According to researchers’ forecasts, 50% of all classes will be taught online by 2019. Moreover, the market worth is believed to surpass $243 billion by 2022 – and this conveys a great deal about the growing popularity of e-learning. However, not all online courses are created equal – their originators still have to struggle with the eternal issue of how to engage the students and keep them motivated to learn. There is one trend that can solve this issue in the most efficient way – using video content.
Its engagement potential is already a well-established fact in the e-learning community. Students tend to ‘digest’ educational videos better than audio, text or any other medium (if, of course, the video is made wisely). The thing is that a person remembers 95% of the message conveyed in a video on average. When it comes to text, however, we absorb only 10% while reading.
Video content, in general, is used for various purposes – you can create and upload tutorials, how-to videos, lectures, webinars, animated videos, etc. However, some universities have made a great step forward and started offering more than that. They introduced video-enabled classrooms, where lessons are streamed in real time. Is this a new era of education? Can video-streaming become a go-to solution for e-learning? Let’s find out.
5 Benefits of Using Video Streaming in E-Learning
Now that we described all the perks of video content for e-learning, you might be wondering what video streaming has to do with this. Well, as a type of video content, it can amplify those perks and benefit you in even more ways.
It Feels Like a Classroom
Unlike pre-recorded videos, live streams have a completely different vibe to them. This vibe affects learners on a psychological level – first of all, they start treating the course as a more serious commitment. Besides, when you have a strict schedule of live sessions, learners are more likely to get prepared for them if needed.
What is more important, the classroom is all about the two-way communication between the educator and the learner. Although it is not a form of face-to-face communication, live streams are still very efficient.
Interactivity
Video streaming include various interactive elements to make this communication possible. You can have an online chat where learners write their questions or share relevant information in real time, for instance. In some cases, there can be two-way video streaming or audio streaming – so, the educator can watch students behavior and build the lesson as a conversation rather than a monologue.
The latter is often referred to as the community-driven learning or learner-centered approach. This means that the learners’ needs come first, and the educator is here to provide the knowledge and skills. Why is this important? When learners get what they are actually interested in, they tend to be more engaged in the process and more satisfied with the outcomes of the course. It’s as simple as that – give people what they want, and they’ll be thankful.
Interactive Playback Is Available
Unlike face-to-face education activities, learners can revisit the recording of the live stream, when they need to. If you take an offline course, all you have left is your notes and maybe the presentation from the educator. If you attend a streamed lesson, you can go back to the point that wasn’t clear at any time.
Besides, this allows learners that can’t attend the live stream to catch up with the rest when it is convenient for them. Ultimately, video streaming allows learning at your own pace, while enhancing the interactivity element of education.
Wider Audience Coverage
It is always hard to bring people together for a course, especially if they are in different cities or even countries. Video streaming allows educators to reach learners on a global scale. All what learners need is a laptop/tablet/smartphone and medium quality Internet connection.
Best Practice Worth Your Attention
Are you now convinced that video streaming enhances the online educational processes? We recommend you to take a look at example of video streaming services for e-learning that can get you started in this field.
Digital Samba
Digital Samba is an award-winning provider of live video communication solutions based in Barcelona, Spain. The platform provides seamless environment for hosting live webinars and virtual classrooms. By running their OnSync product, both students and educators can benefit from multi-party or face-to-face sessions that enhance their interaction.
The development team participated in this project, Trembit, states that the platform is perfect for maintaining webinar sessions in different forms. This has been made possible due to the features of interactive lesson capturing and archiving. Simply put, students can review the recording and replay it step by step in case they missed the live streaming session.
The most significant advantage of this platform is its customization and adaptability opportunities.
In Conclusion
Video streaming is a game changer for learning processes taking place online. It allows educators to use all the perks of video content in terms of learners’ engagement, content accessibility, and learning efficiency. At the same time, it improves upon that by allowing interactivity between educators and learners, thus making the whole process learner-oriented.
