Interactive Training Videos (+ How to Create One with AI)
Interactive Training Videos (+ How to Create One with AI)
By
Learning and Development Evangelist at Synthesia
Create interactive training videos in 160+ languages
What’s the difference between interactivity and engagement?
I often see the terms interactivity and engagement used interchangeably. It's easy to mix up the two (I've certainly done it), so let's make sure we're aligned.
Interactivity is about the structure of the learning experience. It's observable actions like clicking through a scenario or answering a question.
Engagement is about what's happening in someone's head while they go through the training. It's the degree to which they're processing and applying what they're learning.
Interactivity is how the learning is designed. Engagement is what it produces.
Most importantly, interactivity doesn't automatically lead to engagement. I could speed through a branching scenario until I see the outcome, but does that mean I learned something? Probably not.
The learning science behind interactivity
- Cognitive research shows that challenging someone to make a judgement strengthens knowledge transfer and retention.
- Well-designed feedback loops that allow someone to see the consequence of their choices lead to meaningfully better learning outcomes.
- Scenario-based learning is one of the most reliable ways to close the gap between "knowing" and "doing".
What makes a training video interactive
A training video is interactive if it prompts the learner to do something, whether that’s making a decision in a branching scenario or answering a knowledge check.
The depth of interactivity in a given video can vary widely depending on the length of the video and your learning objectives. You might have a single interaction in a microlearning video or a complex decision tree where there are several feedback loops.
There is no "right" number of interactions in a training video or magic ratio of interactions to length of video. It’s about building a learning experience that leads to your objectives.
Types of interactivity in training videos
| Type | What is it | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge check | An informal opportunity to check in during or at the end of a video | To reinforce a key point or confirm understanding |
| Branching scenario | A non-linear narrative structure where the learner makes a choice, leading to a specific path, with consequences and/or feedback, and potentially further decision points | To create a decision-making opportunity so learners can make a judgement and receive feedback |
| Clickable hotspots | An element learners can click on to reveal text, media, or additional navigation, layered on top of another piece of content (e.g., an image) | To provide additional context or direct learners to additional resources without overwhelming the scene |
| Role play | A realistic recreation of a scenario where learners practice a skill and get feedback | To build procedural competence or confidence before someone performs the task in a real context |
Example: Safety training
Let's say you're designing a safety training video for electrical engineers.
The video is for engineers who work in high-risk environments and may not be following PPE protocols consistently. After watching, they should be able to correctly identify and wear the required PPE before starting a task, so that monthly near misses and safety incidents are reduced.
Here's how I would approach building that training video with interactivity.
- Start with a familiar scenario. Show an engineer getting their PPE on at a job site. There's something off, though. They're not wearing the proper footwear.
- Introduce a decision point. Something like, "Is this engineer ready to begin their work?"
- Show the outcome. Offer a simple branch, either "Yes" or "No", followed by the consequence of their decision. If they select "Yes," show the near miss caused by improper footwear. If they select "No," highlight what is incorrect and how they can fix it.
- Reinforce the correct behavior. Bring the branches back together by walking through how to correctly wear PPE, step-by-step. Reinforce the consequences of not following the instructions.
- End with a knowledge check about why PPE matters for safety.
How to create interactive training videos with AI
There are a few reasons you might be here. Maybe you've tried training videos before but they didn't drive the engagement you were hoping for. Maybe you have a training that's currently delivered live and you want to make it available on demand to reduce costs and reach more people. Or maybe you have a new idea you're ready to build.
No matter your starting point, I’ll walk you through how to create an interactive training video with Synthesia. Because Synthesia is an AI-native platform, you can start with existing content or a prompt, a departure from traditional video production tools, especially ones that are part of eLearning authoring suites.
Define your outcome
Before you build anything, write down the learning objective and performance outcome for the training video. You can use a template like this:
This video is for [specific role] who currently [context or gap]. After watching, [specific role] should be able to [observable action] so that [business outcome].
If the outcome isn't observable, the video will be difficult to design and even harder to measure.
Generate a first draft
Upload what you already have into our video generator. That could be a slide deck, a transcript from a live session, an SOP, or a recording from a previous training. Or it could be the learning objective and performance outcome you just identified. (I'll be demonstrating the process using the safety training example I shared above.)
Synthesia's AI assistant will use whatever you share as a starting point and shape it into a first draft. The more specific your prompt, the stronger the draft.
Shape the draft
Once you have a first draft, whether through the Assistant or a template, you can review it scene by scene. My recommendation is to focus on one type of edits at a time. You might begin by selecting an avatar, customizing their background and accent, and setting up any pronunciation controls.
Add interactivity
One well-placed interaction can transform a training video. Too many can work against it. You can always refer back to the table above for guidance on which interactions to use.
Tips for designing interactions
- Make all options plausible. Use an LLM to generate plausible but incorrect answers for knowledge checks, or realistic wrong turns for branching scenarios.
- Test for application, not recall. Instead of asking "Which of the following is correct?" ask "What should you do in this situation?"
- Withhold the correct answer until you show the consequences of their decision. Make them commit to a decision instead of working backwards to game the video.
- Sprinkle interactions throughout the video, not just at the beginning or end. Interactions placed only at the beginning or end are the easiest to skip over.
Refine and pilot
Once you’re confident in the video’s design, ask a SME to review. If possible, watch them go through the video.
Publish and localize
Once you’ve edited the video, it’s time to decide where to publish your video. If you want to track interaction data, be sure to export the video as a SCORM or xAPI package.