What is an Instructional Video

What is an Instructional Video?

When you think of an instructional video, YouTube usually comes to mind. It is a great resource to find an instructional video on a plethora of topics. These videos can range from videos that are professionally recorded with great lighting and superb video editing skills to shaky, unedited videos. Whether the video is unprofessionally executed or not, both videos usually have one thing in common. The creator of the video usually provides step-by-step instructions on how to do something.  Whether intentional or not, the video creator has created an instructional video. An instructional video can be defined as a video that provides instruction on how to do something or how to complete a task. Instructional videos can range from videos on how to change a tire to how to create a video tutorial. The topics are endless.

Types of Instructional Videos

There are many types of instructional videos. Instructional videos are often referred to as:

1. educational videos
2. tutorials
3. training videos
4. explainer videos
5. demonstration videos
6. animated learning videos
7. screencasts
8. DIYs (do-it-yourself)

There are many names used to describe instructional videos. They can range from short to long videos, they can have text, images, graphics, and/or short video clips. These types of videos may look different depending on the topic, the target audience, and the resources used to create the video. Nonetheless, these types of videos require some planning and creativity.

How to Create an Instructional Video

Creating an instructional video requires some research, planning, and creativity among other things. Here are a few steps to help with creating an instructional video.

1. Select the topic

What topic do you want to discuss or cover in your instructional video? Selecting the topic of your instructional video is the first step and an important step. There is an overwhelming number of topics that you can center your instructional video around, however, what topic interests you or what does the assignment call for? Asking yourself these questions will help you narrow down a topic. Make a list of all the topics you would like to cover and based on your research, the second step, you can decide which topic to cover. The topic you select also determines the title of your video and the audience that you draw to your video. 

2. Do some research

If the video happens to be on a topic you are not well-versed in, doing some research to gain more knowledge and familiarize yourself with the topic is important. Doing some research also entails researching videos that have already been done on the topic. This will help generate ideas of what you would like to include, formats you wish you follow or not follow etc. Ask yourself, "What types of videos are being created on the selected topic? How do they look? What format is being used? How long are these videos? What special effects, if any, are being used? Do the videos have background music, and images, or is any type of multimedia being used in these videos?" Start writing the answers to these questions down and taking note of what you are watching on the topic.

However, if the topic does not have a video that has been created about it, try getting more information on the topic by doing a search online. Watching other instructional videos that are not related to the video can give you an idea of the format that the creator uses and how it was created. This is also a part of doing some research to compile information for the instructional video.

3. Plan the video

Now that you've gotten your topic and done some research on the videos on your topic and on the topic itself, it is time to plan your video. Think about what type of instructional video you would like to create. Do you have the necessary skills to create this video? If not, using the skills that you do have, can you create an easy-to-follow, step-by-step visually appealing video? What resources or technology skills, resources or tools do you need to create this video? Will you need help or is this something you can create on your own?

4. Write the Video Script

Another important step in the planning phase is writing the video script. If you are using presentation slides, you can have what you want to say for each slide or what information you want to convey for each slide. If it is an animated video, or a demonstration, the information would be similar. The script should detail what information you want to relay in your video. Will there be a voiceover or just text on the screen? Will you use animated cartoon software or will you screencast presentation slides? Will you have background music? Will you use still images or video clips? Will you use graphics? Think about the videos you have watched, the ones you like, then consider how you can create something similar but using your creativity.

5. Start Recording

When recording the video, consider the type of video you would like to create. For example, it could be a screencast of presentation slides or actual video footage of how to do something. Whichever video you decide to create, ensure that your step-by-step information is clear and easy to follow. 

6. Edit the video

When editing the instructional video, you may decide to condense the information, add some music or remove or add what you like to the video. The editing may take some time to ensure that the final product is free of error and is informative.

7. Get some feedback

Before publishing the instructional video, let a friend or two watch it and ask for their honest feedback. Based on their feedback, you may decide to make changes to the instructional video and that is fine. The feedback is supposed to help you create a better video and to bring to light anything you may have missed during the different phases of creating the video. 

8. Publish the video

After getting feedback and making any necessary changes, it is now time to publish the instructional video on a video-sharing platform. Once the video is published, you are done creating the instructional video. You can share the link with others or wait for people to find the video. Whatever you decide, the video is now accessible to others.

Creating an instructional video starts with an idea and then the process starts to unfold. It is a process that requires time and planning. The goal of the instructional video is to make sure that it provides instructions anyone can follow. If after watching an instructional video it does not provide any in-depth information or insight on the topic. The video should not be considered an instructional video as it did not live up to its name.