WGU Instructor Videos

Overview

Students described accessing Instructor Course Videos as slow and inconsistent. In the myWGU mobile app, videos often required several steps to locate, opened in an external browser, and lacked reliable playback controls. For instructors, uploading and managing content was time-consuming and pulled them away from teaching. One of WGU’s most powerful learning tools was falling short.

User Research

A survey of 62 students revealed that 64% watched videos outside the home, often during commutes or breaks at work. Short, mobile-friendly content was in high demand, with 32% saying their ideal video length was 1–5 minutes. Students also emphasized the importance of skipping, replaying, and using captions. Their feedback was clear:

“The videos don’t open well on the WGU app, I usually have to use a browser.”

“I thrive on videos and audio. I listen while taking my kids to sports practice.”

Process

Guided by these insights, I worked with faculty to establish short-form guidelines that kept content digestible and focused. Engineers ensured videos would always play inside the app. Navigation was simplified from five steps to two, removing barriers between students and content. Every decision tied back to research:

Solution

Instructor videos were placed directly on course landing pages. A consistent player now supports playback speeds and captions, and faculty workflows were streamlined with clearer publishing guidelines that emphasized shorter clips.

Impact

Students with access to videos spent an average of 14.5 minutes per session compared to 2.9 minutes for those without. Course completion times dropped by nearly two weeks, and engagement with course content rose by 37%. Students confirmed the impact:

"I finally feel like I can learn on the go.”

Faculty also regained time previously lost to inefficient workflows.

Takeaways

Having more video content in course materials can boost student confidence, helping them pass assessments faster and succeed academically while aiding them in achieving thier dream career.