The online learning environment requires you to be more creative with how you choose to present your course and share your knowledge. When you design a course, you have to consider your learners and create content that meets their needs. This stands true for both the content itself and its format.
People have different preferences when consuming online content, and they certainly like having options. While written learning materials are still the basis of any online course, it’s always a good idea to diversify your offer through audio and video content.
If you don’t know much about creating educational videos, don’t want to, or don't have time to learn, hiring a professional video editor is your best option if you also have the money. However, you can also turn video creation and editing into a DIY project.
The best part of video creation is that you can make it as complex as you want. You can literally start with your smartphone and a free video editing tool and go all the way to professional equipment and software in a dedicated studio.
Regardless of the type of videos you want to create — tutorials, demo, lessons, webinar recordings, explainer videos, presentations — you need a tool to create, edit and share them. Here are 14 awesome video editing tools for e-learning designers:
Camtasia is a wonderful solution that allows you to make videos without much technical knowledge. You can also record your screen and add text, transitions, or other effects. This tool makes it easy to share your courses or modules by uploading your videos directly on platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Screencast, or on your own course platform. Editing videos is simple, with drag-and-drop options for adding, removing, trimming, or moving video or audio sections. Camtasia comes with free pre-built templates or assets that help you create the best videos from the start. Last but not least, you can also make your videos interactive by adding quizzes to engage your learners.
Snagit is a screen capture and recording software that facilitates quick information sharing. This tool allows you to create guides and visual instructions which can be shared or saved instantly in various formats on different platforms. You can trim your videos, add annotations, edit texts, make selected objects move, add personalized stamps, create GIFs, and much more.
Panopto is a tool for recording and editing professional videos that can be easily integrated with an LMS, CMS, or portals. It offers the chance to capture multiple screens at a time, create video presentations or messages. Panopto has dedicated software and apps for Windows, Mac, and iOS. You can customize your video using various speeds, notes, and captions. Panopto allows you to share screen recordings instantly or even live stream them on multiple integrated web-conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Webex, or BlueJeans.
Screenrec is a free screen capture software with an interface for Mac, Windows, and Linux that allows you to share video recordings instantly and store them in the cloud or download them locally. With Screenrec, you can add subtitles and annotations to your videos, which work wonders for both international learners and those in need of more accessible features.
Shotcut is a free, open-source, cross-platform video editor for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It supports multiple audio and video formats, resolutions, and framerates. You can edit your videos by adding color, text, and noise, using audio and video scopes and filters, transitions, and speed effects. You can trim, copy, cut, and paste your videos or detach audio from video.
WeVideo helps you create videos like a pro on any device, even on mobile. With no need to download and install any software, you can edit your videos easily and store them in the cloud. It has options such as motion titles, slow motion, voiceover, cropping, and green screen so you can create amazing videos for your learners.
Movavi helps you bring your ideas to life. Use ready-made intros, special effects, backgrounds, and keyframe animation to create amazing videos. You can add titles, filters, and transitions for the perfect outcome.
Adobe Premiere Pro is a video editing software that can be integrated with other apps and services. Automated tools, integrated workflows, native file support, format editing, auto reframe, color adjustment are only a few of the options provided.
Final Cut Pro works on Mac only, but it offers handy tools such as importing, editing, and sharing 360° videos. You can use motion templates, generators, audio, and video editing features, such as trimming, noise reduction, color correction, and customizable 3D titles.
Lumen5 allows you to turn your course content into videos. It provides tools to edit texts, audios, and videos, and also access to a media library for inspiration. You can easily create short, engaging videos based on your existing content and share them on social media.
Powtoon helps you create videos and presentations to captivate, engage and explain to your learners. With ready-made templates and online support, using its multiple options is straightforward. You can use their database of scenes, animation, characters fonts, and audio files.
Animaker allows you to create animation and live-action videos using the characters, templates, images, and video stock available on the platform. You can upload and edit videos at 4K video quality and share them on different platforms.
Filmora offers a drag and drop interface and editing tools that transform your video into a piece of art. Choose from more than 800 editing effects, rotate, merge, trim, split, crop, and flip to personalize your videos.
Pinnacle Studio is equipped with basic tools and advanced creative features. You can trim, split, crop, and rotate videos, add titles, graphics and overlays, use templates and effects such as seamless transitions, paint masking, and color grading.
With so many online creators competing for the same audience, you have to do your best to provide accurate and valuable information. However, great content is only one piece of the puzzle; you have to also choose the right medium for it. Video learning materials capture learners’ attention and increase retention rates, as it’s easier to digest and understand. Any of the above tools can support you when designing videos for your online course.