In today's competitive business environment, effective employee training is crucial for companies to maintain a competitive edge over their competitors. Traditional training methods often fall short in engaging employees in their learning or providing them with the practical skills they need. This is where we can use interactive videos. By incorporating interactive elements into training videos, organizations can create a more engaging, effective, and memorable learning experiences.
Interactive videos are multimedia tools that integrate interactive elements, such as clickable tabs, icons, images, hotspots, quizzes, and branching scenarios, into video content. Traditional linear videos just display the content to learners without any active participation from their side. Whereas, interactive videos allow learners to actively engage with the learning content, making the learning process more dynamic, interesting, and personalized.
Here are six key benefits of using interactive videos in employee training.
Interactive videos transform passive viewers into active participants. Unlike traditional videos, interactive videos require the learner to engage with the content through quizzes, clickable areas, hotspots, decision points, and more. This active involvement keeps employees more engaged, making them less likely to become distracted or disinterested. For example, in customer service training videos, employees might be asked to choose the best response to a challenging customer scenario. Their choices can lead to different outcomes, providing immediate feedback and reinforcing learning points.
Interactive elements in videos help reinforce learning by making the content more memorable. When learners interact with the material, they are more likely to retain information. Interactive videos often include elements like simulations or scenario-based learning, which allow employees to apply what they have learned in a practical context. For example, compliance training videos could incorporate a simulation where employees must identify violations in a virtual workplace, helping them better remember the rules and how to apply them in a real work environment.
Interactive videos can adapt to the learner's pace and preferences, offering a personalized training experience. Employees can choose their learning paths based on their knowledge level, interests, or job role. This customization ensures that each employee receives the most relevant and beneficial training. For example, in sales training videos, new hires might start with basic techniques, while experienced employees can skip ahead to advanced strategies. This flexibility makes training more efficient and tailored to individual needs.
Interactive videos provide opportunities for real-time assessment and feedback. Through embedded quizzes and interactive checkpoints, employees can test their knowledge and receive instant feedback. This immediate response helps learners understand what they did right or wrong and why, facilitating better learning outcomes. For example, during safety training videos, employees might encounter checkpoints where they must choose the correct safety procedure. Immediate feedback helps correct misconceptions on the spot, ensuring that safety protocols are clearly understood.
Interactive videos work seamlessly on all types of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, without any technical glitches. This allows employees to engage with training materials anytime and anywhere. This flexibility is beneficial for companies that have remotely working teams or geographically dispersed teams. Employees can complete training at their own pace, reducing the need for scheduled sessions and allowing for better time management. For example, a global company can create an interactive onboarding video that is accessible to all new hires, regardless of their location. This ensures a consistent training experience while accommodating different time zones and schedules.
Interactive videos provide detailed analytics on how employees interact with the content. Trainers can track engagement levels, quiz results, and completion rates, gaining valuable insights into the effectiveness of the training program. This data allows for continuous improvement of training materials and strategies. For example, a training manager can analyze the data from interactive product training videos to identify which sections employees struggle with the most. This insight can lead to adjustments in the content to address common challenges and improve overall comprehension.
Many companies have successfully implemented interactive videos in their training programs, reaping significant benefits. Companies can use interactive videos in the following ways:
Onboarding: Introduce new hires to company policies, culture, and procedures in an engaging way. Interactive videos can simulate real-world scenarios new employees might face, helping them acclimate faster. For example, companies can use interactive videos for onboarding new employees, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the company's culture, departments or business units, and processes.
Compliance training: Make mandatory training on topics like workplace safety and anti-harassment more engaging. Interactive scenarios can illustrate complex topics more effectively than text-based materials. For example, companies can leverage interactive videos for safety training, significantly reducing workplace hazards or accidents.
Skill development: Use interactive videos to teach new skills or software. For example, a branching scenario could guide employees through different tasks in a new software program. Companies can employ interactive training videos for their sales teams, helping them develop essential skills through simulated customer interactions.
Performance support: Create a library of interactive videos that employees can access on-demand to get help with specific tasks, procedures, and processes, or refresh their knowledge.
Interactive videos offer numerous benefits, such as enhanced engagement, better knowledge retention, personalized learning experiences, and real-time feedback. They provide a comprehensive and effective approach to employee training and development. By leveraging these benefits, organizations can ensure that their training programs are not only more engaging but also more effective, leading to a more knowledgeable and capable workforce.
At Tesseract Learning, we’ll discuss your challenges and work with your team to understand your business needs, learner expectations, and technology environments. If you wish to know how our services, KREDO LMS, and Prodient.io rapid authoring tool can help your organization in creating interactive videos as part of your L&D strategy, contact us or write to us at <suresh@tesseractlearning.com>.