The pandemic has resulted in an education emergency across the world. As teachers juggle the curveballs thrown at them and adjust to teaching online, using videos for creating meaningful lessons and ensuring rock-solid engagement 

Why use videos for online lessons? Videos are an excellent medium for storytelling that support both audio and visual components. They increase the recall value for students and make the learning more enjoyable. In fact, 52 percent of graduate students in the US believe that online learning offers a better experience than in-class lectures. 

But it’s not as straightforward as merely converting your lecture notes into a video presentation. How do you ensure that students are paying attention to these videos and actually learning from them? How do you know if you are communicating effectively? How do you know whether you are engaging with students when you can’t see them in-person? 

You need videos that can hook students right off the bat and deliver an immersive learning experience. Luckily, it is easy to ensure that your videos have the desired impact -- follow these six tips below and make your online classes a roaring success.

1- Use Picture in Picture for video presentations 

Video overlay, commonly known as Picture in Picture (PiP) mode, allows you to display two separate video clips on the same screen at the same time. 

Adding a PiP effect to your videos superimposes a smaller video clip on the larger one. It allows your students to watch slideshows or screen recordings while listening to the lecture. It also replicates the feeling of attending the class physically and watching the slides on a projector screen.

2- Edit recorded lessons with a video editing tool to make them more engaging 

A lot of teachers prefer recording the lectures in advance to save time. However, listening to someone simply talk to the camera for hours can lead to disengaged students. It can also make them more distracted and divert their attention elsewhere. 

To make your recorded lessons more engaging, you can use video editing techniques. Add different visuals such as graphs, figures, and drawings to explain complex topics in a creative way. It can leave an indelible impression on the students’ minds and help them retain more information. 

You can also use relevant images to illustrate the critical points of the lecture. Always experiment with different types of visual media to check which type clicks the best with your students. 

Though, you don’t need to spend hours trying to professionally edit videos. There are several free video editorsLinks to an external site. like Clipchamp available online that offer a user-friendly interface and customizable templates, making video editing a cakewalk. 

3- Keep every lesson short

Given the shrinking attention spans, extremely long videos impact learning and retention. Even with a stable WiFi or mobile internet connection, lengthy videos take incredibly long to load. Sometimes, these videos may refuse to load at all, leading to a waste of time and frustration.  

When you try to break down complex concepts for your students, choosing the right length is crucial if you want them to retain something of value. It is advisable to divide the lecture by splitting the video recording into shorter clips. Each clip should be approximately 6 minutes longLinks to an external site. to make it easier for students to follow the lesson. The idea behind these bite-sized lectures is to make it easier for students to digest every part of the lesson. 

5 -  Ask questions to create a feedback loop 

When teaching online, it can be difficult to assess if students are following the video presentation and retaining the information. 

Adding self-assessment quizzes or embedding questions directly into the video can address your concerns. Quizzes simulate an in-class learning environment, prompting students to proactively engage with the material during the lecture. These tools motivate students to pay better attention during the class and review the lessons carefully. It also allows them to provide real-time feedback to their teachers and identify the concepts or issues that they need assistance with. 

If you want to be sure that the students are attempting the quizzes, ask them to submit the answers as an assignment. It will give you an opportunity to review whether the lessons are useful and make necessary changes to the material.  

6- Show a friendly face when teaching online 

Video lessons are a powerful resource for remote learning. But unless they are interactive, it can become monotonous to listen to a lecture. 

You can enhance the learning experience and motivate your students to remain engaged by simply showing your face. Research shows that academic video presentations where the teacher’s face appears on the screen are more engaging than recordings with a voiceover. When students notice the facial expressions and body language of their teacher, the lectures appear less intimidating. It also helps you to maintain a better relationship with your students. 

Whether you are recording the lecture in advance or teaching live, add a personal feel to make the lessons engaging. At the beginning of each video, briefly introduce the topic you plan to cover so that the students know what to expect. Always use a conversational style during the lesson and maintain a steady eye-contact with students, as if you are teaching in a brick-and-mortar class. 

If you make a mistake, correct yourself instead of starting over. It will allow your personality to shine through and help you stand out. 

Final words

Your goal is to help the students learn by teaching online -- not create a Hollywood production. Instead of getting too fixated on perfection, go with the flow and have fun while creating video presentations with an online presentation makerLinks to an external site. using these tips. As long as you can clearly explain the concepts and engage your students, you will hit the mark and that will be more than enough for your students.