How to Create a Video Course for Global Teams

Creating a video course is an excellent way to engage and educate your audience, particularly for global teams, where language barriers and geographical challenges can arise. With the right approach, you can ensure your content is universally accessible, culturally relevant, and scalable.

In this article, we will guide you through creating a video course, examples of video content, mistakes to avoid, and how to use Smartcat AI training video creator to simplify creating multilingual training videos.

When designing your video course, selecting the appropriate video types for your content is essential to keep the audience engaged. Here are a few options to consider:

Talking-head videos involve an instructor or subject matter expert speaking directly to the camera. This type of video works well for explaining concepts, delivering lectures, and establishing a personal connection with learners. Talking-head videos are straightforward to produce with minimal equipment—just a camera, microphone, and proper lighting.

Real-World Example: Many educational platforms, like MasterClass, rely heavily on talking-head videos. For instance, Neil Gaiman’s MasterClass on storytelling features him sitting in a well-lit room, speaking directly to the camera while sharing his writing processes and techniques. This format helps create an intimate connection between the instructor and the audience, offering a more personal and engaging experience.

Screen-capture videos are essential for tutorials, software training, or demonstrations where you need to show on-screen actions. These videos capture a user’s actions on their computer screen, often paired with a voiceover explaining the steps being taken. Screen-captures are particularly effective for courses teaching software, coding, or web-based tasks.

Real-World Example: On Udemy, many tech-related courses, such as Python programming tutorials, use screen-capture videos to show the instructor writing and executing code. A popular course like "Python for Data Science and Machine Learning Bootcamp" walks students through coding environments, allowing them to follow along as they code in real-time.

Interview videos feature conversations between two or more people, often an expert being interviewed by a host or an instructor. These videos offer insights into different perspectives on a topic, providing additional value and expert opinions on course subjects.

Real-World Example: Platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning frequently feature interviews with industry experts as part of their courses. For instance, in Coursera’s “ Learning How to Learn ” course, interviews with neuroscientists and educators add depth to the course material, offering expert opinions on learning techniques.

Interactive videos allow viewers to engage directly with the content by making choices, answering questions, or navigating through different sections of the video. These videos increase engagement and retention by involving learners in the process.

Real-World Example: Duolingo, a popular language learning platform, uses interactive video content to engage users in learning languages. For example, learners might be asked to translate sentences within a video, choosing the correct word or phrase from multiple options. This interactive approach boosts language acquisition by keeping learners actively involved.

Case study videos present real-life scenarios or stories to illustrate a specific concept or solution. These videos often include data, outcomes, and personal experiences, making them valuable for business, healthcare, and academic courses.

Real-World Example: In business courses, Harvard Business Review often features case studies where instructors walk through real-world business problems and solutions. For example, the video " How Great Leaders Inspire Action " by Simon Sinek showcases leadership lessons learned from different companies, making abstract business concepts more relatable and practical for learners.

Whiteboard animation is a style where visual elements are drawn on a whiteboard while the narrator explains the concept. This format simplifies complex topics and is ideal for explaining business processes, marketing strategies, or corporate training content.

Real-World Example: HubSpot uses whiteboard animation in their marketing explainer videos, like " What is Inbound Marketing? " The video breaks down their inbound marketing methodology using simple, hand-drawn illustrations that develop as the narrator explains each concept. This approach makes it easier for viewers to grasp complex marketing strategies visually.

VR and 360-degree videos offer immersive experiences, allowing learners to explore environments as if they were physically present. These are especially valuable for training in industries like retail, construction, and safety, where spatial awareness and real-life scenarios are key.

Real-World Example: Walmart uses VR technology to train its employees in customer service, compliance, and emergency preparedness. Through VR headsets, employees can immerse themselves in a virtual store environment to practice handling challenging customer interactions, stocking procedures, and even active shooter scenarios. This innovative training method helps them respond effectively to real-world situations without risk.

Demonstration videos show step-by-step processes for completing tasks or using products, ideal for hands-on skills or product tutorials. These videos are popular for teaching practical skills, whether it's assembling products, using software, or demonstrating services.

Real-World Example: Home Depot produces a wide range of how-to videos on their YouTube channel, showing viewers how to handle home improvement projects, such as "How to Install a Ceiling Fan" or " How to Paint a Room." These videos guide customers step-by-step through DIY tasks using tools and materials available at Home Depot, making it easier for customers to complete projects with confidence.

Animated videos use illustrations and motion graphics to explain complex topics in a fun and engaging way. These videos are great for simplifying abstract concepts, product overviews, or internal corporate communications.

Real-World Example: Microsoft’s enterprise cloud solution video provides a strong example of effective communication for B2B audiences. The video uses clear, concise animations to visually explain the cloud service's key features and benefits. The narrator's calm, professional tone enhances the explanation, making complex technical details easier to understand while maintaining viewer engagement throughout the presentation.

Creating an online course is an exciting opportunity to share your expertise and connect with learners. With the right approach, you can design an engaging and impactful learning experience. These 10 simple steps will guide you through the process, from choosing a course topic to launching and building a supportive learning community, ensuring your course is both successful and enjoyable to create.

1. Pick a Course Topic: Identify a topic that is relevant to your audience’s needs and your expertise.

2. Define Your Audience: Determine who your learners are, their skill levels, and how they will benefit from the course.

3. Gather and Script Your Content: Organize your content into structured learning modules and draft scripts to guide video production using human and AI-enabled tools.

4. Set Up Your Space and Equipment:If you are filming real people, ensure you have a quiet environment and reliable recording tools, including a camera, microphone, and lighting setup.

5. Record Your Video: Use a script to maintain a clear and concise message. Ensure high-quality video and audio output.

6. Edit Your Video: Refine your recordings, removing any errors, and adding text, graphics, or subtitles to enhance understanding.

7. Choose Your Online Course Platform: Platforms like Thinkific, Coursera, or Udem provide different functionalities for hosting and distributing your courses.

8. Establish Your Pricing Structure: Decide on a pricing model (subscription, one-time purchase, or free access) based on the value of your course.

9. Upload the Video and Launch Your Course: After editing, upload your course and set it live.

10. Build Your Online Course Community: Engage your learners through discussion boards, live sessions, or social media to foster a learning community.

Creating an engaging video course requires careful planning, but there are several common pitfalls that course creators often encounter. These mistakes can negatively affect the learning experience, reduce engagement, and even impact your course's overall success.

Some include:

• Lengthy videos

• Worrying about perfection

• Forgetting to test

• Overloading with information

• Neglecting engagement

• Ignoring sound quality

Below, read why each of these mistakes can hamper the learning and viewing experience:

One of the most common mistakes is creating videos that are too long. Attention spans, especially in online learning, are short. Long, drawn-out videos can overwhelm learners and cause them to lose focus.

To avoid this, aim to keep each video under 10 minutes, focusing on a single concept per video. Break up longer content into shorter, digestible modules or segments. This makes it easier for learners to absorb information and stay engaged.

It's common to overanalyze every minor detail, from the lighting to the script, but this can cause delays in launching your course. Instead, aim for progress over perfection. Get your course up and running with the understanding that you can improve it based on real feedback from learners. Regular updates and adjustments are a natural part of the process.

Technical glitches, poor sound quality, or misaligned subtitles can ruin the learning experience. Before launching your course, it's critical to test every aspect: video playback, audio clarity, and the timing of any interactive elements like quizzes or subtitles.

Check how the course performs across different devices and platforms, ensuring a smooth user experience for all learners. You should also test how easy it is for learners to navigate the course, ensuring they can easily access and consume your content.

It’s tempting to pack as much information as possible into each video, but this often leads to information overload. When too much content is crammed into one session, learners struggle to retain key points. Stick to one or two core ideas per video. Presenting information in small, manageable chunks allows for better comprehension and retention.

Use visuals, real-life examples, and summaries to reinforce key messages without overwhelming the learner.

Simply presenting information without engaging your audience can make your videos feel dull and monotonous. Active learning techniques like quizzes, interactive elements, and discussion prompts can help keep viewers engaged.

Try to vary your presentation style, use eye-catching visuals, or even incorporate storytelling to make the material more relatable. Remember, the more engaged your learners are, the more likely they are to retain the information.

Poor audio quality is a common but critical mistake. Even if your video quality is excellent, bad sound can ruin the entire experience. Ensure your microphone is high quality and free of background noise.

If your course involves multiple speakers, balance the sound levels and eliminate any distracting echoes or ambient sounds. High-quality audio is essential for learners to focus on the content, especially for those who may be watching in non-ideal environments (e.g., on their commute or in noisy surroundings).

Smartcat AI simplifies the process of creating learning videos, making it easy to produce professional, multilingual content in just a few steps. Whether you're starting from scratch or repurposing existing material, Smartcat AI helps streamline video creation, scripting, dubbing, and translation. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create effective learning videos using Smartcat AI.

1. Sign Up for Smartcat AI:

First, sign up for Smartcat AI platform.

2. Create Your Course Idea:

Once registered, click “Create new course” to start. Input your course title, define the learning objectives, and specify the course details (knowledge level, language, duration)

3. Generate Course Structure and Learning Outcomes:

Smartcat AI allows you to generate learning outcomes, which will serve as the backbone of your curriculum. Review and refine these outcomes manually or let the AI regenerate them.

4. Create Scripts for Video Content:

Navigate to the "Content" tab, where you can input the expected duration of the video and key points for your script. The AI will generate a detailed script, which can then be edited and reordered.

5. Generate and Review Videos

After finalizing the script, click the "Generate video" button. Smartcat AI will create the video, which can be previewed in the editor. You can continue editing the video and regenerate it as needed.

6. AI Dubbing and Subtitles:

One of the key advantages of Smartcat AI is the ability to quickly generate subtitles and dubbing in over 280 languages, making your content accessible to a global audience.

7. Preview and Export:

Once satisfied with your course, preview the final version, then export it in a format compatible with most Learning Management Systems (LMS), such as SCORM.

You can watch our recent webinar for a live explanation and demo of how to use Smartcat AI to create learning content:

When creating video courses, deciding between an AI avatar and a human presenter is a key consideration. Each option has its advantages, depending on your course’s needs, audience, and production constraints.

AI avatars, generated through platforms like Smartcat, offer a highly flexible and efficient option for delivering video content. These avatars can quickly generate multilingual videos with AI-driven voiceovers and translations, which makes them particularly valuable for global teams. Some key benefits of using an AI avatar include:

• Cost-Effective: AI avatars eliminate the need for hiring presenters or voice actors, reducing production costs significantly.

• Multilingual Support: Avatars can speak in multiple languages, ensuring consistency in tone and messaging across different regions.

• Scalability: AI avatars can be used to produce large volumes of content in a short period, ideal for organizations needing to roll out training materials quickly.

• 24/7 Availability: AI avatars don’t require re-shoots or adjustments, making them reliable for consistent, on-demand content creation.

• However, while AI avatars are efficient, they may lack the personal connection and natural engagement that human presenters can provide. The robotic tone and lack of emotional nuance in AI avatars might feel less authentic to some learners.

Human presenters bring authenticity, relatability, and a personal touch to learning videos, which can enhance engagement and trust with your audience. Key advantages of using a human presenter include:

• Emotional Connection: Humans convey emotions, enthusiasm, and body language, making content more relatable and engaging.

• Authenticity: Viewers are more likely to connect with a real person, especially when the presenter is a recognized expert in the field or industry.

• Adaptive Feedback: Human presenters can react and adjust based on audience feedback, making live sessions or interactive content more responsive and dynamic.

• However, human presenters can come with higher costs in terms of production, especially when working across multiple languages, as dubbing or re-recording may be necessary for global audiences.

When deciding between an AI avatar and a human presenter, consider the following:

• Global Reach: If your course targets a multilingual, global audience, an AI avatar with AI-driven translation and dubbing might be the most efficient option.

• Engagement Needs: For more personalized or emotional content, a human presenter can build a stronger connection with the audience.

• Budget and Time Constraints: AI avatars can be a cost-effective solution when budget or production time is limited, allowing for rapid content creation.

In summary, both AI avatars and human presenters have their place in video course creation. Depending on your project’s needs, you may even choose to combine the two approaches, using human presenters for core topics and AI avatars for rapid deployment or multilingual segments.

When creating video courses for global teams, efficiency and scalability are key. Smartcat AI revolutionizes the course creation process by automating content generation, translation, and video production. It allows you to create high-quality learning content quickly, ensuring that your courses are accessible to diverse, multilingual audiences.

Smartcat aI enables teams to scale content creation while maintaining consistency and cultural relevance, which is especially important when catering to global teams.

Smartcat offers numerous advantages, from translating into over 280 languages in seconds to generating video scripts and dubbing automatically. This streamlines the creation of e-learning content, allowing you to focus on delivering value to learners without worrying about time-consuming manual processes. Here's how Smartcat AI can enhance your course creation process.

1. Time Efficiency : With Smartcat AI, you can create a full learning course in less than 30 minutes, from start to finish

2. Multilingual Capability : Smartcat supports translation into 280+ languages, ideal for creating content for global teams.

3. Seamless Collaboration : You can involve multiple stakeholders, such as subject matter experts and linguists, to review and refine content, all within the platform.

By leveraging the power of AI, particularly tools like Smartcat, creating high-quality, scalable video courses for global teams has never been easier. From generating content and video scripts to dubbing and translations, AI empowers teams to deliver engaging, multilingual learning experiences efficiently. Follow the steps above to create your own video courses and expand your reach across the globe.

Use platforms like Smartcat AI to generate scripts, create videos, and translate content for global teams easily.

With Smartcat AI, you can create a course in under 30 minutes.

Smartcat AI simplifies the video creation by automatically generating video scripts, translating subtitles, and even providing AI-generated dubbing in over 280 languages. This ensures your training videos are accessible to multilingual, global teams without needing manual translation or voiceover work.

Smartcat AI allows you to upload existing course materials to either update them or generate new, contextualized content. This feature is ideal for repurposing old content while keeping it relevant and on-brand for your current needs.

Smartcat AI supports exporting your courses in popular formats like SCORM, which is compatible with most Learning Management Systems (LMS). This makes it easy to distribute your e-learning content across various platforms.

Smartcat AI enables real-time collaboration, allowing multiple team members, including subject matter experts, editors, and translators, to work on the same course simultaneously. This streamlines the creation and review process, reducing the time spent coordinating between team members.

The content generated by Smartcat AI can be fully customized to fit your organization’s needs. You can edit, reorder, and adjust elements such as learning outcomes, video scripts, and quizzes to ensure that the final course aligns with your goals and brand voice.