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Maximizing the Impact of Instructional Video Length

9/3/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
​With the recent surge in blended on wholly online teaching and and learning scenarios, there has been an uptick in interest in best practices for the creation of video-based instructional content. Here are a few resources discussing elements of effective instructional video creation -- particularly the optimal length for an instructional video. While YouTube statistics show that the top 10 videos on that platform are about 3 minutes long (Baker, 2018), Brame (2015) notes of research in an educational video context that:

​the median engagement time for videos less than six minutes long was close to 100%–that is, students tended to watch the whole video (although there are significant outliers; see the paper for more complete information). As videos lengthened, however, student engagement dropped off, such that the median engagement time with 9-12 minute videos was ~50% and the median engagement time with 12-40 minute videos was ~20%. In fact, the maximum median engagement time for a video of any length was six minutes. 
Brame (2015) sums it up nicely, stating that "[m]aking videos longer than 6-9 minutes is therefore likely to be wasted effort."

Long story short:
  • Keep your instructional videos in the 5-10 minute range.
  • Stick to one key point per video. If you have a longer lecture topic that you now want to deliver online via video, split the video into short segments. It's much easier to retain attention and maximize retention. It's also much more convenient for your audience.
  • Shorter videos are easier to repurpose as reusable learning objects, because they focus on a single key point.
  • With that in mind, avoid using text or saying things that will date your video too quickly. Instead of saying "last year," say "in 2019." Little things like that will keep your video relevant much longer, increasing the return on investment for the time it takes to create them!
  • Wherever possible, embed your video directly into your web page or course content page. Avoid redirecting  your audience to an external site (because then you have the problem of redirecting them back to your content when they are finished watching the video!).
The following resources are fairly short reads, and are worth checking out. 

Baker, A. (2018, December 4). Optimal YouTube Video Length. [Web log post]. Content Creator. https://contentcareer.com/blog/optimal-youtube-video-length/

Bhattacharya, P. (2020). Why Your Ideal Online Course Video Must Be 6-12 Minutes Long. [Web log post]. HubSkills.com. https://hubskills.com/online-course-video-to-be-6-12-minutes/#gs.elum6y

Brame, C.J. (2015). Effective educational videos. [Web page]. Center for Teaching. http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/effective-educational-videos/

Burch, B. (2020). Video Length in Online Courses: What the Research Says. [Web log post]. Quality Matters. https://www.qualitymatters.org/qa-resources/resource-center/articles-resources/research-video-length

Guo, P. (2013, November 13). Optimal Video Length for Student Engagement. [Web log post]. EdX. https://blog.edx.org/optimal-video-length-student-engagement/

Related Resources

Power, R. (2020, February 13). Helping Everyone Access Your Online Learning Resources. [Web log post]. Power Learning Solutions. https://www.powerlearningsolutions.com/blog/helping-everyone-access-your-online-learning-resources

Power, R. (2020, March 6). Using Video to Provide Assignment Feedback. [Web log post]. Power Learning Solutions. https://www.powerlearningsolutions.com/blog/using-video-to-provide-assignment-feedback

Power, R. (2020, April 17). Creating a YouTube Channel for Educators. [YouTube video]. https://youtu.be/Uy_5gOV80LY

Power, R. (2019, January 14). Using YouTube to Share Video in an Online Course. [Web log post]. Power Learning Solutions. https://www.powerlearningsolutions.com/blog/using-youtube-to-share-video-in-an-online-course

Power, R. (2019, January 22). Adding a Human Touch to Online Learning, Right From the Start! [Web log post]. Power Learning Solutions. https://www.powerlearningsolutions.com/blog/adding-a-human-touch-to-online-learning-right-from-the-start
2 Comments
Doug Wulff link
10/6/2021 04:04:39 pm

The most time consuming process is cutting dead-air and other boring parts with no relevance to learning. Takes five hours to cut the 20 minutes or so of dead-air in a typical 1-hr recorded lecture.

In late 2019 we built desktop software to automatically remove dead-air and unnecessary material in long video. Teachers can edit at scale for what counts; content and time. Students are better able to pay attention and retain information.

Our EDU reviews are impeccable. Maybe you want to help us fix the attention problem in async education!

Reply
Rob Power link
10/6/2021 04:20:09 pm

Would be happy to chat if you want to connect by email!
Rob

Reply



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    Power Learning Solutions: The Power to Access the World

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    Rob Power, EdD, is an Assistant Professor of Education, an instructional developer, and educational technology, mLearning, and open, blended, and distributed learning specialist.
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  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Client Services
    • About Rob Power >
      • Meet Rob Power
      • CV
      • Leadership and Project Management
      • Research Background
      • Teaching and Instructional Design
      • Other Credentials
      • Artist Gallery
    • In the News
    • Social Media >
      • LinkedIn
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Contact Us
  • Publications
    • Academic Publications
    • Blog
    • Books >
      • Blended Langauge Learning: Evidence-Based Trends and Applications
      • eLearning Essentials 2020
      • Everyday ID
      • Handbook of Mobile Teaching and Learning (2nd Edition)
      • IAmLearning
      • ID and Tech for Rapid Change
      • ID and Tech Vol 2
      • Mobile and ubiquitous learning: An international handbook
      • Operating System Fundamentals
      • Seamless Learning in Higher Education
      • Seamless Learning in Higher Educaton vol 2
      • Technology and the Curriculum: Summer 2018
      • Technology and the Curriculum: Summer 2019
      • Technology and the Curriculum: Summer 2022
      • Thriving Online: A Guide for Busy Educators
      • Fiction
    • Conference Presentations
    • Power Learning Daily News
  • Courses
    • Higher Education
    • K12
    • Open Courses
    • Professional Development
    • Digital Accessibility Webinar
  • Resources
    • Augmented Reality
    • BOPPPS-IT 2.0
    • CNIE
    • CSAM
    • Digital Accessibility
    • IAmLearn
    • IABL
    • ID Resources
    • Interactive RLOs
    • mLearn Conference Series
    • mLearn 2013
    • mLearning Vodcasts
    • mTSES
    • PETL
    • Videos
    • WebQuests