How effective are online training videos?

Thanks to modern training technologies, many organizations have found it easier to incorporate videos into their safety training programs. Training videos have been found to be effective due to their accessibility, the picture-superiority effect, and use as refresher training.

When trying to find which training method is most effective for your organization, it's important to know how effective each format is at conveying valuable information.

Here are some of the top reasons why video content stays with learners longer than other training delivery methods. Keep in mind though that some of these benefits are only gained when using safety training tracking software to properly manage your employee training.

Consistent Training that is Accessible to All

Using online videos makes training versatile and accessible to all employees. Learners with impaired hearing will be able to undergo the same training as everyone else thanks to the closed captioning options available for videos. This ensures all employees are trained with the exact same information and reduces the need for specialized training material.

The same benefits are available to organizations with a multi-lingual workforce. Many safety training videos, including ones related to OSHA regulations, are available in multiple languages. These videos alleviate any language barriers organizations may face when administering training and ensures all employees are informed of the best safety practices.

Refresher Training Available 24/7

Online training videos are also a valuable resource for reviewing previously taught topics. With training videos, employees have the ability to refer to the entire training course as often as needed. This encourages employees to replay a course before engaging in a procedure they may have not done for some time.

It will be even easier for employees to access refresher training if the videos are done in a microlearning format. Using microlearning will reduce the amount of time with refresher training, while still maintaining its important benefits.

The University of Turin even created a study to measure the impact of refresher training. A total of 223 students attended a classroom lesson that covered steps to be carried out during a certain procedure.

One month later, half the students received refresher training in the form of reading material, while the other half watched an instructional video.

The two groups were then asked to observe and record the procedure and all required steps, with a total of 53 possible points being awarded if all steps were observed. The students who watched the training video scored an average of 6.19 points higher than those who were given the reading material.

The Picture Superiority Effect of Video

Finally, frequent studies have shown the importance of viewing pictures when learning concepts. In what is referred to as the Picture Superiority Effect, studies found only 10% of information learned from reading text is remembered by trainees three days later. However, when text is presented with a relevant image or video, employees are likely to remember 65% of the information.

The data has shown that video content offers many benefits for training managers to leverage. The next step is to implement a system with employee training videos that comply with regulatory standards and cover all appropriate topics.

If you're interested in delivering training videos to your employees, contact Vector Solutions today. You can also preview our catalog of online training videos to make sure it's a good fit for your organization.