How to review training videos?

Question

Hello,
I'm reviewing a coworker's training videos and am new to this.  What criteria should I use in reviewing a demonstration-based training video?
I think in order to provide  effective feedback, I need a list of elements that make good training videos.    Would anyone know a website or book that explains what makes a good training  video GREAT?
Also, is there a section on this site that can provide feedback on training  videos?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi there,
It might help if we knew what the subject of your co-workers training videos is. I'm guessing from what you've said that you're talking about a video training course where the presenter narrates a screencast (a recording of their screen), to explain the software. Correct me if I'm wrong about that.
I've been looking at video training courses for Photoshop Elements and Photoshop for three or four years now - I even produced one a few years back - so I know what it's like from both the student and the teacher's point of view. In four years, this is the best Photoshop Elements video training course I've seen by far.
You asked what criteria you should use in reviewing - here are some of the guidelines I lay down on that page:
1) A great training course has to use screencast video - You could follow a text guide, but why not just go and buy a manual or an 'X for dummies' guide if you're going to do that - video is the best way to illustrate and communicate training advice for products as complicated as Adobe Photoshop.
2) A great training course should cover all angles - This is a balance. The training course must be complete without being comprehensive. It should be complete, so that no major section of the product is missed out - there's nothing more frustrating than finding out at the end that the trainer isn't going to address what you're interested in. But the training almost certainly shouldn't be comprehensive. Taking Photoshop Elements as an example, if the trainer explicitly mentions every single mode that every single tool can be used in, every keyboard shortcut, every menu item, every dialog ... you get the point ... the training will end up causing A) information overload, and B) boredom! The training should provide good coverage of the program (good breadth), with an appropriate level of detail (fair depth).
3) In the same vein, some of the Photoshop Elements training I've watched has been agonizingly boring! The training should be broken down into sections of a sensible size, and each one should leave you begging for more. The training should be fun! And the trainer should communicate in a way that makes the training easily understandable - people will benefit from and enjoy the training a lot more if the instructions and descriptions are clear and easy to follow.
4) As in any presentation, think about the target audience. Is it meant to be an 'absolute beginners Photoshop Elements training course', or should the title be 'Advanced Photoshop Elements training for guru-grand-masters'? Is it just for those using Windows, or just for those using Mac? Try to review the training with a target audience in mind, so you can assess whether it meets their needs. Like me, you might even want to buy or sample other video training courses to see how they compare.
5) Finally, good training doesn't always have to be free, but it shouldn't cost the earth either. The Photoshop Elements training I review here costs $49.95. That's a reasonable price for what is a really excellent training resource. But asking someone to pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars for training is rarely appropriate, perhaps with the exception of a face-to-face training course. Make great content, and then over-deliver on all your promises to the consumer, at a price that they simply can't get over - then let them rave about it to all their friends. =)
One more good tip: I mentioned training books above - visit your local bookshop or library and grab a training book on the product (so for example I might do an Amazon search for 'PSE8 for dummies', see what's about, then pop to Waterstones to flick through a copy) - see what topics THEY cover. See the level of detail they give. If you had to honestly recommend a product to someone, would it be the book or the training course? It's a nice easy metric to judge how valuable the training really is.
You asked about a section on the site where people can provide feedback on training videos - I actually have a section for that on my site. You can post and discuss Photoshop Elements training reviews here, and Photoshop training reviews here. I'd love to hear about any resources that you think are worth mentioning.
I hope that helps. All the best, Rob.
PS. Just a tip: In general, don't cross-post the same question over several different forum areas. =)