Interactive training videos: 4 practical tips to boost engagement and retention
Written by Launa Irvine | 14th August 2025
Table of Contents
Employee training is essential for ensuring productivity and compliance, but traditional static
training methods often fall short. Using lengthy manuals or passive videos, can overwhelm
learners with information, fail to engage, and lead to low retention rates. In contrast,
interactive training videos transform the learning experience by actively involving participants,
making the process more engaging and effective.
This is because interactive elements break the monotony. It also caters to diverse learning
styles and encourages employees to think critically about the material. Platforms like
simpleshow, which offer robust interactive features, allow organizations to elevate their
training programs by combining compelling visuals with interactive elements that encourage
learner participation. This ensures not only that employees understand the material but also
retain and apply it.
Below, we explore four practical ways to incorporate interactivity into training videos.
1. Incorporate Quizzes and Knowledge Checks
Quizzes reinforce learning by encouraging active recall – a proven technique for improving
memory retention. They also help employees gauge their understanding of the material in
real-time.
It is, therefore, a good idea to integrate periodic quizzes or questions into the training video.
After presenting a concept, pause to ask the viewer to answer a related question.
For example, a retail company can use videos with embedded quizzes to teach employees
about customer service protocols. This practice will contribute to measurable improvements in
staff performance and customer satisfaction.
2. Add Clickable Hotspots
Hotspots provide learners with the freedom to explore topics at their own pace, making the
training personalized and engaging. It also accommodates different learning speeds and
interests.
Therefore, create areas within the video that employees can click to explore more information
or to navigate to a different section of the video.
For example, a pharmaceutical company can use training videos with hotspots to educate
their sales representatives about new products. By clicking on specific elements, employees
could explore detailed information about product benefits and features, enhancing their
preparedness for client interactions.
3. Gamify the Experience
Gamification motivates employees by tapping into their competitive spirit and rewarding them
for completing tasks or achieving milestones. It makes the training process enjoyable and
fosters a sense of accomplishment.
With this in mind, introduce game-like elements, such as badges, points, or progress tracking,
into your training videos to make learning more engaging.
For example, a financial services company can make use of gamified compliance training
videos. Employees earn badges for completing modules, leading to higher completion rates
and positive feedback.
4. Incorporate Branching Scenarios
Branching scenarios immerse learners in decision-making processes, enhancing critical
thinking and problem-solving skills. Employees can practice navigating complex situations in
a risk-free environment.
So, allow employees to make choices within the video that affect the outcome, mimicking
real-life scenarios.
For example, an international airline can use branching scenario videos to train cabin crew on
emergency protocols. By making decisions in simulated emergencies, crew members better
understand their roles and responsibilities, improving overall safety readiness.
How simpleshow helps:
Platforms like simpleshow make it easy to add these interactive features, ensuring your
training videos are not only informative but also engaging.
Some interactive elements are automatically generated. You can include an AI-generated
video synopsis that highlights the main points in your video script. You can add a call to
action. You can provide a link to more information or additional resources. You can test your
viewers’ knowledge with an interactive quiz. With simpleshow’s interactive video page, you
can easily add interactive elements to boost engagement!
In addition, simpleshow’s creative team offers a wide array of talent and expertise to help your
vision come to life. With their help:
- Quizzes can be embedded at key points in your video, allowing learners to reflect on their
progress.
- Clickable elements can be incorporated, enriching the viewing experience while maintaining
simplicity.
- Gamified elements (like progress bars or achievement notifications) can be integrated
directly into your videos.
- Branching pathways can be designed that let learners choose their journey, offering a
tailored learning experience.
simpleshow makes the video creation process simple and easy!
Interactive training videos are revolutionizing employee learning by combining engagement
with effective knowledge retention. Interactive training is not just a trend but a proven strategy
for success.
By incorporating quizzes, clickable hotspots, gamification, and branching
scenarios, organizations can create dynamic and impactful training experiences.
Start
integrating interactivity into your training videos today, and witness the transformation in
employee engagement and retention first-hand.
