Turn screen recordings into real training.
Screen recordings are one of the fastest ways to show learners how to complete a task.
The goal is to help the learner complete a specific action correctly and confidently. In practice, that means:
Here's my step-by-step guide for creating an instructional video with a screen recording in Synthesia.
Pick one specific task the learner should be able to complete at the end
(for example: “How to change a CTA in Webflow”).
Write a simple structure:
Hook → Steps → Wrap-up
Then design the Steps as short, self-contained scenes instead of one long recording.
Each scene should:
Plan to record each scene as a separate 1–2 minute chunk so it’s easy to redo parts and insert transitions later.
Good instructional scripts don’t describe what is visible on screen. They explain meaning and help learners stay on track.
For each scene, define:
Use short sentences and natural pauses.
The screen shows the action, but your narration will guide the viewers attention and add meaning.
If the learner can clearly see the action, don’t read it aloud. Use narration to highlight timing, intent, or consequences.
If a scene needs more than one sentence to explain its purpose, split it.
Start a new video and choose a training or how-to template
Selecting a template will open it in the Editor. From here you can dd the scenes you expect to need (intro, step-by-step, recap).
There's two ways to record your screen in Synthesia.
The first option is to record from inside Synthesia by clicking Record and then following the prompts.
Another option is to record directly from your browser with the Synthesia AI Screen Recorder extension.
When recording each scene, focus on guiding the learner’s attention and pacing your actions so they can follow along while completing the task themselves. Instead of trying to capture everything that happens on your screen, treat the recording as a way to direct focus to what matters most.
Record slightly slower than you would normally perform the task. A simple rhythm helps learners stay oriented and follow along in real time:
Short pauses before and after key actions give learners time to find the same element on their screen, complete the step themselves, and check that they are on the right track.
Visual cues help learners know where to look without guessing, especially in dense or unfamiliar interfaces. To keep the recording easy to follow, use subtle cues that naturally draw attention to the next action without breaking the learner’s flow.
For example:
Use narration to explain:
Don’t narrate what is already obvious on screen.
Leave brief moments of silence so learners can look, act, and confirm.
A few simple habits can make your screen recordings easier to edit and easier to improve later.
Refine your raw screen capture into clear, consistent, step-by-step scenes so learners can follow the task without distraction. Start by shaping the recording into clean steps:
Next, improve clarity by adjusting the text instead of re-recording the screen:
Then make the viewing experience feel stable from scene to scene by keeping the screen capture in the same position:
Finally, add subtle focus cues or overlays only when they genuinely help guide attention.
Click Generate to render the final video.
Always include captions. They help learners scan steps, confirm details, and follow along in real time.
Publish the video where learners already go for help (LMS, help center, knowledge base, shared workspace).
I recommend using clear, consistent publishing and measurement practices so your videos are easy to find, reuse, and improve over time.
Try to give your videos clear, task-based titles and short, outcome-focused descriptions.
To support reuse across teams and contexts:
Try to measure what actually matters:
If a video keeps generating the same questions, it usually means one scene needs clearer narration, a step should be split, or a small visual cue is missing where learners tend to get stuck.
Some tasks are especially well suited to instructional screen recordings because they are procedural, repeatable, and sensitive to errors.
Two of the most common examples in organizations are Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tool-based task training.
The templates below highlight training scenarios where instructional screen recordings work well.
Once you’ve identified the right use case, you can adapt the template by adding a short screen recording using Synthesia’s screen recording tool.
Standard Operating Procedures define how key processes should be performed so work is consistent, compliant, and repeatable.
When those processes involve digital tools or multi-step workflows, screen recordings make expectations visible.
Video SOPs help teams:
Use this template to document one complete procedure from start to finish:
Tool-based task training shows people how to complete a specific action inside a digital system they use every day. These videos are typically short and highly focused, and learners return to them often.
This use case is common for:
Use this template to support one clear task:
Applied consistently, this approach turns individual screen recordings into a maintainable training system teams can rely on.
About the author
Strategic Advisor
Kevin Alster
Kevin Alster is a Strategic Advisor at Synthesia, where he helps global enterprises apply generative AI to improve learning, communication, and organizational performance. His work focuses on translating emerging technology into practical business solutions that scale.He brings over a decade of experience in education, learning design, and media innovation, having developed enterprise programs for organizations such as General Assembly, The School of The New York Times, and Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Kevin combines creative thinking with structured problem-solving to help companies build the capabilities they need to adapt and grow.
A screen recording captures what happens on your screen. An instructional video is designed to help someone perform a task correctly. The difference is intent and structure. Instructional videos define a clear learner objective, focus on one task at a time, use narration and visual cues to guide attention, and prompt learners to apply what they’ve seen. Screen recordings become instructional when they are designed for learning.
For most workplace tasks, aim for 2–4 minutes per scene and one clear objective per video. Short, focused clips reduce cognitive load, make it easier for learners to rewatch specific steps, and are faster to update when tools or processes change. Longer workflows are best split into a short sequence of videos rather than one long recording.
Screen recordings work best for procedural, software-based tasks—for example, using internal tools, running reports, completing workflows, or following standardized processes. They are less effective for judgment-heavy skills, leadership behaviors, or complex decision-making, which benefit more from scenarios, coaching, or practice-based learning.
That depends on your audience and scale.
For global teams, this decision directly affects comprehension, adoption, and maintenance cost.
Go beyond views. Effective measures include:
Instructional videos are successful when they change behavior, not just when they’re watched.
Yes, if they’re designed correctly. Short, modular scenes with consistent scripting, narration, and visuals are easier to update, localize, and reuse across teams. This reduces message drift, removes dependency on individual experts, and supports consistent training and enablement at scale.
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