The only thing worse than participants sitting through a boring video is an instructor trying to bring the class back from the dead after having shown it. Often it will require a July 4th sized fireworks display. Here are some 10 tips to energize the video—and your class.
1. Never, ever turn out the lights, especially after lunch.
2. Divide your class into multiple groups or just two groups, Family Feud, Tic-Tac-Toe, or Jeopardy style.
3. Stop the video periodically and ask questions e.g. “You just saw how to apply a splint. What are the steps?”
4. Ask them to write down questions and answers on index cards. Stop the video at intervals, particularly if it is a long one
and let the challenges between groups begin. Be the referee and keep score.
5. Tell the class you will stop the video at some point and ask questions. Call on someone in the class not to answer the
question, but to point the question toward someone else in the class to answer. That will keep the unsuspecting on their
toes.
6. Have the class form teams of two and write down as many things as they were able to learn during the class. The team
with the most items gets a prize, or at least a round of applause.
7. If possible, combine video with practice. Small chunks of instruction with chunks of practice will enhance learning and
keep your class more energized.
8. Periodically stop your video and link the behavior in the video to the workplace. Let people connect why it is important
and how it relates to what they do.
9. Periodically stop the video and ask people if there are any obstacles they face in applying the behavior/skill from the video
and discuss.
10. Tell them to pay particular attention to the last line in the video, as it will be the topic of discussion. Just don’t tell them
when the video will end.