What are the differences between traditional forms of education and e-learning videos?

The differences between traditional forms of education and animated learning videos lie in the fact that the latter provides better accessibility, interactivity, and personalization. While traditional education typically involves direct interactions in a physical classroom, e-learning videos can be accessed remotely by the learner from the comfort of their home. Additionally, they offer greater flexibility, allowing learners to study at their own pace and convenience. E-learning videos often incorporate interactive features like quizzes, tests, games, and rewards, enhancing engagement and promoting active learning for students.

How long should e-learning videos be?

The length of explainer videos for education greatly depends on the learning objectives set before the project, the topic’s complexity, and the video’s visual style. The e-learning videos should be kept relatively short to maintain viewers’ focus on the learning material as long as possible. The general rule for a single e-learning video is 5-6 minutes in length. If you’re looking to produce hundreds of hours of e-learning content, consider breaking it down into smaller, more manageable chunks.

What are the key steps involved in producing an e-learning video?

The production of animated videos for e-learning involves several steps, including the pre-production stage, during which it is necessary to engage with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to create project goals and video scripts; the production stage, where all the visual assets for the e-learning video are created; and the post-production stage, during which the team facilitates final polishing, quality assurance (QA), and other edits requested by the client. For more information about educational video production, please read our article How to Make an Educational Video: Unlocking the Secrets of Creating Engaging Products

How much does the production of an e-learning video cost?

The cost of producing education explainer videos varies depending on the length, complexity of the subject, type and style of video, and any additional requirements like the production of multiple voiceovers or rendering video for different formats. Consequently, the production costs may range from a few hundred for a minute of basic whiteboard educational videos to several thousand dollars per minute for e-learning videos using cartoons or 3D animation. For more information on how much the production of effective educational videos costs, read Explainer Video Production Pricing Guide: Breakdown of Explainer Video Costs

How to choose a professional video agency for my project?

To choose a dependable contractor for the production of videos in educational design, consider their experience, particularly in designing videos for your niche. Evaluate their portfolio, client testimonials, and, of the utmost importance, the ability to reach the desired learning objectives for educational training videos. For more on how to choose a professional video agency for the creation of the best educational explainer videos, read Checklist: How to Choose an Animation Video Production Company

Effective E-Learning Videos Examples

The use of videos for education can significantly improve engagement. Video is a very effective tool for the asynchronous presentation of information, and it makes the educational process more enjoyable for different learning groups. For today’s blog, we’ve collected a list of educational video examples that showcase how different formats and styles can improve learning experiences.

Selected from user-generated e-learning videos that offer authentic perspectives to professionally crafted content that sets the bar high, these examples will inspire anyone looking to enhance their e-learning courses and other future video productions.

Summary

What is an e-learning video?
- Common types of e-learning videos
10 examples of e-learning videos
How “Blue Carrot” can help your business
Summary

What is an e-learning video?

The e-learning videos refer to video-based educational content created for online learning platforms, courses, etc. The main goal of educational explainer videos is to enhance the learning experience for students or learners. They deliver instructional content, training materials, or educational information in an engaging format, which isn’t possible to do via still imagery or text copy only. E-learning videos can be used to cover a wide range of subjects, and they are primarily used in remote education, corporate training, and academic programs.

Common types of e-learning videos

Depending on the goals of your project, target audience, and necessary level of content complexity, you can choose between several types of e-learning videos. The most common of which are:

Tutorials — step-by-step demonstrations of how a product or service works, typically accompanied by voiceovers explaining the on-screen actions. These are most commonly used for software tutorials, technical skill development, or processes involving hands-on interaction with physical objects.
Animated Explainers — these videos utilize motion animation and motion graphics to simplify complex subjects. The goal of such videos is to help viewers comprehend complex information in an engaging way. These are widely used for product explanations, onboarding purposes, and e-learning courses.
Synthetic Videos — videos that feature AI-generated avatars or voiceovers. Most commonly used in e-learning due to their relative inexpensiveness (producers opt for AI avatars instead of hiring live actors or shooting live content with SMEs). The most common use cases for such videos are corporate training programs, multilingual courses, and micro-learning modules.
Whiteboard Videos — simulate the process of drawing or writing on a whiteboard. These are used to illustrate concepts in real-time, just like the teacher in a classroom does. Such visual style makes them effective in engaging viewers and holding their attention.
Slide Presentations — this is a professional upgrade to traditional PowerPoint slides. Enhanced with animation overlays, narration, and dynamic visuals, these videos are ideal for e-learning courses, offline presentations, webinars, corporate training lessons, and more.

Are you considering AI for online course creation?

10 examples of e-learning videos

👉 Showreel

This showreel highlights a variety of e-learning video examples from our portfolio. Its purpose is not only to showcase our work but also to demonstrate the range of styles and formats used in e-learning videos. It begins with a sample course created for a leading U.S. university, featuring a ‘talking head’ video with animated overlays. The reel then transitions through 2D animation, motion graphics, traditional animation, and a 3D example, showcasing the unique possibilities of each technique.

👉 Unity course

Unity, a leading platform for real-time 3D (RT3D) content creation, approached us to produce a set of video courses that had to cover topics like coding, 3D art, and XR development. One of the main challenges was that the project required global coordination with filming in Mexico, San Francisco, Detroit, and Chicago, overseen from Europe and the UK.

In order to maintain consistent quality, we used standardized equipment and followed uniform production protocols while also regularly collaborating with the remote teams. For the post-production, we combined ‘talking head’ videos with screencasts, visual graphics, and branded features such as bumpers and lower thirds.

With this project, Unity was able to broaden its educational programs on Coursera, equipping learners with critical skills and certifications in Unity’s tools. It also successfully demonstrated Blue Carrot’s expertise in managing large-scale, high-quality international projects.

Read the full case study here.

👉 AI video lesson

This video explains fundamental AI concepts and terminology, such as assistive AI, autonomous technology, and smart devices, while also demonstrating how to create educational content that is both engaging and easy to understand. The focus here is primarily on the narrator, with brief animated interludes enhancing the narrative.

Although this particular example was shot using professional equipment, achieving similar results for your project is also possible with clear objectives, a well-written script, and a narrator who feels confident in front of the camera. The key lies in thoughtful pre-production and careful execution, rather than relying solely on the equipment itself.

👉 Electrical batteries

With the rising demand for e-learning courses, AI tools like ChatGPT and Synthesia have revolutionized the way we all approach content creation. This project for the sustainable energy sector involved producing a massive e-learning course across four languages within two months. Traditional methods couldn’t meet the tight deadline, so generative AI was used. It allowed for streamlined translation, video production, and slide creation while ensuring top media quality.

Our team used tools like Articulate Storyline and Synthesia to create unified visuals, localized content, and interactive slides, which were followed by rigorous QA checks. The result was over 70 hours of high-quality, multilingual learning content, delivered on time with client satisfaction.

👉 DDDM approach

When you need to develop an hours-long e-learning course, but the resources are scarce, opting for a synthetic video is the way to go. No live actors or SMEs are required to get a professionally looking video — the ‘synthetic video lesson’ on Data-Driven Decision Making (DDDM) proves that.

The idea of DDDM relies on facts and data rather than guesses or opinions to guide decision-making — to make the explanation of this approach more practical and relatable, the video ties its narrative to real-life benefits that DDDM offers to organizations or businesses. An AI-generated avatar of an SME adds a human touch, helping viewers connect with the material more effectively than if the video had only presented graphs and numbers to them.

Want to lift your e-learning project off the ground?

👉 White-glove e-learning course

The 30+ minute e-learning video series was designed by our team to help train future white-glove contractors. The course is focused largely on a male audience watching it in their free time, thus we had to deliver concise, and easy-to-remember content.

Using flat 2D animation, we combined visuals with a professional voice-over (VO) to create an easy-to-follow and memorable learning video. It features characters representing contractors, partners, and clients, with animations centered on logistics scenarios. We also localized the course for Spanish-speaking audiences by adapting on-screen text and adding Spanish VO.

The project, completed in four months, involved a multidisciplinary team including screenwriters, designers, producers, and translators, delivering a professional, branded educational tool for future contractors.

Read the full case case study here.

👉 Primozone

Another example that demonstrates one of the biggest advantages of animated videos over other forms of media is the ability to clearly explain even the most complex subject within a limited timeframe. In just over two minutes, the Primozone video effectively explains how ozone can be used for disinfecting drinking water.

To educate viewers about ozone’s role in water treatment, we opted for a clean and minimalistic visual style without complex animation sequences. By doing so, we ensured that the visuals complemented rather than complicated the already intricate chemical concepts. The Primozone project serves as a good example of how to combine educational content with a focus on a specific product offering within a single e-learning animated video.

👉 Tunnel drilling jumbo

3D animation is an excellent tool for education, especially when detailed demonstrations of mechanisms or machinery are required. For example, we created a video for a Norwegian industrial company showcasing the operation of a three-arm tunnel jumbo drilling rig.

The 3D e-learning video we designed demonstrates a detailed model of the machinery with parts and components moving to visualize their functions in real life. By doing so, viewers are provided with a clear understanding of how a mechanism works without the need to physically go on-site down into a tunnel to see how the machinery operates.

👉 Youth well-being index

The Youth Well-being Index explainer video was a challenging project due to the number of subject’s aspects that needed to be covered all at once. At the same time, one of the key rules in educational videos production is to avoid fitting too much information into one video. With complex topics like this, it’s crucial to find that middle ground where, on the one hand, you can effectively communicate the subject to the audience and, on the other, not overwhelm them with a pile of details.

This project demonstrates how we approach this problem: the video is relatively short, with a moderately paced voiceover and a visual style that uses neutral colors, with blue and orange accents highlighting key elements.

👉 History of crypto-regulations

This lesson on the history of crypto regulations is another example of handling complex subjects in e-learning video production. Covering historical events while providing detailed context can be challenging, even in a physical classroom.

As with the previous example, the key is to keep viewers engaged and ensure they can absorb the presented information. In this video, visuals were kept to a minimum and used strategically to help viewers remember key details — such as dates, important concepts, etc.

How “Blue Carrot” can help your business

At Blue Carrot, we create engaging videos that enhance online learning experiences. Whether you’re a professional teacher, business owner, or a course producer, our team is here to help. With over 10 years of experience producing high-quality marketing and e-learning videos for organizations of all sizes, we can bring your vision to life.

From concise marketing ads to in-depth university-level courses, we’ve mastered a wide range of video styles and can handle projects of any scope and complexity. We always work within the available budget and timeline to deliver exceptional results. Check our work in the portfolio section that gets updated regularly and in case you need any help, reach out to us and let’s talk!

Need to discuss your e-learning project?

Summary

E-learning videos come in various shapes, styles, and lengths. Which style or type to choose for your project initially depends on your learning objectives, such as what you want your viewers to adopt after watching a video — new knowledge, skill set, update on their current company role, and so on.

Each of the video examples presented in this article has its own style that was selected to best suit the goal or message the client wanted to deliver. Sometimes, a basic slide presentation might be enough to explain the concept. In other cases, however, it’s better to introduce motion graphics with 3D sequences to elaborate on a more intricate subject. It all depends on the project.

The general advice for the production of the best e-learning videos would be to start by clearly defining your learning objectives and understanding your audience’s needs. Once you have a solid grasp of what you aim to achieve, choose a video style that aligns with your findings. The right approach can make a significant difference — not only in how well the audience will receive your video but also in how effectively the production process goes.

E-learning videos examples

Summary