The evidence that videos enhance education is irrefutable. In a recent study by leading video software company Kaltura, 93% of teachers believe that video improves the learning experience. And in the last year, over 94% of teachers incorporated video into their class. There are many reasons for this. Videos are an engaging, entertaining, and easy educational tool to incorporate into the classroom. Logistically, they can be viewed by anyone in any part of the world at any time. Not to mention, they can be a lot more appealing to some students than books. We’ll explain below how to make educational videos that improve the learning process, whether you’re a teacher, student, or school administrator.
How Educational Videos Boost Learning
Videos are perhaps the most effective medium to connect with today’s generation. Students of all ages enjoy watching videos, resulting in higher levels of engagement—which translates into more efficient processing, memory recall, and retention of new information. When you think about the fact that the human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, it makes sense that we learn so well from videos.
Educational videos also allow teachers to create “blended” learning environments, where each student can work at their own customized pace. Students can pause, rewind and replay videos as many times as they need. Digital learning gives people greater ownership over their education, which motivates them and fosters greater learner autonomy. In other words, the benefits of educational videos go on and on.
How to Make Educational Videos from Your Computer
1. Prepare your content
Like any organized teacher, start with a rough draft of the information and messages you wish to convey. When mastering how to make educational videos that are effective, remember to balance emotion with facts. Drive home your points with real-world examples that will resonate with your viewers.
2. Know your audience
What works with one group will fall flat with another. Keep your audience front of mind when experimenting with how to make an educational video. Prioritize the information that you think will increase your viewer’s engagement.
3. Include captions
Captions and subtitles are proven to help students understand and process information. This is especially true if any of your viewers have special needs or are non-native English speakers. Identify the most important information from each slide or screen, and make it stand out in the caption.
4. Tailor the language
Don’t be afraid to include a little personality in your video. Keep the language conversational—and maybe inject a little humor—to hold your audience’s attention. Make sure you have a proper balance of auditory and visual elements throughout the video. Whether you’re narrating it yourself or relying on subtitles, an enthusiastic tone keeps it interesting and engaging.
5. Break it down
The recommended length of your video varies according to the age of your audience, context, and other factors. But regardless of whether it’s 5 or 50 minutes, a good rule of thumb is to break videos into short segments by topic or theme. Include interactive features at the end of each section, such as a short quiz, to promote reflection and retention.
6. Include further resources
Conclude your video with additional sources and links your viewers can check out for more information. This lends credibility to your content, as well as guiding them to find answers on their own. This is a key element in how to make educational videos that end on a strong note and leave viewers wanting more.
How to Make an Educational Video with Smilebox
Smilebox offers a one-stop shop platform for creating educational videos in very little time. Make your own from the comfort of your home, school or office, and share it however you wish: email, social media, download it to your computer, or post the link online. It’s designed for amateurs (i.e., regular people) who want professional-looking results.
How to make an educational video with Smilebox.com in 4 simple steps:
1. Choose a template
Browse ready-to-go designs in every color and style. Filter templates by educational milestones, holidays, business-related events, special occasions, and more.
2. Add your content
Easily upload photos, images, text and other content from your phone or computer. Simply drag and drop to arrange everything in the order you like.
3. Personalize
Choose the music, animations, fonts, color schemes and more to perfect your educational video for your target audience. Brand it with your logo and business information if desired.
4. Share it
Share your educational video any number of ways. Upload it to social media or other websites, send it by email, or save it to your computer. You can download it as a high-resolution MP4 file, which can be screened in the location of your choice.
When it comes to the power of educational videos, the jury is in: they greatly assist in the learning of all subjects. No matter what it is you want to teach, videos are effective. They benefit students in many ways, as well as teachers and their affiliated institutions. Fortunately, with platforms like Smilebox and others, you don’t need special design skills to create one of your own. The simplicity may surprise you.
Create your own educational video with Smilebox slideshow maker today!
