Are you looking for a platform to create and host online video courses? Thinkific might provide the answer to your needs! Its intuitive interface lets you quickly create and publish course content, including videos.
Thinkific’s video-hosting capabilities offer an easy way to create engaging and effective course material. In this article, we’ll take at Thinkific’s video features, from uploading and organizing videos to designing video-based courses.
Whether a beginner or an experienced course creator, this guide will help you make the most of Thinkific’s video features.
Creating and Uploading Videos on Thinkific: A Tutorial
Uploading and organizing videos on Thinkific is a straightforward process that anyone can do. There are three ways to achieve this: 1) by uploading them at a lesson level, 2) by adding them to your Thinkific Video Library, and 3) through the Bulk Importer feature.
Uploading Videos at a Lesson Level
Let’s begin with how to upload a video lesson into one of your courses:
Step 1: Access Your Course
To upload and organize videos on Thinkific, you’ll need to access the course to which you want to add videos. You can do this by logging in to your Thinkific account and selecting the course from your dashboard (Manage Learning Products > Courses > Your chosen course)
Step 2: Add a Video Lesson
Once you’re in the curriculum section of the Course Builder for your course, you can add a new lesson by clicking on the “Add Lesson” button and selecting “Video” from the provided options. You’ll then be prompted to enter the lesson title, navigate the rest of the lesson settings, and finally upload your video.
Step 3: Upload Your Video
You can upload your video by either dragging and dropping it onto the upload area or selecting the file from your computer. Thinkific supports various video formats, including MP4 files. Once done, you can click “Save” to save the changes and make the lesson live.
Step 4: Manage and Reuse Your Videos
After uploading your video lesson, you can use the video file you uploaded again and again in any of your other courses. You can even add it to your Thinkific site, where your students can easily navigate your course and find the video content they need.
Uploading Videos to the Thinkific Video Library:
Step 1: Access Your Thinkific Account
Log in to your Thinkific account and navigate to your dashboard. Select “Manage Learning Products” and “Video Library” from the left-hand menu.
Step 2: Upload Your Video
Once you reach the Video Library section, click on the “Upload” button on the top right to add a new video to your library. You can drag and drop the video file or select it from your computer. You can also import it from your cloud storage provider, such as Dropbox and Google Drive.
Once you have your selected video file ready, select “Upload” once again and wait until it finishes uploading.
Step 3: Add Video Details
As soon as your video is added to the Video Library, you can select the “Edit” button next to the video’s title to add some necessary details, including the title, description, and thumbnail. You can also make the video available immediately or schedule it for future releases.
Using the Bulk Importer Feature
Step 1: Access Your Thinkific Account
Log in to your Thinkific account and go to the left-hand menu of your admin dashboard. Select “Manage Learning Products,” then “Courses,” then click on the course where you want to add multiple videos.
Step 2: Select “Bulk Importer”
From the Course Builder for your chosen course, click on the “Bulk Importer” tab to access the bulk importer feature. Then, select an existing chapter or create a new one if you don’t have any.
Step 3: Prepare Your Videos for Upload
Ensure that your videos are in the correct format and meet the recommended settings. Once you’re ready, you can drag and drop your video files or select them from your computer. Your content will upload until they’re ready for use.
Step 4: Save and Publish
Once your videos are added to your course, click on “Save” to make them available to your students.
Recommended Video Formats and Settings
It’s important to use the recommended video formats and settings on Thinkific to make the most of the course experience. Here are some guidelines you will need to follow:
- File Formats – Thinkific supports the following video formats: MP4, mjpeg, 3g2, webm, viv, asf, mpe, mjpg, 3gp, wm, vivo, asx, mpeg, mkv, 3gpp, wmv, f4p, avi, mpg, mov, 3gpp2, wmx, f4v, dv, mpg4, movie, ogv, wvx, flv, qt, m4v, ogx, and rm.
- File Size Limit Per Video – 2 GB
- Resolution – Recommended resolution is 720p or 1080p (for HD videos)
- Aspect Ratio – Use a 16:9 aspect ratio for the best viewing experience.
- Video Bitrate – We recommend a bitrate of 2,500-4,000 kbps for 720p videos and 5,000-8,000 kbps for 1080p videos.
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Advantages of Using Thinkific’s Video Features
Thinkific offers many benefits, making it a top choice for creating and hosting online courses. Considering how you can conveniently create engaging multimedia files, you can do the same with your videos.
With customizable video players, reliable hosting and delivery, and integration with other Thinkific features, it’s easy to create engaging and effective video-based courses that stand out in the crowded online learning market. As a seasoned Thinkific user, I can attest to the numerous advantages of using Thinkific videos to create online courses. These include the following:
Customizable Video Player
One of the main advantages of Thinkific videos is the ability to customize the video player. You can easily change the colors, add captions, and include interactive elements like closed captions and the ability to change the playback speed to engage your learners.
By having a unique and branded video player, you can differentiate your courses from others and make a lasting impression on your students.
Video Hosting and Delivery
Thinkific offers reliable video hosting and delivery, essential for a smooth and hassle-free learning experience. The platform uses Wistia to store and stream videos, ensuring that your videos load quickly and without interruption.
Additionally, Thinkific allows you to upload videos in various formats and sizes, making it easy to work with your preferred tools.
Integration with Other Thinkific Features
One of the best things about Thinkific is that all its features work seamlessly together, and the video capabilities are no exception.
You can easily integrate your videos from your library into course modules, quizzes, assignments, and discussions. You can also add videos to landing pages, course previews, and other marketing materials, making promoting and selling your courses easier.
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Tips to Take Advantage of Thinkific’s Videos
As a seasoned Thinkific user, I’ve picked up several best practices and handy tips for taking advantage of Thinkific’s video-hosting capabilities. Here are some of my top recommendations!
When creating video content for your Thinkific courses, keep in mind these suggestions:
- Keep it concise: Students often prefer short and snappy videos, so aim for 5-10 minutes-long videos.
- Focus on the value: Ensure that your video content provides real value to your students by addressing their pain points and offering practical solutions.
- Use a variety of visuals: Engage your students by using a mix of video, text, images, and animations to create a dynamic and visually appealing experience.
- Ensure high-quality production: Use a microphone and camera to ensure that your video and audio are clear and crisp.
- Plan your content: Plan your course content and create a logical sequence that builds on previous modules.
- Make it interactive: Encourage student engagement by including interactive elements like discussion forums, group projects, and live Q&A sessions. You can even include downloadable files under each video lesson if you want!
By following my suggestions, you can ensure that your Thinkific Videos are engaging, effective, and well-received by your students. Additionally, by designing and promoting your courses effectively, you can attract a larger audience and maximize your course’s potential for success.
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Conclusion
Thinkific’s video-hosting features make for powerful tools for creating engaging and effective online courses. By taking advantage of the customizable video player, video hosting and delivery, and integration with other Thinkific features, instructors can create compelling courses that cater to different learning styles.
You also need to keep in mind some helpful tips I’ve shared, such as creating concise and value-packed content and designing your course with increasingly interactive materials to make the learning experience more worthwhile.
Overall, video content plays a critical role in online education and training. By utilizing the features offered by Thinkific, instructors can deliver their courses in an interactive, dynamic, and effective way. So, whether you’re a seasoned instructor or starting, don’t overlook the power of video in your online courses.