A balanced mix of learning materials and exercises makes your online coaching interesting. Variety is also provided by a mix of different media (e.g., texts, images, audio material, videos). Trainers typically use the following media in online coaching: emails (texts), presentation slides as email attachments, and worksheets for printing. Videos are a great addition to this media mix and are usually very easy to create.
Here are a few good reasons to use videos:
With videos you can…
… inform training participants
… repeat a method
… clearly explain connections
… provide a pleasant break
… prompt reflection
… motivate action and practice
For your online coaching, you can connect videos with your exercises. This ensures good follow-up on your training content. Your participants receive a worksheet and an explanation via video on why the presented method is important and when it can be applied. A great help for practical transfer. This way, the knowledge is also applied.
You can find everything related to shooting videos with your smartphone, from the concept to the finished video, on our information page: Create videos for online courses – easily with your smartphone
Learning videos and explanatory videos - Inform and motivate
Learning videos (also known as explanatory videos) come in different flavors. For example, a short explanation of a method or a fact, the recording of an entire lecture, the screen recording of a PowerPoint presentation, or the explanatory video in the style of paper cutting.
These variants also differ in terms of effort. What you need to consider for a video in the paper cutting style is presented in this webinar. I would like to introduce you to a simple variant in more detail. This way you can quickly create your own learning videos.
Create your own learning videos
Our motto is: “Keep it simple.” That’s why I recommend: Start with a simple recording using your smartphone. A neutral, well-lit wall is completely sufficient - please make sure that your face is also well lit. For example, by looking towards a window. If you have your smartphone handy, you can try that out right now. If you’re not filming in a quiet room, you may hear some echo or sounds from the room. My tip here is: get a small lavalier microphone to be able to shoot in all rooms. This will not only make the sound better but also a bit louder. I am happy to send you some recommendations. Then you can set up your mini-studio and subsequently create learning videos yourself.
The set does not have to be elaborate. After all, your message (e.g., information about the method: “active listening”) is the centerpiece. You don’t want to distract viewers with an overloaded background. The video doesn’t even have to be long. Ideally, a two- to five-minute recording is best. To get a sense of time, you can simply record yourself answering a fictional question about your topic and then check the video length.
By video recording, you address your participants on a much more personal level. With no other medium can you showcase yourself as well as with a video. Your training ultimately thrives on your knowledge, expressiveness, and persuasive power. Another advantage for you: With your self-produced videos, you can also advertise your training.
Better learning and practicing with videos
In your learning video, you briefly repeat the essential points of your method and give tips for practicing. Because two or three weeks after the in-person session, your participants probably won’t remember how you presented the method during training. As a recap, you send them the video. To keep your training content relevant for your participants for a long time, you want to take advantage of the so-called “Spaced Repetition Effect.” Spaced Repetition is a learning strategy and can be freely translated as “repeating at regular intervals.” People remember things best when the information is activated repeatedly.
A training becomes really effective when participants don’t just learn but also apply what they have learned in practice. That’s why it’s important to incorporate calls to action into these videos (for example: “Now take your smartphone in hand and film yourself answering a fictional question”).
Incorporate good video content into online coaching
In addition to your own videos, you can also compile video content for your participants. Here you take on the role of a curator. Perhaps you stumble upon a good learning video while preparing for your training. For time reasons, you might only be able to show a small part of it during training. You provide the rest of the video in your online coaching.
Better start right away!
No matter if you want to compile good videos from the internet or shoot some yourself: It’s best to start right away. So either pull out your smartphone or start a YouTube search. If you need more ideas or support, just leave a comment, use the contact form, or call us.
