With SMEs in content learning

Why you should present SMEs in learning content

The educational design prosperous on expert knowledge, but too often, the experts themselves are invisible. What if the missing ingredient in the impact of your content is the face or human voice behind the facts? Experts in the matter (SMEs) are invaluable partners in the world of learning design. These content connoisseurs provide the knowledge necessary to develop an learning experience that guarantees accuracy, relevance and application of the real world.

However, the SMEs themselves generally fade in anonymity because their invaluable repertoire of knowledge, skills and expertise occupies the front of the scene. But what happens if, instead of separating the person from the information, we brought the SMEs before and center in a way that is both engaging and significant for the learner?

SMEs are not always creators of natural content and may find it difficult to distill the extent of their information in digestible nuggets and to know. This is where educational designers and other content creators intervene. So how do you define your SMEs to succeed and prepare them for the spotlight? It all starts with a solid base.

The impact of the presence of SMEs

Putting your SMEs from behind this curtain and under the spotlights more than adding variety to your study program. Here are some convincing advantages that you should consider presenting SMEs beyond the usual content review.

1. Credibility and confidence

Learners are more likely to trust a real expert in their field than an AI voice or an actor. Seeing and hearing a professional makes the content more relatable and authority. Common Ground Alliance created a series of videos for excavators who presented managers and industry superintendents. Speaking directly to the public, they shared security advice from job sites and told stories about the experiences they had with the dangers of the job site and how these dangerous situations could have been avoided.

2. Real world examples

SMEs can provide first -hand ideas and case studies that make learning more practical, authentic and usable. Instead of abstract concepts, learners hear real scenarios, errors to avoid and best practices.

3. Commitment and connection

A human face and voice add warmth and relatibility. Videos featuring SMEs feel less scripted and more conversational, which helps learners to feel connected to industry professionals. This way of learning can also increase knowledge retention because people remember stories more than facts.

4. Demonstration of skills

For practical training (for example, the best practices of the excavation site, engineering techniques or software demonstrations), SMEs can visually show learners how to do the tasks correctly.

Set the foundations for success

Before putting your SME in front of a camera, start by having early conversations to lay a solid base. Abandon learning and development jargon and go to the root of the problem by asking questions that will help you better understand the program's objectives, the public and learning objectives:

• What problem are you trying to solve?
• What do you want more people in your industry knowing?
• What are the most common errors you see?
• What does a successful result look like?

These questions can help to arouse passion in your SMEs and help them focus on what is really important. When you discuss, encourage them to share personal stories, provide specific scenarios or real examples, highlight the challenges that learners can face or suggest actions that they might want to take learners.

Once you have gathered these ideas, it is time to shape the content you have captured in a format that will resonate with your audience, whether it is a script, an outline or an interview. Share it with SMEs for approval before switching to the video or audio production phase.

Creative means of presenting your SMEs

Presenting SMEs in the content you create is a great way to stimulate the learner's commitment and credibility. To maximize your time with them, here are some ways to get you:

• Save your conversations with them and extract clips to share with learners. This could have an impact with audio or video clips.
• Plan to enter a more structured interview with pre-approved questions. This could be a conversation with a moderator or a directed session.
• Presents direct quotes alongside their image in learning. Common Ground Alliance recently used this strategy by initiating several of their SMEs in interviews, extracting the best sound clogs and featuring the photo of the SME on the screen with the text of their quotation while the audio played.
• Ask them to make a screen recording while going through a process or a tool.
• Film them as they demonstrate a technique in action.

Of course, with an SME is not just about configuring a camera. It is also a question of helping them to feel prepared and confident on the screen.

Help SMEs to shine

SMEs can be experts in their field, but not in front of a camera. Here's how to make them more comfortable and confident to be the star star and how to help them shine in your learning content:

• Share content in advance. This could include storyboards, scripts or questions.
• Prepare them for success. Give an overview of the process so that they are not overwhelmed when it is time to hit a recording. Suggest to test if there is a technology involved.
• Coach before the interview. Offer advice as what to wear, where to look, posture, speak concise and avoid technical jargon.
• Use a conversational format. If the SME is not comfortable with a scripted monologue, try an interview or questions and answers for a more natural feeling.
• Keep it short. Break the segment content the size of a bite. It will be better for occupied or nervous SMEs and, in the end, a better commitment of the learner.
• Suggest alternatives. If your SME does not want to be on video or do not shine as you hoped, try to use the narration of the voiceover with support visuals.

With the right preparation, the expertise of your SME will come to life in a way that resonates with learners.

And… action!

The next time you collaborate with an SME, think beyond simply drawing them information. Allow them to be the face and voice of your learning. Take the first step today by planning a meeting with your SME and reflecting on how you can help them shine on the camera. When SMEs enter the spotlight, learners benefit from content that feels more human, credible and impactful.

Ready to start? Call your SMEs and consult other ways to take advantage of the video in your learning program.

See How D'in Vinci presents SMEs In his work for Common Ground Alliance.