The Visual Lounge

When you create instructional content, which media do you use? Perhaps you have a favorite type of media that you turn to time and time again, or maybe certain media types resonate better with your audience.But, with new innovative technologies working their way into our media, how can these be used for learning and development? And, which ones are best for your audience?Betty Dannewitz has over 18 years’ experience in the learning and development field. She’s a talented instructional designer, training creator, and host of the “ifyouaskbetty” podcast, where she discusses a wide variety of learning and development topics.She joins Matt Pierce in this episode of The Visual Lounge to discuss using innovative technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and even podcasting to deliver instruction. Betty also shares why these new media are a great way to instruct your audience and help them move forward.Learning points from the episode include:How to decide the most appropriate media to deliver information inWhy animated videos and augmented reality are the go-to media for delivering informationAdvice for anyone looking to learn more about different mediaBetty and Matt’s top Camtasia and Snagit tipsThe difference between distributing media internally vs. externallyHow media can help bring your learning materials to lifeWhere to look for inspirationImportant links and mentions:Betty’s websiteBetty’s podcastLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

If you're regularly making videos, it's never a good idea to skip the prep work.But organizing video files can be a nightmare and there are lots of different options to do it. In this episode, Matt Pierce, Andy Owen, and Justin Simon walk you through what's involved in the process before you hit record.Do you want more tips on creating videos? You can easily watch and search past episodes here. You can also find us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

How effectively are you communicating with your remote workforce?Remote communication is now more widespread than it’s ever been. Many people now have to communicate digitally, using virtual tools enabling written communication such as email, and audio and visual communication like video calls.But remote communication can bring new challenges. Ideas can get lost in virtual translation, and people can be indifferent to taking action. So, how can you ensure that your communication is clear, motivates your audience to act, and helps you reach your desired outcome?In this episode, Matt Pierce is joined by Jesse Lahey, a consultant speaker and author with over 25 years of experience in leadership and workforce communication. Jesse explains how to better your communication to achieve business objectives and shares the tools and frameworks he uses.Learning points from the episode include:Why effective communication requires a strategic approachHow to use the 5M Framework to structure your thinkingHow an empathy map can refine your communicationHow to design better communication using the Simple Visual Stories (SVS) methodImportant links and mentions:Why You Need to Understand the Business Outcomes when Making Videos with Ajay PangarkarWorkforce CommunicationEngaging Leader Podcast Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

Do you ever feel like you're just winging your way through the video creation process?One way to solve this is to set video goals and objectives before you start making your video. In this episode, Matt Pierce, Andy Owen, and Justin Simon take a look at how to set clear video goals, define objectives, and what the best practices are for planning your videos before you press record. Do you want more tips on creating videos? You can easily watch and search past episodes here. You can also find us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Are you looking for a video workflow to streamline your video creation process?Creating videos can be overwhelming – especially if you’ve never made one before. But building a video workflow can help you understand how to complete each part of the process and help you on your way to making better videos.In this episode of The Visual Lounge, TechSmith’s Video Producer, Andy Owen, and Global Content Manager, Justin Simon, join Learning and Video Ambassador Matt Pierce to share their video workflow experience. They also announce the launch of their new series, "Video Workflow," where they share tips and advice from their years of experience in all areas of the video creation process.Learning points from the episode include:Why build a video workflowHow to streamline your creation processWhat to prioritize and what to avoid when designing a video workflowThe advantages and disadvantages to multi-camera videosImportant links and mentions:The Visual Lounge Episode 17: The Best Script Writing Strategy When You’re Just Getting Started With Andy Owen and Justin SimonThe video workflow seriesLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

Facing your first time in front of the camera can be scary.If you’re looking to create internal communications, social media clips, or professional-looking YouTube videos, getting in front of the camera is the best way to connect with your viewers.In this episode, Matt Pierce, Andy Owen, and Justin Simon walk through exactly what to do to get comfortable in front of the camera.Do you want more tips on creating videos? You can easily watch and search past episodes here. You can also find us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Creating great educational content is one thing. However, creating videos that contribute to improving an organization's performance is a different ball game entirely. So, how can educators create better videos and educational content that contribute to business outcomes?This is the main topic of this episode of The Visual Lounge, where award-winning author and Workplace Performance Strategist, Ajay Pangarkar, joins Matt Pierce for a deep dive discussion about understanding the business outcomes when making videos. Learning points from the episode include:Why learning professionals need to understand the business of learningWhy learning professionals struggle to grasp the business side of learningHow learning from others can improve your learning content and business knowledgeHow to convince leaders to say yesWhat LinkedIn Learning is and why it’s so usefulHow to write a conversational scriptImportant links and mentions:The Trainer's Balanced Scorecard by Ajay M. Pangarkar and Teresa KirkwoodAjay’s TwitterConnect with AjayLinkedIn LearningLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

For a lot of people, they want to make a video, but don't have a clue how to start. The best way to create videos is to develop a simple, repeatable workflow. In this episode, Matt Pierce, Andy Owen, and Justin Simon talk through video workflows that will let you create videos faster. Do you want more tips on creating videos? You can easily watch and search past episodes here. You can also find us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

When you hear the word “comic”, do you think of your favorite cartoon strip, superheroes and graphic novels, or instructional content?Thinking outside of the box can often help instructional design content connect more successfully with users. Kevin Thorn advocates bringing external inspiration into designs and using creativity to communicate. His preferred educational visual is the instructional comic.Kevin is an award-winning eLearning designer and founder of NuggetHead Studioz. He joined Matt Pierce to share his thoughts on having fun with design principles, how to find inspiration, and what you can do to get more creative with your visuals.Learning points from the episode include:What is an instructional comic?How to create an instructional comicThe importance of characters and narrative in instructional visualsHow to design instructional visualsHow to improve your creativityWhere to find inspirationImportant links and mentions:Kevin’s Twitter: @LearnNuggetsKevin’s Instagram: @nuggetheadKevin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinthorn/NuggetHead Studioz: https://nuggethead.net/ Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.

How can you help your videos reach more people?You’ve spent a lot of time and effort creating a great video, and you’ve just published it. What’s your next step? Is it to move on and start planning your next video? Or is it to get that video in front of as many people as possible?Repurposing your video, or any content you create, is a fantastic way to help more people find and engage with your content. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Amy Woods joins host Matt Pierce to reveal how you can repurpose effectively.Amy is the Founder of niche creative agency Content 10x and a content repurposing expert. Listen as she shares her tips and advice about how to repurpose your videos and grow your audience.Learning points from the episode include:What is repurposing?Why you should repurpose your videosHow to repurpose your videosHow to build a repurposing processWhy more small businesses are starting to create video content Important links and mentions:Content 10xThe Content 10x bookAmy’s LinkedIn Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, click here.We want to hear from you! If you would like to share your thoughts, feedback, or ask Matt a question, reach out to us at thevisuallounge@techsmith.com.