What should an instructional video meet? – 10 commandments of instructional videos
Author
Monique van der Wal
Date
September 18, 2025
Reading time
3 min.
1. You will formulate a clear learning objective.
An instructional video can be seen as a short story with one central question: what should the viewer know or be able to do after this video? It is therefore important to formulate a clear learning objective. This objective is focused on one subject or action, with a component to assess whether it has been understood and the relevance of the larger whole of the e-learning.
An example of a good learning objective is: "After this video, you will know how to operate a forklift." By explicitly stating this objective at the beginning of the video, the viewer knows what is expected and what the purpose is. By making the instructional video interactive, you can test whether the message has been understood.
2. You provide concise, digestible content.
A long video has the risk of losing the viewer's attention. Instructional videos should be nice and short, and that's why it's so important to focus on one topic per video. The keyword here is 'microlearning'. You present the learner with small chunks of learning content that can be applied immediately. It’s better to have three short videos than one long one.
Complex topics with multiple layers can be broken down into parts. Avoid unnecessary information or detours, but go straight for the goal.
3. You choose a didactic structure
There are several ways to structure an instructional video, but a logical and didactic structure is essential. The introduction clearly outlines what is going to be learned and why this is important. This is followed by the demonstration or explanation, where it is shown step by step how the action looks. Additional explanations are provided through presentation text, voice-over, or subtitles.
Finally, a summary or a repetition follows. Central questions are: what has been seen and what needs to be remembered? A good option is to have the student complete an assignment that applies what has just been learned.
This may seem like a lot, but you can easily fit these points into a video lasting one to one and a half minutes.
4. You provide a clear voice-over or speaker
It is killing if the voice-over or presenter is barely audible. The spoken explanation is indeed the key to success. The voice-over and/or presentation must be clear and calm, without sounding monotonous. Simple language is also important. Shakespeare texts are for the theater and not for an instructional video.
Excessive technical language or jargon also doesn’t work well, unless terms have been explained previously. The tone is also important; it must be appropriate for the students being addressed.
5. You provide strong visual support.
Image is a very powerful element when used correctly. In an instructional video, the image should not be a distraction but an enhancement to the explanation. What is a good image? Screen recordings or demonstrations of actions being performed are examples, as well as graphs, charts, or animations to clarify complex matters.
It is important that students are not overwhelmed with too much on the screen at once. Otherwise, they do not know where to look and the message does not come across well. The less noise there is, the better the brain can focus on what is important.
6. You ensure good technical quality
The sixth commandment is a given, but we still mention it. Blurry images and choppy sound not only cause irritation but undermine the purpose of the instructional video.
By good technical quality, we mean excellent image, a good microphone with crystal-clear sound, skilled editing, and subtitles for accessibility and better understanding. Music is an option, provided that it does not distract and adds value.
7. You provide an interactive element (if possible)
There are videos that simply broadcast and where the viewer takes in the information while lounging. In our opinion, the best instructional videos are interactive. This increases engagement and not to forget the entertainment value.
Adding questions works well to check whether the information has been properly conveyed. The learner can only proceed once the question is answered correctly. If the answer is incorrect, additional explanation follows.
Active processing leads to better understanding and retention.
8. You shall make the e-learning accessible to everyone
What do we mean by accessibility? It means that everyone should be able to follow the video, including people who may have a bit more difficulty with this. This means that instructional videos are provided with subtitles, are easy to read, and have a clear voice-over.
A combination of spoken language and visual explanation is perfect. A good instructional video is not only dependent on either audio or visuals.
9. You shall test the video with the target audience.
The intention is for the viewer to take something away from the instructional video. How do you find that out? Exactly, by testing. By asking a few users for feedback, it becomes clear whether the message actually comes across.
Although the real testing phase is completed when the e-learning goes live, testing can still continue afterwards by measuring knowledge before and after the video. We have already discussed integrating questions, and this is also the case now.
10. You make the instructional video part of a larger learning process.
An instructional video is not a standalone product but an important part of a learning path. Often, an instructional video is part of an e-learning course, and the video should connect with the learner's prior knowledge, the associated assignments, and the theories and texts from the e-learning. Refer to the video in the e-learning as supporting material, and vice versa. However, even as a standalone video, such as an installation introduction, it will always be part of a broader support package. Because no matter how good an instructional video is, a swallow unfortunately does not make a summer.
