Video Scripting

5 STEPS TO MAKING EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS

This blog is written on the basis of a video lecture hosted by Ms Nandita Sanker. A Delhi University Graduate, she has an Advanced Strategic Management Qualification from IIM Indore.
She started her career with Global Advertising Agencies like Saatchi and Saatchi and RK Swamy BBDO in the creative function, extremely successful she grew quickly into the role of a creative director. Her interest in Training caused a mid-career switch to Learning and Development which has been her forte for the last 20 years. A global Trainer and Consultant she traverses the globe conducting training and Organizational Development interventions in countries like Egypt , JordanAustralia , Indonesia and India. She has worked with over a 1000 organizations conducting open workshops and In-company interventions.

This blog is co-authored by Ms Nyaya Praharsha, Masters Graduate in the field of Mass Communications and Media Studies from MCC, Chennai. With extensive experience in media, both written and spoken, she has developed the skills required for content creation.

This blog gives a step by step break down of the most effective ways to script an educational video. With the outbreak of Covid 19 more and more learners now prefer virtual learning. These tips can help anyone who wants to be an online tutor.

According to a study done by Microsoft, the average attention span of an average person was 12 seconds in 2000 and drastically dropped to 8 seconds in 15 years. Based on those statistics, we can say that the attention span of an adult in 2021 would be around 5-6 seconds or 7 at the most. Adults these days are picky in the content they watch or listen to. It barely takes a few seconds for a person to switch to a different channel. Especially if it is an educational video, it can be very tricky to grab the attention of your audience and retain it.

Here are a 5 steps that will help you achieve exactly that. But before we talk about the effective steps for video scripting, there is some information you need to gather about your audience. You basically need to know and understand your Target Audience.

So here is what you need to know prior to making an educational video:

What do adult learners really want?

•   They DO NOT want to waste time. You can’t beat around the bush. You need to get straight to the point.
•   Importance of what you’re teaching SHOULD be made clear. You need to make sure that the content you are teaching is actually useful for your audience in real time.
•  You NEED to structure your content in a way that it is easy for your audience to assimilate the information that you are trying to give.
•   Adults these days WANT to be involved in their learning because it is easier to learn through practice than just through blind theories. So having an interactive learning would also be highly useful.
•  Repetition is a MUST. That is how anyone can retain what you are saying.

Now that you understand your audience, we can go ahead with the 5 steps to effective educational video scripting.

STEP 1: PLANNING YOUR CONTENT.

As simple as it may look, planning your content is actually a very tricky thing to deal with. You need to ask yourself a few questions first.

•   Who is your Target Audience?
•   What should be the logical flow?
•   How much information is essential and how much information is nice to have?
•   How does the video tie up with the rest of the program?

STEP 2: WRITING YOUR SCRIPT

Writing your script affects your video content. This is where you decide what information can be kept and what can be removed. Your script also decided the timing of your video, whether or not you need a video that is short or more descriptive. One of the simpler ways of doing is this to have a fixed format to your scripting. For example

The next pointer to keep in mind is the Language and Tone of your video.

You should have a conversational tone. By doing this, you are interacting with your audience rather than it just being one sided lecture.

You should use short words like you would when you are having a conversation rather than using words that are big and hard to understand.

Use more action words. This way your tone is conversational.

For example: Brazil was beaten by Spain (passive voice)

(versus) Spain beat Brazil.

You see that the second statement is simple quick and easy.

STEP 3: TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT

This is basically the tools that you use to engage you audience during the video. It is could include Power Point Presentations or quizzes etc. The mistake that most designers tend to make is overly decorating the tools of engagement. The basic idea to keep in mind is to not let the audience get distracted from the main point. So it is vital to keep few points in mind.

•   Keep your tools of engagement simple and elegant. This way the audience can focus on the content while also being captured by the visual appeal.
•   Use info graphics to maintain clarity in subject. By using info graphics or mind mapping, the learners will easily grasp what is being taught.
•   Use polls and recorded role plays for better interaction and understanding.
•   Other tools that can be used are case studies, small exercises, quizzes etc.

STEP 4: GETTING IT RIGHT

The worst disservice one can do to their audience is not putting time and effort into your script. Public speaking may come easy for some but most times it is different with making videos. You tend to lose your flow or forget what you want to say because you can’t visually see your audience or their reaction. For that you need to make time and do two things compulsorily. They are:

•   Practicing your script. By doing this you will know what you have to speak when. You won’t lose your flow of speech or have to beat around the  bush. You will keep things straight to the point.
•   Read slowly. By doing this, you are giving you audience time to sink what you are saying and what you want them to know. You will also have enough time to remember what you have to say next.

STEP 5: RECORDING AND EDITING

The implementation of all the above steps is seen in this final step. But for this there are of course other external factors that will help you make your video even better or sometimes even help your videos stand out from the others. They are simple yet highly vital.

•   Choose good equipment. Consider this as an investment for the long run. In the world of 4G speed and 1080HD, your audience will expect a video that is extremely well made and clear. And the way to do this is through getting good equipment.
•   Ensure your recording studio is sound proof. By doing this you will cut out the excessive white noise that creates a disturbance to the audience. Your voice should be the only thing your audience should focus on. So by shelling out a little for a sound proof room, you will reap the benefits of a better quality video.

 Appropriate lighting is one of the most underrated factor that contributes massively in the quality of your video. By having the right lighting on the right point, you will make sure that the audience focus is not distracted to unnecessary white noise/objects.

 Actual recording. Without the above factors, this factor might go for a toss. To quote Abraham Lincoln.” If I have 8 hours to cut down a tree, I will spend 6 hours to sharpen the axe.”

This is exactly how you need to work in order to make a good video.

By following these 5 steps, you will be able to make better quality videos that are more likely to reap the benefits of your efforts and also gain the attention of your audience