Placing Videos In An Lms Course Design

- 6 MIN READ -

Using Moodle video is an easy hack for boosting engagement and content versatility. Learn how to make your Moodle site multimedia ready, with these simple options for embedding video into Moodle LMS and other eLearning environments.

eLearning has for a long time separated itself from other training platforms by the way it seamlessly combines traditional learning materials with multimedia and video.

According to a Cisco whitepaper, video traffic will make up 82% of all IP traffic by 2022. Combine this with the projection that, by the same year, the number of devices connected to IP networks could be more than three times the global population, and you get an environment where on-demand video becomes the most effective way to keep learners engaged and interested.

Studies and reviews by eLearning experts show that—while video content should always be supplemented by other learning resources—learners are able to boost their episodic knowledge through video training ('episodic knowledge' refers to knowledge of experiences and events).

Combined with other eLearning resources that boost critical thinking and detail retention, such as forums and H5P content, using multimedia in your Moodle course upload gives users a comprehensive, well-rounded learning experience.

Lastly, interactive video opens up new possibilities for both learners and instructors, which aren't available through other learning methods. For self-directed learners, video can be used to deliver a quality learning experience that doesn't feel like a 'catch-up' or a second-rate version of a live teaching session.

Alternatively, video can become a foundational aspect of Microlearning—the teaching strategy that isolates concepts and delivers them as part of a bite-size, on-demand content web.

Want to fully enjoy the benefits of a Moodle-based solution? Explore an LMS with Powerful eCommerce and Analytics like Lambda Suite.

So, how do you capitalize on video training within your LMS? There are three popular ways to get videos before your learners on Moodle LMS or Totara Learn platforms. Choose what suits you and your content from the options below…

Blog Moodle Video Interactive content - man with play button in computer

But before that: Turn on the Multimedia Plugins filter for Moodle!

Before you can take advantage of video in Moodle, you need to configure your filters. In Moodle LMS, filters control how components such links, multimedia players, mathematical expressions, or emoticons appear to learners within a course.

As an LMS administrator, the best way to handle video filters is to enable the Multimedia Plugins filter across all your Moodle or Totara Learn courses (instructors can set their own course-level settings if need be).

When enabled, this filter replaces any Html link pointing to a multimedia resource with the appropriate multimedia player.

For example, when an instructor includes an mp4 file or link as a resource within a Moodle course upload, the plugin will enable users to play the content directly on the Moodle interface.

Watch this webinar for more on the capabilities of Moodle 3.8 - Improved Forums, Enhancements For Instructors, Easier Interactive Video .

Moodle filters: a few examples

Activity names auto-linking. Use this filter to scan text for references to other course materials and create a link to them.
Algebra notation. This filter is designed to convert algebraic code into an image.
Display emoticons as images. If a learner or instructor uses characters to create a smiley, this filter turns it into an image.
Multi-Language content. Enables content to be created in more than one language.
Word censorship. This filter blacks-out words according to a predetermined list.

(Source: docs.moodle.org ).

1. YouTube is great for proactive instructors

YouTube speaks for itself in terms of usability and popularity. Youtube videos play on all major web browsers and devices, and anyone can record, upload, or even stream to the platform—making it an easy option for instructors looking to capture content on the fly.

However, YouTube's privacy protocols are worth bearing in mind, as even unlisted videos are potentially viewable and shareable by those with access to the URL. Because of this, if your Moodle training videos contain sensitive or proprietary information, YouTube may not be the best choice for embedding video into your LMS.

Watch this 5-minute video showing how to use multimedia filters to embed a YouTube video into a course.

2. For Moodle video, use the PoodLL Plugin

PoodLL is a Moodle video player plugin developed by some enthusiastic Moodle LMS users from Nagasaki, Japan, who were interested in enhancing the audio and video recording functionality of Moodle. Using PoodLL's useful widgets, it's possible to build interactivity into moodle course uploads, creating formats like a language lab.

As an open-source app, PoodLL is one of the most commonly added free Moodle video player plugins (and, it's also Totara compatible). Being able to record and store video means PoodLL is often used as a repository, providing a learner resource for information pages or forums. PoodLL has a number of predesigned resource types for this purpose.

It's worth pointing out that PoodLL hosts its multimedia on a Red5 server in Tokyo. This means access for North American users can suffer from lag—but you could always set up your own Red5 server if superfast loading times are a priority.

Watch this video on Using PoodLL to Record Video into a Moodle Page .

What about the video content itself?

Basically: keep videos shorts, personable, and on-demand.

While there's always room for innovation and personality in video content, there are also a few tried and tested techniques for creating engaging content. The following recommendations are the result of a study involving over 100,000 students and nearly seven million video watching sessions.

Watch our webinar for more expert advice on Creating Effective Learning Videos in 7 Easy Steps.

*Major Findings*	*Recommendations*
Engagement drops sharply in videos that are longer than six minutes.	Use Microlearning to optimize longer video segments.
Videos combining slides with talking-heads are more engaging than slides alone.	Picture-in-picture is a convenient method for including instructors in presentations.
Videos with a more personal feel are more engaging than professional studio recordings.	Use informal settings to mimic a one-on-one learning experience. Don't feel required to invest in expensive equipment.
Enthusiastic, fast-paced presentation is more engaging than a slower talking pace or lack of enthusiasm.	Consider developing an instructor training module to encourage video presentation best practices.
Step-by-step tutorials that go into detail are more engaging than pre-recorded slides.	When explaining a multi-level concept, instructors should aim to show the process in real-time and speak informally.
Learners benefit from support when looking for content at a later date.	Design in features that aid rewatching and skimming, such as section labels in clear fonts throughout the video.

(Information from How video production affects student engagement: an empirical study of MOOC videos , summarized by Patti Shank .)

3. Try a cloud-based video management platform

Cloud-based video solutions combine ease of use with increased security options. When content is held in the cloud, instructors and course designers can build courses from multiple devices or locations, embedding videos into the LMS directly from their computer or from the cloud-based library.

MediaCore is an example of a cloud-based, video management platform that allows you to organize and share Moodle training videos. Like other cloud-based applications, you can run MediaCore on servers within your country (location depending), which helps address the privacy and intellectual property concerns that can come with using an external host.

We've put together The Complete User Guide To Moodle, where we cover the most useful advanced features in Moodle LMS—including how to embed video, increase learner engagement, and use eLearning to help achieve business KPIs. Read our guide or talk to Lambda's experts if you're interested in using eLearning to host multimedia, discussions, gamification, mobile learning, or any other training tool!

If you want for more expert advice and how-to content on creating effective video content, engaging online courses, and effective L&D programs for adult learners, here's what our eLearning experts have put together for you:

eBook: The All-Important E's of eLearning: Engagement & Effectiveness
eBook: Getting Engaged: How To Make Your Learners Fall in Love with Learning
eBook: Using Analytics to Deliver Engaging Courses
Webinar: Creating Effective Learning Videos in 7 Easy Steps
Webinar: Watch And Learn: Best Practices For Using Video In eLearning
Webinar: Build & Track Blockbuster Interactive Video in Moodle and Totara Learn
Webinar: How to Create Engaging and Effective eLearning
Webinar: How To Use Interaction To Drive Engagement And Learning Outcomes
Webinar: How to Reduce Disengagement with Gamification
Webinar: Top 5 Practical Applications for Building Engaging Learning