Video-Based Learning; A “High Impact Training” Option

Movies and short scripts are known to alter the brain wiring as it creates a new experience in an individual’s mind. It is a known fact that nervous system cannot distinguish between the unreal & the real and starts responding assuming it as real. There have been medical histories created by patients who showed dramatic recovery by using positive beliefs alone.

Movies are great tools to alter beliefs of individuals. Learning process says 50% retention of learning can be achieved by seeing & hearing and 90% by doing & experiencing. Thus videos and theatre can act as great combination or can even be used as individual learning strategies. My experience of using real life case studies in video form has resulted in taking the learning experience to a higher impact level.

Adults like to learn from experiential designs like simulations, group work, multimedia tools and theatre. Role play for some reason does create discomfort at senior levels. Thus, given the fact that videos are metaphors that can change beliefs let us understand how it happens.

A human being is operating at various layers which creates a behaviour that is ‘see’. At the base of the triangle we have experiences of life which create our beliefs. Our beliefs create our values and attitude and the demonstrated part of the attitude is behaviour. Training programmes can create a new experience which alters the belief and also then impacts the attitude and behaviour. Once the attitude is impacted learning is fast and permanent.

Video based learning can be used as a great tool to drive the otherwise challenging behavioural changes. Videos must be real life case studies that show a result the learner wishes to experience in his life. We all like to win however our beliefs stop us from doing so. The moment we use a story in a picture form we see the outcome we desire and thus we want to emulate the protagonist. This results in a change in the human wiring at a deeper level of mind. Once this new pattern is practiced real-time it creates a new experience altering the belief and attitude forever.

Fictional forms would not create a desired impact because the learner at a level of thought assumes it as untrue situation and thus does not carry conviction. This results in a lowered impact. The yes-but will always prevail in the mind leaving a feeling of incompleteness. This in turn does not create any motivation for change. Videos are best used during a workshop as a morning session or a closing session in the evening. Inspirational and case study based videos are great in a learning process. However one must not overstretch the use. Maximum of two videos in a two day session are useful. Care must be taken they do not exceed 30 minutes. Retention can suffer. Choice of videos must be based on values/factors of importance for the participants.

Videos surely help drive the message that participants would otherwise like to argue upon as they expect a failure to be experienced should the concept be practiced. Once you demonstrate the success through a video the possibility of opposition for the new concept diminishes and the individual starts questioning his thought process which alters behaviour. Videos can create great a hypnotic appeal. It heightens the state of emotions and any input provided in this heightened state creates a permanent belief.

Though video based learning tools are experiential and I strongly suggest their use. A word of caution though; most of the videos are protected under IPR. Be sure the source you get them from does not violate the legal requirements. Do adapt videos in learning systems they are amazing tools to transform human beings for superlative performance.