Creating Successful ELearning Storyboards

Why use a storyboard?

There are actually many benefits, but just to highlight some of the best:

• It helps to lay out the order of events.
• It shows how the different elements flow together.
• It helps to keep clients, team members, and designers on the same page and staying in sync.
• It is a way to keep track of any changes and/or prior ideas.

A storyboard is the best way to ensure the eLearning course will fulfill the goals it sets out to accomplish.

Elements of a storyboard

While each storyboard will look different, there are some common elements they possess.

• Title. The very first thing that needs to be done is to give the project a name. This portion of the storyboard should also include any other important identifying information.
• All the text included in the course. Every bit of text the learner will see on the screen should be represented here.
• Audio narration. If the course will have audio, it must be a part of the storyboard.
• Complete instructions. This will be the largest portion of the storyboard. It’s important that it be comprehensive. Any navigational or interaction instructions for the learner must be recorded in detail in this section.
• Graphics, video, and other media. Detail any animation or images that will be a part of the course. Be as specific as possible.

In order for the course to turn out the way it was envisioned, the storyboard details have to be precise and clear-cut.

The procedure

Now that the elements of the storyboard have been laid out, it’s time to look at some procedural tips:

• Goals and objectives. Know these ahead of time and make sure the entirety of the course is relevant to these educational aims.
• Know the audience. Do some research to determine their background, skills, experience level, and the culture of the workplace environment. The more that’s known about the learners, the better the customized training solution will turn out!
• Create meaningful assessments. It is actually best to do this early in the planning process, as opposed to waiting until the end. Decide where they will go in the flow of the course and be detailed in descriptions of what each assessment will gauge.
• Don’t forget transitions. Be specific about how the move from one slide to the next will look like, for example, what will the transition screens look like?
• Nail down the sequence. Think about chunking information and then decide what order it works best in, using as much detail as possible.

Creating an eLearning course that is effective is much easier when there is a specific and comprehensive plan to guide the process!

Contact our experts today to get started on your next training development.