With each passing year, workforces increasingly rely more and more on technology to perform at a high level. Due, in part, to growing up with technology, this has pushed the desire for online training and eLearning in the workplace to new heights.
MarioGuti / iStock / Getty Images Plus
At the forefront of this digital training revolution is video content. Video training is a remarkably effective means to drive learning, engaging multiple brain functions through audio and sensory learning. These factors push retention further, increasing the efficiency of video learning.
For staff tending to the technological needs of their Millennial workforce, what better way to do that than to deliver courses with material embedded in the functions that they know and trust? Surely it will increase absorption of information and should clearly be a defining factor in your new and continuing employee education program.
Now, if you’re imagining your company’s videos looking like full-scale Hollywood summer blockbusters, with CGI dinosaurs and action at every step of the way, don’t worry! Creating dynamic video training content doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.
A vast majority of the hardware needed is either already in your possession or very affordable for your business to purchase. All it requires is some scripting and patience while getting to know the ins and outs of your production material. Once you have this down, you’re ready to start producing awesome video training content. Here’s where to begin.…
Grabbing Your Gear without Breaking the Bank
If you’ve done a quick Google search of video camera equipment, you probably wanted to give up on your video dreams before even starting! The reality of high-production camera equipment is that costs are out of this world; the other reality is that you likely have everything you need to capture excellent video sitting right there in your office.
Due to some amazing advancements in camera and cellular technology, most modern cell phone cameras are capable of shooting crystal-clear video at once-unthought-of frame rates. The Apple® iPhone® 8 can capture video content in 4K, at a level of 60 fps or higher.
That’s more powerful than the bulk of cameras you’ll find for under a thousand dollars, making cell phones a great alternative to expensive video tech that your department just doesn’t have the budget for. The same goes for tablets, laptops, and desktop cameras. Become acquainted with these devices, and start recording!
Now, if you have a little bit of room in your budget for video hardware, it’s not a bad idea to upgrade your microphone options. The built-in microphone is suitable for the task of creating training content, but for just $100–$200, a high-quality USB microphone can be purchased that will greatly enhance your audio quality to professional levels.
A camera tripod, including cell phone tripod, is also a fantastic option to upgrade your video recording experience. For just a couple of hundred dollars, you’ll have all you need to get started!
Editing, Storing, and Streaming on a Budget
Once you’ve got your hardware squared away, it’s time to turn to post-production. There are a number of software programs out there to assist with editing; countless online platforms to distribute content; and too many cloud storage sites to choose from. But here’s an idea: Let’s consolidate these tasks into one streamlined program. Enter: video content management systems (VCMS).
Once you’ve captured your raw video, storage can be a nightmare. The average minute of 4K video captured at 60 fps on an iPhone 8 takes up 400 MB. Ouch! Instead of taking on more servers, the VCMS gives you cloud storage access to safely secure your content.
You can also use the platform for editing purposes. Adding transitions, background music, graphics, and subtitles; zooming in and out of content; framing; and adding credits are just surface tasks you can do while editing in a VCMS. Once you have your product completed, rather than taking all day to upload online and letting a website decide the fate of your content, the VCMS will host your video library for only your company to observe and interact with.
Managers can assign videos to new trainees based on their job duties, while existing employees can search by keyword in descriptions or within video audio to upgrade their own skill set and push their careers to the next level.
Video content doesn’t have to be expensive; it’s meant to be an affordable equalizer to appeal to users new and old. Embrace video today, and watch your company’s training take off!
 Sean Gordon, Chief Executive Officer at HIRENAMI, has an extensive track record recruiting, hiring, training, and unlocking the talent of people. For 20 years, Sean has been on the front lines of business across North America. He started with AT&T, where he built award-winning teams in sales and operations from coast to coast. He delivered equally stellar results for EMC, Aetna, and West Corporation before becoming CEO of a technology company in need of innovation.Sean founded HIRENAMI to take recruiting challenges from painful, inefficient, and time-consuming to quick and effective for employees and employers. Sean has created new lines of business, reinvigorated stagnant company cultures, and mentored hundreds of employees, who have gone on to do great things. Connect with Sean on LinkedIn. HIRENAMI Achieving results by developing people. |