Training the Trainer: The Impact of Training Videos

Written By: Patrick McKee

Producer - Partner Accounts, Visual Domain

Before starting my career in production, I had many different careers managing businesses and learning how to not only manage people, but also train them in a way that made sure my team was as cohesive in their practices as possible. Through this experience, I had the opportunity to complete my certification in training and education. 

The first thing they tell you is the sheer variety of different ways people learn. Most people in training and education know the popular VARK model, and traditional ways of in-person training by use of multiple resources to make sure they hit each style.  Traditional classroom training, while still valuable, uses these additional resources to ensure that learning is efficient, engaging, and easily accessible. Whether that is demonstrations, flow charts, or activities to cement the knowledge into the mind. Even with these tools, data shows that learning retention diminishes over time once the training session has ended. 

As our technology and social knowledge have evolved, there is one media format that hits all of these main learning styles in one delivery method - Video. 

Why training videos?

One of the strongest advantages is their availability.  This 'on-demand' nature of videos suits the diverse schedules and learning paces of different individuals. No longer confined by the restraints of scheduled training sessions, individuals can pause, rewind, and rewatch segments until they grasp the concept fully. Transferring your training to video format means that the learner is able to access and re-learn when needed with no additional training sessions needed.  Not to mention traditional in person training can be costly, from fees such as the trainer, the venue and the other props needed to engage.

3 Key points for creating a training video brief:

1. Angles

Can your viewer see each step that your presenter is demonstrating? Consider a 4 camera set up, one direct to the presenter, two to the side and a top down. This will give your viewer a 360 view of the demonstration to show exactly what they need to do. 

2. Delivery

3. Compliance

What are the key points that MUST be said or shown? There are of course things that you can leave out to make a shorter video, but you have to know what to include and what can be talked about on site. 

Have these three things at the forefront when designing your video training content and you will find that, though all the information may be crucial, you can really hone in on a few things that need to be delivered or demonstrated. Once you can condense these things, you might find that you can then create multiple videos on one topic, piece of compliance, or sections of a demonstration. The biggest advantage of training videos is that you can create a consistent series that your team can click through at their own pace. You might even find that you can film 4-5 sections of your curriculum in one day.

Also, most digital platforms that host training videos provide detailed analytics. This means organisations can track who watched the videos, how many times they were viewed, and even where viewers paused or stopped the video. Such insights are invaluable for understanding engagement and identifying areas that might need further clarification or focus.

Humans are inherently visual creatures. The majority of people understand and retain information best when it's presented visually. Training videos cater to both visual and auditory learners, making complex information more digestible through graphics, animations, and real-world demonstrations.

As the lines between traditional and digital learning continue to blur, the importance of training videos is at the forefront of everyone's minds. They encapsulate the best of both worlds, ensuring that learners are equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in their learning. So, the next time you consider training tools, remember the power of the play button.

Author: Patrick McKee
Producer - Partner Accounts, Visual Domain

With a dedicated interest in media and content creation, Pat combines his background of training and education with his skills in project management, organisation and strong eye for detail to bring your video to life. He has over 10 years experience managing people and projects from corporate training videos to passion-fueled film and television content.