Making videos seems very easy these days; you record yourself or your screen with your laptop or phone and you're done... If only it were that easy! The combination of speech, image and sound makes a video a powerful tool. However, teaching from a video is complicated. You have to pay attention to everything to keep the participants engaged while at the same time not overloading them. After all, a video only becomes meaningful for learning when the information is remembered and can be applied. What should you pay attention to when making an educational video?

This is how you decide the duration and the topic of the video

• Use a separate video for each topic.
• You can keep a participant's full attention for a maximum of 3 minutes. Is your video taking too long? Then make videos with bite-sized chunks of the subject.

This is how you speak on video

• Always record the videos yourself. Participants will learn better from a video recorded by real people than a computer generated voice.
• Make it personal. Speak from the first person perspective and address participants directly by using words like 'you' and 'your'.
• Be friendly and not too formal. The use of everyday language promotes learning. Keep the jargon and other occupation dependent language intact.
• Ocasionally take a short break of about 3 seconds. This gives the participant the opportunity to process the information, before having to focus on new information again.

This is how you decide what to say in a video

• Avoid unnecessary information that is not meaningful for learning as much as possible. For example, prepare a topic list in advance for what you want to discuss.
• It can also help you write out what you're going to say in full. Make a script for this, in which you write down word for word what needs to be recorded. This ensures that you have to think less while recording. There is nothing more annoying and distracting than watching a video where the speaker keeps saying “uh”.
• Start by mentioning the (learning) objectives of the video. What is the purpose of your video? And who is it for?
• In the introduction of the video, also mention all important concepts that will be discussed. Do this as early as possible, preferably within the first 30 seconds. This way the participant knows which topics are covered and what they should focus on during the rest of the video.
• Make sure to connect with the participants' prior knowledge. For example, make sure they already know the important concepts. The video will be easier to understand for them. But don't overdo it. You won't capture the attention of your participants if you start with a comprehensive introduction of things they already know. Is there a wide range of prior knowledge levels among the participants? In that case make separate videos or cut the video into parts.
• Record the audio and video separately if you are not in the picture yourself and if you know how to edit videos. Start with the audio. You can record this in a quiet room with the sound recorder (dictaphone) on your phone. Then use your audio as a guide to record the image. That way you make sure to time everything correctly.

This is how you decide what will be on the screen

• Sometimes it can be a bit awkward to record yourself. Fortunately, it is not always necessary to be in the picture yourself. This is only important when your face adds something to the information, such as through emotions and facial expressions.
• Are you not in the picture? In that case it's essential that you use other footage, such as a PowerPoint or screencast. For example, you can insert a PowerPoint presentation via Microsoft Teams. Also read our instruction for this if needed.
• Are you in the picture? Then your viewing posture is important. You can use this to control the viewing behavior of the participants. If you need them to look at something, look at it yourself instead of straight into the camera as well. It is impossible to focus the participants' attention on two things at the same time.
• The same goes for images that require extra attention. You can direct the attention by, for example, pointing out or underlining certain aspects.
• Visualize as much as possible. Participants learn much better from simultaneous text and footage than from text alone. For example, use a (digital) board or empty paper on which you draw something. You can also use the whiteboard feature of Microsoft Teams during your explanation.
• When using image, timing is relevant. Make sure that the relevant footage is only visible during  your explanation, instead of before or after.
• Using images, words and text simultaneously has a negative effect on learning. This is mainly because the participants have to listen and read at the same time. Therefore, add as little written text as possible.
• Make sure that the visualization (drawing, image, etc.) disappears from view again as soon as it is no longer relevant. Otherwise it could have a distracting effect instead of allowing the attention to be focused on new information.
• Are you explaining a theoretical model? Then words alone will not be enough. Drawing a model helps the participants to learn. For example, use a plate or empty paper. Do not draw the model in advance. This actually works in the opposite direction. Draw out each step while giving the explanation.

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