Video training is an outstandingly effective teaching tool, according to a new study from Paul Van Mele of the Africa Rice Center in Cotonou, Benin. The research concluded that while only 19% of participants at conventional workshop training adopted the techniques that were taught, an astonishing 72% of those watching video training segments picked up and used the new techniques. 

That's not to say the medium (i.e., video training) is the magical factor that encouraged people to learn and use what they were being taught, but it was certainly a part of program's success...

The Africa Rice Center study focused on teaching farmers (primarily women) "...how to parboil raw rice by steaming it rather than boiling it, making it more nutritious and easier to mill." The traditional live workshop training was conducted by outside scientists and officials and was poorly attended, while "...the main storytellers in the videos were fellow women rice farmers." Additionally, the video training occurred in the evening, when the women could attend, while the workshops happened during the day and were taught to village leaders to pass down to the farmers (which, apparently, they don't do so well). So, yes, there are too many variables here and, all things being equal, it's hard to say if video training is inherently more effective than live workshops or if it's just this particular implementation.

Still, I think Mr. Van Mele's conclusions are valid and "...that showing the video also helps to democratize access to knowledge beyond the usual village elites." The power of accessible training and effective storytelling facilitated by video technology is undeniable.

References:
* Africa Rice Center
* Video roadshows transform African agriculture, New Scientist, 21 June, 2009.