Contents
1. Overview
2. Uploading Synthesia videos to your course
4. Recommendation for best use
Overview
Synthesia is an AI-powered video platform that allows users to create professional-looking videos without the need for actors, expensive equipment, or a production team. It can be a useful tool to help enhance your elearning.
Being able to quickly create videos that can be easily modified and translated can be a scalable and cost-effective solution. Videos can be generated using a custom script, allowing you to provide specific guidance to a user throughout a course, explain processes or standard operating procedures, precede quizzes or interactions, and more.
There are two ways you can add Synthesia videos to your course.
- Upload the videos directly to your course
- Embed them into the video container using a URL
Each method has its own benefits and limitations that you may want to consider.
Uploading Synthesia videos to your course
1. Download your video from the Synthesia platform. Consult the Synthesia Help Center for guidance if you're unsure
2. Open your Elucidat Project
3. Follow the steps in Uploading your own videos to add the video to your course
Benefits and limitations
The benefits to using this method are:
- The video can contribute to the learner's progress as an interaction
- The video can be used in conjunction with completion requirements and page locking, preventing the learner from moving forward until they have watched the video to the end.
Some limitations to consider are:
- The video needs to be regenerated in Synthesia and re-uploaded to the course if it is updated
- Having multiple versions of a video can become difficult to track without a proper content management strategy
Embedding Synthesia videos
1. Get the video's embed code from the platform. Consult the Synthesia Help Center for guidance if you're unsure.
2. Open your Elucidat Project
3. Follow the steps in Using the video container as an iframe to embed videos and web content to embed the video into a video container
Benefits and limitations
The benefits to using this method are
- If the video is updated in Synthesia, the changes will be automatically reflected in your embedded video
- Version control is simpler than the direct upload method as videos can be handled in the Synthesia platform
The limitations to use this method are
- Synthesia is not a supported platform for use with embedding and Elucidat cannot provide support for any unexpected behaviour that results from its use
- Embedded Synthesia videos will not contribute towards a learner's progress and cannot be used with page locking
Recommendation for best use
In addition to the technical considerations listed above, you may also want to consider the impact and value AI videos might have for your learners.
AI generated video is still relatively new and some learners may be wary or sceptical of its use in your courses. It could also be less suitable for sensitive topics that require a human touch or connection, or for more complex explanations.
Here are some recommendations.
Consider using AI videos for:
- Factual content delivery
- Process explanations
- Quick updates or announcements
- Standard operating procedures
Rely on human presenters for:
- Emotional or sensitive topics
- Complex demonstrations
- Content requiring strong personal connection
- Scenarios where authenticity is crucial