Interactive video or video? Which one is more effective on learner engagement

Digital technologies have become an important part of education and educational activists pay special attention to these technologies in order to increase learners' engagement in three dimensions: cognitive, emotional and behavioral. Video is the most popular e-learning medium, but with the development of interactive video technology and the possibility of more learner interaction with content, it is important to examine the effects of interactive video on learners' engagement. The purpose of this study is to answer the question which of the linear video and interactive video have the greatest impact on learners' engagement and whether this effect is different in learning styles. For this purpose, in an experimental design, a training course was designed, half of which was presented as a linear video and the other half as an interactive video. The statistical population was educational specialist and training and development specialist who were selected by purposive and available sampling of 55 people. After completing the course, learners completed an engagement questionnaire and answered the four-choice test questions of the course. The internal validity of these two instruments was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, which was the participation evaluation form (0.878) and test (0.824). Using repeated measures design and paired t-test, the results showed that interactive video compared to linear video is significantly more effective on learners' engagement in three dimensions of cognitive, emotional and behavioral and is recommended to training and development specialists to use interactive videos. The theoretical and practical effects and applications of these findings in the field of organizational training and development are discussed.