Screencast O Matic

When creating instructional videos, there are several factors that have to be thought about to maximize engagement. Analytics by Melanie Hibbert from EDUCause and Adam Conner-Simons with MIT provide some good insight for getting started. Educators have to consider platform, topic, level of detail, and presentation style as main factors for driving video engagement.
When considering platform, educators creating a video want to ensure they take into consideration the likelihood the video will play on as many browser and computer types as possible. For example, using Adobe flash will limit users because of the inability to play on iPad or iPhone.
Students are also more likely to engage when the instructional video is related to specific assignments. The video should capture expected output and provide examples. Visual representation of expectations gives students a stronger understanding of what they should be doing. Students are also more engaged when the instruction is detail oriented.
When presenting, the instructor should be seated, giving the presentation a sense of informality (Conner-Simons, 2014). Students also report to responding better when the instructor includes humor and a casual tone. If they opportunity presents itself, the instructor should include anecdotes which helps students relate better (Hibbert, 2014).
Students are more likely to complete videos that are brief and concise. Four minutes seems to be the most accepted time length for an instructional video, and anything longer than six minutes is almost guaranteed to lose their audience. Students are nine times more likely to watch instructional videos on the computer, likely because they are doing their work while reviewing the video. This increases the opportunity for the video to include animation or graphics that help students stay engaged. As our culture becomes more and more immersed in the digital age, learning needs and expectations are going to rely more heavily on online education practices.

References:

Hibbert, Melanie. What Makes Online Instructional Video Compelling? EDUCAUSEreview;
              http://er.educause.edu/articles/2014/4/what-makes-an-online-instructional-video-compelling,  
              2014

Conner-Simons, Adam. What 6.9 million clicks tells us about how to fix online education. MIT News;
             http://news.mit.edu/2014/what-69-million-clicks-tell-us-about-how-fix-online-education,
             2014.