts the plot of the video.

The branching video gives viewers the opportunity to participate in the narrative by participating in the story. It is possible to inquire about viewers using designated decision points. Based on their response or decision, the user is taken to the next stage of the film. It is crucial to create an engaging and compelling sequence of stories that you can imagine and let your staff to determine their own learning path.

Two possible scenarios to use video branching

Video branching is an effective method of creating customized learning experiences and onboarding. The two most efficient instances that enablement and learning teams could benefit from interactive learning:

Learning paths that are custom-designed for you

A traditional learning video may help viewers follow a process of learning. An employee orientation course can guide new employees through the the company's values, the products and services, the various departments and leaders, and different duties and tasks. The content could be made available in the form of a single or series of video clips, that is one hour worth of content to go through.

Through video branching those in the training and enablement are able to divide their content into clickable segments. This allows employees to move into the areas most relevant to their needs within a single video.

The training is based around scenario

Learning at work is only successful is if the employees understand the right way to use their knowledge. That's why training with situations can be a successful and enjoyable method of teaching employees. Video branching provides groups of trainers and facilitators an opportunity to come up with captivating stories, show various scenarios and show what employees may face in the workplace.

Below is an example from Radisson Hotel Group that shows how video branching is able to give the best educational experience that is based on a scenario for hotel employees.

Making a simpler branching structure

When mapping out the structure of your branching in order to produce your initial interactive video, it's best to simplify your viewers experience. In the example above, if you created a decision point with three outcomes using two other decisions, you'd already have 27 possibilities to incorporate into your video.

Instead, try using master loops where the entire story plays in a single sequential sequence. If your child chooses the wrong option in a point of decision the story unfolds, and they return to the decision place to select another result. When they have chosen an appropriate outcome then the story continues. Master loops are excellent for training based on scenarios as well as videos for tests.

If you want to find alternative scenarios that branch out, spend the time to develop your own storyboard for the material that you want your viewers to experience. Create flowcharts as well as decision trees to illustrate the experience of watching video in every step.

Four things to consider to be ready for a upcoming branching video shoot

The process of creating a successful video branching process starts by analyzing the video content that you already have. Video branching blends different clips into an engaging story for viewers. It's important to carefully plan the order of your videos, and then edit them prior to layering your branches.

If you are planning to make your film or script, think about these 4 guidelines:

  1. Map out your viewer user journeys before shooting. It is possible to make use of a flow diagram or any other tool like twine for assistance.
  2. Make sure to take pictures of every possibility in the event of a result and photos. Make sure you leave the camera rolling for longer than you normally would.
  3. Consider what's taking place on screen when the viewer is required to make a decision.
  4. Consider how you'd want to move between the decision-making screen to your user options. Think about what it could look as.

A video that is branching can be produced by

When branching videos take some time to prepare by planning, shooting as well as editing the end product could be a quadruple of the time to your viewers. This is a step-by-step guideline for how to build out your narrative that branches .

All of your thoughts into one calendar

If this is your first time, you'll need to save your video files to in a single file. You must ensure that they are edited as one video file (one one after the other) rather than separating the parts into separate ones.

Create a decision point

Create hotspots for your video. You can use the 'jump to time in your video' option to get your viewers to an exact point in the video or see the outcome of a certain choice.

Add playback segments

To prevent viewers from having to scroll through video or miss key decision-making elements, it's possible to create playback segments. Playback segments allow creators to break up videos into parts to allow viewers to be able to move around within the segment. This is an essential aspect to create video that is branching since it helps to maintain the structure of the branches, and prevents viewers from evading the rules of the branch.

Below is an example of an instructional EMS video that includes playback segments.

It is possible to choose between a pause or a loop

It's important to decide what will happen at each moment of decision.

As an example, you could opt to make an pause by the usage of a timer to stop the film from running until a final decision has been made.

It is also possible to think of an idea of making a looping segment of content by using your hotspot. You can use an event trigger that allows users to enter the video, and then create loops.

When making your decision, take into consideration if you have included specific information to assist the user in making an informed decision (like messages that explain to viewers what's going on on screen) and also what you'd like viewers engage with you and choose.

Develop your shifts

After your viewer has made the final decision and has made an argument, it's important to be aware of the transition that the video makes.

It is possible to creating a seamless continuation of the video. Or you may want think about other effects that can making the mask appear different in the video.

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