Free Video-Making Tools for Instructional Designers

Videos have made it easier to learn new skills. Years ago, I had to rely on instructional videos to help me understand math, statistics, and chemistry. With many online resources, learners can find step-by-step video tutorials for practically any subject or skill, facilitating self-paced learning. This article explores 5 free and open-source video-making applications for instructional designers. 

Videos can effectively explain complex concepts to adult learners. These can also assist learners in quickly understanding how to put the training’s theoretical concepts into practice. Making videos, however, can be expensive and overwhelming, especially for beginners. Fortunately, instructional designers can produce interesting video content using free tools and programs available online.

Application #1: OpenShot

The first free video editing software is called OpenShot. This is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux users. For instructional designers who prefer more control over their video editing workflow, OpenShot can be a good tool. With its multiple audio and video tracks and transitions and effects, users can definitely create high-quality videos using Openshot. Its features include unlimited tracks and layers, pre-built templates, 3D animated titles, time mapping, and speed adjustment.

Application #2: Shotcut

Accessible on Linux, Mac, and Windows, Shotcut is another free and open-source video editing program. It supports color grading, filters, and multiple audio and video tracks. It’s perfect for instructional designers who want to produce high-quality videos without spending money. Shotcut has free online tutorial videos, which are undoubtedly user-friendly for beginners. Shotcut has many benefits, including support for different audio and video formats, webcam and audio capture, and color and text generators.

Application #3: Lightworks

For Windows, Mac, and Linux, another free video editing tool is Lightworks. It has visual effects, color correction, and multi-camera editing. Additionally, they make it simple for users to upload their videos to any social media site. Lightworks also has motion graphics, storyboard bins, background processing, and other features. Because of this, Lightworks is a fantastic tool for instructional designers to use when producing engaging videos for learners.

Application #4: Blender

Blender is a free and open-source 3D animation program that can also be used to edit videos. Various features include 3D modeling, animation, and visual effects. It is a great option for instructional designers who want to produce animated video content. Users of Blender have access to a wide range of features, including simulation, animation, and—most importantly—video editing.  

Application #5: OBS Studio

Apart from being a software for live streaming and video recording, OBS Studio is also another free and open-source tool for creating videos. It supports live streaming to YouTube and Twitch, scene switching, and audio blending. This is a great tool for our instructional designers who want to live stream or record their screens. OBS Studio has many features ideal for both beginner and seasoned instructional designers, including an audio mixer and streamlined settings panel.

When it comes to making exciting videos, instructional designers have a lot of tools at their disposal. Several applications, such as OpenShot, Shotcut, Lightworks, Blender, and OBS Studio, can assist instructional designers in producing visually appealing and engaging video content without the need for extensive video-editing expertise or going over budget. Explore these 5 free and open-source video-making applications for instructional designers to get started producing high-quality videos for your learners.

Do you know any other free and accessible tools for instructional designers? Share these by leaving a comment below.