e-Learning Blog

There are generally two methods for online training. Let's take a look at the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of each.

・On-Demand Training
On-demand training is a format where pre-recorded videos are viewed. This type is commonly referred to as "e-learning" or "web learning." In the case of on-demand training, there is no interactive communication with the instructor, but the advantage is that you can take the training at any time that suits you, without being constrained by the instructor's schedule. This is similar to watching videos on YouTube or recording TV programs on a hard drive. The training content is saved and published, allowing participants to replay it as many times as they like at their preferred timing. Additionally, the training coordinator only needs to prepare and publish the content once, so if the content is generic, it can be reused year after year. However, compared to real-time training, a disadvantage is that it is one-way communication, making it difficult for viewers to easily convey questions or opinions.

・Real-time Training
In real-time training, lectures are viewed using web conferencing systems like Zoom. This type has the constraint of needing to align with the instructor's schedule. Additionally, there may be variations in image quality depending on the session, and issues with audio or video may arise due to communication environment problems. If you want to review the training content later, recordings can be made and shared. However, it can be said that this is suitable for one-time training or short-term online training.
The advantages include the ability to feel a sense of presence in real-time training and the opportunity to ask questions to the instructor in real-time, which can lead to a deeper understanding. Furthermore, the tools used are often user-friendly and easy to implement, making it suitable for starting online training. For example, it can be conducted using Zoom or Teams.

There are the following benefits to using videos in training.

・Learn at your own pace
By recording the training sessions and saving them as videos, participants can review and revisit the training at their convenience. They can use the videos to relearn any parts they did not understand.

・Able to focus without being desperate to take notes
Taking notes is important, but if you focus too much on taking notes during training, it can be difficult to absorb the content. By archiving the training sessions on video, you can review the videos anytime for learning, so there is no need to be desperate about taking notes. This allows participants to concentrate on the training.

・Can review training missed on days off
If you miss work or school due to illness or other reasons, you cannot attend the training for that day. While you can study independently using the text, it may be difficult to cover everything completely. However, if the training videos are archived, you can review the training missed on those days anytime and anywhere.

・Employees working remotely and students unable to attend school can participate
There are employees who are working remotely and students who find it difficult to attend school. However, by distributing training videos, they can receive training regardless of location. This allows employees working remotely and students unable to attend school to participate in training and classes.

・Reduce the cost of training implementation
In the case of companies, face-to-face group training incurs significant costs for venue arrangements and inviting instructors, but video training can reduce these costs. Once a video is created, it can be reused as long as the content is not significantly changed.

・No need to interrupt your work
This also applies to companies. In the case of companies with multiple branches, it is necessary to temporarily halt operations to participate in group training. If the training is short, it may not be much of a problem, but for training that lasts a day or several days, it is likely to disrupt normal operations. On the other hand, with video training, each employee can take the training at their own branch at any time, minimizing the impact on operations.

Related Columns: [Animation Materials] How to Create e-Learning Materials ②

There were many benefits to video training, but there are also some drawbacks. Here, we will explain some of the disadvantages.

・Time-consuming to create
In traditional group training, it was common to create materials using Word or PowerPoint. However, in video training, it is necessary to use video editing software to create videos that are easy for participants to understand. If there are no personnel with the skills to use the software, it may take time to create the materials. Additionally, even after the video is completed, editing may be required due to information updates, so it is necessary to consider not only the creation but also the operational methods before implementation.

・Difficult to Maintain Tension
Video training can be taken by anyone without an instructor present. As a result, the psychological barrier is low, but at the same time, it is difficult to maintain tension. Without tension, concentration can wane, leading to distractions or participants engaging in other tasks while attending. Since no one is monitoring them, there is a tendency for participants' commitment to decrease.

・Difficult to get participants
When we turn around the advantage of being able to take the course "whenever it is convenient," naturally, such problems arise. Since it can be taken at any time, it often leads to "I'll do it later." To avoid this, it is necessary to identify those who have not participated and give them a nudge.

・Questions・Response time for answers is slow
Even if you have questions while watching the video, you cannot ask questions or receive answers on the spot. If you want to clarify your doubts, you need to check with the instructor or person in charge at a later date. The slow response time from questions to answers is a disadvantage for participants who have a proactive learning attitude. There is also a risk of lowering motivation, so it is necessary to implement certain measures, such as establishing a system to accept questions via chat or email at any time.

・Inability to Communicate Directly
The biggest disadvantage of video training is that it does not allow for "real communication." In traditional training, even if it is lecture-style, there are opportunities for communication, such as group work sessions or time for self-introductions. Video training is fundamentally a "self-viewing and learning" style, so there is almost no interaction with other participants. Therefore, training aimed at improving teamwork or team building is not suitable for video training.

・Participants may not be able to view videos depending on their internet environment
The quality of video training can be affected by the participants' internet environment. For example, if there are participants who "do not have a computer" or "do not have a stable internet connection," it may become difficult to view the videos comfortably. In the worst case, it is possible that the videos cannot be viewed at all.

・Equipment Maintenance
A suitable environment is necessary for filming and streaming training sessions. While smartphone cameras can be used, the use of an external microphone is required to improve audio quality. Additionally, if better image quality or lighting adjustments are needed, preparation of cameras and lighting should also be considered.

・Improvement of Instructors' IT Knowledge
Instructors need to be responsible for tasks such as filming, editing, and sharing training sessions. While it is possible to outsource these tasks to external vendors, there may be situations where that option is not available. Instructors themselves need to enhance their knowledge of IT. A level of knowledge that allows for smooth execution of basic computer operations, as well as filming, editing, and sharing processes, is required.

・Considerations for Security and Privacy
Training videos are created for the participants to use and should not be made publicly available. Therefore, it is necessary to take care to protect security and privacy. While methods such as unlisted YouTube videos exist, there is a risk of easy access if the URL is leaked, so appropriate measures should be taken, such as considering a dedicated system.

These are concerns and challenges when utilizing videos in company training or school classes. Please use this as a reference when implementing.

We have introduced the advantages and disadvantages of video training, but its effectiveness varies depending on the purpose. Here, we will present cases where video training is recommended.

・Utilization as Business Manuals
Manuals for business procedures and complaint handling are suitable for video training. This is because business manuals often have content that does not change much, and with video training, the content can be thoroughly memorized by watching it repeatedly.

・Utilization as handling manuals for equipment and tools
In video training, we can clearly explain how to use the equipment and tools used on-site. We create training videos while filming the actual operation on-site. Important points and things to be careful about can be clearly communicated by having the operator speak or by indicating them with text or images during editing.

・Training on Products and Services
Video can also be used for training related to your company's products and services. In the video, you can share actual usage, key points to convey to customers, and methods for introducing products and services. It can be used not only for training new employees but also when new products or services are launched and need to be shared company-wide.

・Utilize for Pre-Training Learning
It is recommended to learn knowledge through video training in advance and conduct practical content during group training. If conducting both theoretical and practical training in the same session takes too much time, utilizing video training can shorten the duration of group training. Additionally, since the sense of tension may diminish during group training, providing opportunities for output can enhance participants' concentration.

・Utilize for supplementary training and review
You can share videos of the group training sessions with everyone. It can be used for supplementary lessons for employees who could not attend, for participants to review, and for new members to receive training. However, if you invite an external instructor, you need to obtain permission for filming, and you must also get consent for the purpose of filming, so please be careful.

・Training on Business Etiquette
Among general business skills (such as PC skills and business etiquette), themes that involve actions, like business etiquette, are particularly well-suited for video training. For example, the angle of a bow changes depending on the situation, but showing the actual action in a video makes it clear at a glance. With video, it is also possible to convey the timing of each action and subtle gestures. Additionally, many aspects of business etiquette involve actions, such as expressions, attitudes, and business card exchanges, making video training very useful.

We have introduced recommended training/classes for video distribution above, but a system is necessary to distribute videos. By using an online system called LMS (Learning Management System), you can provide the learning materials needed for video training and manage when and how long participants have watched the videos. Here, we will introduce a few video distribution applications that can be integrated with Moodle, which is famous as open-source software for LMS.

BigBlueButton: BigBlueButton is an open-source web conferencing system that can be integrated with Moodle. It offers various features such as video conferencing, chat, screen sharing, and sharing presentation materials.
https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_bigbluebuttonbn

Panopto: Panopto is a video streaming platform widely used in businesses and educational institutions. By using the Panopto Moodle plugin, you can upload, share, and view videos within Moodle.
https://moodle.org/plugins/block_panopto

Kaltura: Kaltura is a cloud-based video platform that allows for easy creation, editing, and distribution of videos. By using the Kaltura Moodle plugin, you can manage and share videos within Moodle.
https://moodle.org/plugins/local_yukaltura https://moodle.org/plugins/local_yumymedia

Vimeo: Vimeo is a popular video sharing platform, but with a business plan, it allows for high-quality video streaming. By using the Vimeo Moodle plugin, you can embed Vimeo videos within Moodle.
https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_videotime

millvi: A cloud-based (SaaS) video distribution system provided by Eviry Inc. It has all the necessary features for video distribution with viewing restrictions. It can be integrated with Moodle, allowing you to embed millvi videos within Moodle.
https://eviry.com/service/

These are examples of available video streaming applications. Moodle has many other plugins and integration options, so we recommend visiting the official Moodle website or the Moodle community for more detailed information.

Real-time training uses web conferencing systems. We will also introduce some web conferencing systems available on Moodle.

Zoom: Zoom is a widely used video conferencing platform that can also be integrated with Moodle. By using the Zoom Moodle plugin, you can schedule Zoom meetings within Moodle and provide access to participants. In one school, they previously conducted classes simply using Zoom, but due to the difficulty in tracking attendance, they have started to manage it in conjunction with Moodle as a practical example.

Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Teams is a collaboration tool provided by Microsoft, which also includes video conferencing features. By using the Teams Moodle plugin, you can schedule Teams meetings within Moodle and grant access rights to participants.https://moodle.org/plugins/atto_teamsmeeting

Jitsi Meet: Jitsi Meet is an open-source web conferencing system that can also be integrated with Moodle. You can easily start video conferences and utilize features such as screen sharing and chat.
https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_jitsi

You can also find more detailed information and plugins on the official Moodle website and the Moodle community. It is important to choose the most suitable web conferencing system according to any restrictions that may be imposed by your organization or educational institution.

This blog has covered the types of video distribution used in classes and training, as well as the benefits and challenges of utilizing them. Even though it is called online training, there are on-demand and real-time types, each with its own advantages. We would like to actively incorporate such benefits into training and classes. Additionally, if used together with LMS such as Moodle, it is very convenient to manage participants' viewing. Consulting with vendors that provide LMS as a service is also a good approach. In that case, please contact Human Science Co., Ltd., a Moodle official partner.