AI avatar videos are becoming a staple in digital learning. With the rise of AI video generation tools, instructional designers can now create professional-looking video content in a fraction of the time it once took. But as with any tool, success depends on how you use it.

Here are some best practices to get the most value from AI avatar videos in your training courses.

1. Don’t simply convert course content into a video

AI-generated videos are not a standalone learning format. They work best when used as an add-on to existing content. Consider using a video to:

• Deliver an important message for learners.
  
• Present a specific case or example.
  
• Reinforce knowledge from another perspective.

2. Keep videos short and focused

Just because you can easily create hours of video doesn’t mean you should. Learners quickly lose attention if an avatar speaks for too long without change.

AI avatar videos work best in short snippets that focus on a single point or concept. Instead of a 15-minute talking head marathon, break the content into 1- to 3-minute clips. This keeps the pace lively, prevents monotony, and aligns well with microlearning strategies.

3. Match avatar use to the learning goal

Not every learning objective benefits from an avatar. Use them where a face and voice add clarity or presence, such as:

• Explaining a process in plain language.
  
• Presenting a real-life example or scenario to make content more relatable.
  
• Delivering course introductions or short wrap-ups.
  

Avoid relying on avatars in cases where text, diagrams, or interactive elements work better than an avatar simply talking.

4. Blend with other media

AI avatar videos are most powerful when combined with other formats. Consider mixing them with:

• Screen recordings or walkthroughs for software training.
  
• Infographics or data visualisations for complex information.
  
• Interactive activities that let learners apply knowledge.
  

This blended approach prevents fatigue and ensures the avatar acts as an engaging guide rather than the sole content channel.

5. Use dynamic framing and scene changes

Static, single-shot videos can feel flat. To make avatar videos look more natural and engaging:

• Switch between different camera angles (e.g. medium shot, close-up).
  
• Alternate scenes with supporting visuals, such as slides or graphics.
  
• Change the background or layout between segments to add visual variety.
  

Even simple scene changes can mimic professional video editing and help learners stay focused.

6. Pay attention to tone and style

An avatar’s tone, look, and narration style should feel natural for your audience. A formal, suited avatar might work for compliance training, but feel stiff in a creative skills course.

With tools like JollyDeck Interactive Video, you can choose different narrators and control their voice speed. Take time to experiment and select settings that align with your learners’ expectations and the culture of your organisation.

AI avatar videos can save time, cut production costs, and create a more engaging experience for learners — but only if used with care. Keep them short, align them with the right learning goals, blend them with other media, make use of dynamic framing, and choose the right tone and style.

When applied thoughtfully, AI-generated video can become a valuable ally in every instructional designer’s toolkit.

Video has become the way we consume information in our daily lives. From how-to guides on YouTube to short explainers on TikTok, learners are surrounded by moving images and voices that simplify complex ideas. When it comes to workplace learning, expectations are no different. Learners want material that feels familiar, accessible, and human.

That’s where text-to-video comes in. This emerging technology makes it possible to bring video into e-learning at scale, without the heavy costs and delays of traditional production. But beyond efficiency, the real question is: what does video actually do for the learner?

Why learners gravitate towards video

For learners, video offers clarity. A spoken explanation can cut through complexity more easily than a dense paragraph of text. The pacing, intonation, and structure of narration help learners follow along step by step.

There’s also the sense of human presence. Even when delivered through an AI avatar, a presenter gives the impression of being guided by someone, not just left alone with text on a screen. That presence reduces the feeling of isolation often associated with self-paced digital courses.

How video complements other learning formats

Video and text aren’t in competition. In fact, they strengthen each other when used side by side. Together, they give learners options for how to take in the material:

• Accessibility: For learners who struggle with long passages of written content—whether due to reading difficulties or limited language proficiency—narration provides an alternative path to understanding.
• Different angles: When a learner both hears an explanation and reads supporting text, the topic is presented from more than one perspective. This layered approach reinforces understanding and caters to different preferences.
• Pacing control: Unlike a live classroom, video allows learners to pause, replay, or speed up sections. That flexibility means they can control the pace and return to tricky concepts without pressure.

How video complements other learning formats

A common challenge in workplace training is cognitive overload: too much information presented in ways that are hard to digest. Video helps ease that burden in several ways:

• Narration lightens the load: Hearing explanations means learners don’t have to process everything through reading, which can be mentally demanding in a work context.
• Smaller chunks: Video naturally encourages information to be broken down into shorter, digestible segments. A three-minute explanation feels manageable compared to scrolling through pages of dense text.
• Reducing ambiguity: Spoken explanations, with their natural rhythm and emphasis, reduce the risk of misinterpreting abstract or technical phrasing.

By lowering the mental barrier, video makes learning more approachable.

Motivation and confidence

Motivation is often the silent barrier in learning. Even the best-designed material won’t stick if learners feel overwhelmed or disengaged. Video helps on this front, too:

• A guided experience: Having a “voice” walk learners through content creates the sense of being supported, rather than abandoned with instructions.
• Less frustration: When complex policies or processes are explained verbally, learners don’t have to wrestle with technical wording on their own.
• Tangible progress: Completing a video, even a short one, provides a clear sense of achievement. Learners see and hear the content, and finishing a module feels more rewarding.

These small boosts of confidence accumulate and encourage learners to keep going.

Looking ahead: The role of text-to-video

Until recently, including video in e-learning was a luxury. Budgets, studios, and editing timelines meant video was reserved for flagship programmes. Text-to-video changes that. By lowering the barrier, video can now become a standard feature of everyday learning.

For learners, this means:

• More courses that sound and feel human.
• More flexibility in how content is consumed.
• A consistent experience across different training areas.

As adoption grows, we’ll move from occasional “special” video content to a future where learners simply expect video as a natural part of every course.

Conclusion

Video in e-learning isn’t only about engagement metrics or retention figures. Its true value lies in making learning clearer, more inclusive, and more approachable. Text-to-video is the tool that allows this value to be delivered consistently and at scale.
Check out our introduction to the text-to-video in e-learning functionality to see how JollyDeck is bringing this to life.