The Power of Video and The Effect Simple Messages Have on Learning
Complex messages can be difficult to understand and retain, while simple messages are easier to learn and remember. When combining a simplified message with images, they are processed 60,000 times faster in the brain because of the visual content, thus increasing brain capacity. Videos are making their mark on the web – YouTube is the second largest search engine, and people all over the world can access the platform. Video is a powerful learning tool that makes communicating messages convenient, more memorable, and contributes to the worldwide community of teachers and learners.
The Power of Video
We can’t give credit to video without first giving credit to technology and the Internet. The digital age created access to video hosting platforms and video creation tools that contribute to learning and education worldwide, and many people are looking at online video content to learn a skill, better understand a subject, complete a DIY project, the list goes on. People now prefer to watch videos over reading text on a website. The power of video is not only in its effects on global learning, but also lies in the many components needed to create a great video.
A video is a combination of a script or text, images and visuals, motion, and sound. Images that are universally recognizable symbols in videos help spread messages quicker and easier to people around the globe. Combining symbols with a voiceover script using video creation tools open up international avenues for learning, because voiceovers can be recorded by the video creator in any language. Videos with simple messages penetrate learners as well as help support efforts to end educational inequality and close the global achievement gap if they are accessible to the public.
Considering educational inequality: Unfortunately, education is limited in certain places around the world for various reasons: people don’t have access or funds to pay for traditional style schooling, the lack of educators and government funding for schools in developing countries, etc. Luckily, using education technology such as video aids in closing the learning gap worldwide.
The Effect Simple Messages and Video Have on Learning
Communication is the key to getting complex messages across in a simple way. Repetition is the key to learning something, and simplifying a message in order to understand it is necessary to learn it. Videos should be used for learning inside and outside of the classroom because they use simple messages and images combined to communicate messages, making them stick. Having the ability to stop and play the video allows for customized learning because it offers a chance for learners to control the rate at which messages are being received and retained.
Videos that positively affect learning should be short and engaging in order to to cater to our decreasing attention spans – about 8 seconds. To engage the viewer, the video should be informative, and appealing to the eyes and ears within the first few seconds. Videos around 2 minutes guarantee the highest level of engagement, and up to 3 minutes is also effective, but the information becomes less memorable as the learner may begin to lose focus. To stay within time frame suggestions, the message needs to be concise and clear. Telling a concept through a story is also a great idea because it makes it more memorable and relatable, while still simplifying the message.
Let’s thank the tech age once again for providing us with innovative ways to help educate the world – videos using simple messages are just one way to help make a difference.