5 Tips for Writing Better E-Learning Storyboards

Mapping the development process of an online course ensures that your brand’s main goals are met and helps boost the learning experience for your target audience.

E-learning storyboards essentially simplify the whole online course creation process and make it much more efficient. This way, business owners can easily illustrate their ideas and visions and share them with team members as well as their audience.

However, creating an e-learning storyboard can be difficult, especially if it’s your first time. This is because you have to consider various elements, including the topics, how your course navigation is set, and your target audience.

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into how e-learning storyboards can help you create better online courses and cover 5 tips that can help you write better e-learning storyboards for your business.

What is an e-learning storyboard?

A storyboard is a template or layout that’s used to map out the development or creation process for any piece of content, including movies, podcasts, and e-learning courses.

Mapping out the whole development process when creating content helps business owners validate and approve online courses before the creation process takes place. This not only helps save time but is a great way to create professional, high-quality online courses.

Creating e-learning storyboards also makes it possible for course designers to develop an accurate idea of what the final product should look like. More specifically, your writers and team members will know exactly how to organize content and have a  better understanding of your brand’s missions when creating online courses.

E-learning storyboards can also be useful for brands when it comes to saving time and costs. This is because you can validate course ideas and make edits to the content delivery before the actual development process begins. Once the online course is created, all you have to do is publish and not have to worry about going back and making edits.

Additionally, the best part about writing e-learning storyboards is that it really simplifies the whole online course creation process for you and your team members. Since the whole process is mapped out in detail, there’s no confusion about how the online course will be created, and it avoids unnecessary delays for your business.

 

Tips for writing better e-learning storyboards

Let’s go over some actionable tips that can help you write better e-learning storyboards.

#1. Evaluate your brand’s goals beforehand

The first and most important thing when writing an e-learning storyboard is to evaluate your brand’s goals and keep the end goal in mind. This essentially means you have to know what the online course will look like after the creation process ends. For instance, if you’re creating an e-learning course like “Photography 101”, you must focus on providing important photography tips. This way, you ensure you don’t go off-topic and stick with the main goal of your e-learning course.

Evaluating your brand goals also lets you create better, well-defined learning objectives for your students and audience members. If your e-learning course focuses on the main goals at the beginning, it helps learners keep focus on the important information instead of being distracted when going through your online course. As a result, it helps boost learner engagement and enhances the learning experience your online courses deliver. On top of offering easier navigation for your learners also helps attract new sales and encourages more users to try out your e-learning course.

Additionally, determining your brand’s goals beforehand when writing an e-learning storyboard also helps you create higher-quality content. Everyone involved in the content creation process can focus on creating content that’s relevant to the main objective. It also helps remove unnecessary information that may confuse or distract your learners from the main content and instead focus on enhancing the user experience.

#2. Use a storyboard template

While you can create your own storyboard template to start planning content and how it will be presented to your learners, we recommend starting with a storyboard template, especially if this is your first time writing an e-learning storyboard.

Instead of having to do all the work manually, you can use a storyboard template to save time and avoid any mistakes when writing one for your online course. A storyboard template will essentially provide you with a “checklist” of all the parameters you need to cover when creating an online course without causing clutter. For instance, you might be planning to create lengthy descriptions for each of your e-learning course slides. A storyboard template will give you an accurate idea of how much information will fit in each slide or page so you don’t end up wasting time later. On the other hand, without a storyboard template, there will be a lot of guesswork when it comes to adding content to each lesson of your online course. You don’t want to risk adding too little information or providing too much information that hardly fits into a single slide of your lessons. In both cases, it can negatively impact the learning experience your online course delivers.

Storyboard templates can also be useful for consistently creating online courses according to your requirements. You can create better lessons that all provide a consistent flow of information when learners move from one lesson to the next. This not only helps add to the overall learning experience but is a great way to consistently provide value to your audience members. Since you don’t have to worry about how your content is delivered to your audience, you can focus more on creating better, higher-quality content.

#3. Keep your target audience in mind

Your main objective when writing e-learning storyboards is to offer clarity and educate your learners and audience members. This is why it’s important to keep your target audience in mind when writing storyboards for your online courses.

For instance, if you’re creating an online course on a more technical topic that requires you to use complicated terminology or jargon, you need to make sure your target audience also knows what those complex words mean. While it can be difficult to avoid using technical terms for some topics, you need to do your best to educate your target audience and ensure they understand what you’re saying.

A great way to do this is by emphasizing complex or technical terms using simpler, easier-to-understand words. This will help non-tech savvy users quickly catch on to what you’re saying, while users who already understand can skim past the “simpler” terminology or explanation of a complex word.

Ideally, you want to use terms and organize your sentences in a way that’s easier for your target audience to understand when creating online courses. When it’s not possible, you can work your way around it by providing additional information or a glossary so the learning experience of your target audience isn’t compromised in any way.

#4. Create a script/content sequence

A script or a content sequence for e-learning courses is essentially the “direction” of how content is presented to your target audience.

For example, if your online course is about cyber security, you can start by explaining why cyber security is important in the first lesson while the second lesson can be about how cyber security can be compromised. This gives your target audience a better idea of what the topic is about and how everything works before they jump into the main online course content. The next lesson can include some of the best ways to ensure top-notch cyber security for businesses, and the last lesson can list some effective services or tools audience members can look into.

By giving your content a well-defined sequence, you ensure that the main objective of your e-learning course is met at the end and helps map the e-learning navigation for your online course. Similar to how scripts are drafted for making movies and every action is predetermined, creating a content sequence helps define what the final product should look like.

#5. Ensure the storyboard is easy to understand

If you’re highly involved in the content creation process for e-learning courses yourself, you don’t have to worry about understanding your own written storyboards.

However, if you work with a team of content creators or employees who will use the e-learning storyboard to create the final product, you need to ensure it’s concise and easy to understand. While it’s highly unlikely for your team members to go off plan, writing easier-to-understand e-learning storyboards helps avoid any mistakes in the content creation phase and create online courses according to your brand’s main objectives.

You can also educate your team members to ensure they’re on the same page as you by offering them additional information on how to set up the final product. For instance, you can create a training program for new employees or team members on how to use the e-learning storyboard for creating online courses for your brand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is an elearning storyboard?

A: An elearning storyboard is a document that outlines the flow, structure, and content of an elearning course. It serves as a visual blueprint for the course and helps instructional designers, developers, and subject matter experts collaborate effectively during the course development process.

Q: Why is it important to create an elearning storyboard?

A: Creating an elearning storyboard is important because it helps you plan and organize your course content in a logical and structured manner. It ensures that all the necessary information is included and presented in a way that meets the learning objectives of the course. Additionally, a storyboard serves as a guide for the entire elearning development team, ensuring everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal.

Q: How do I create an elearning storyboard?

A: To create an elearning storyboard, start by defining the learning objectives of your course. Then, break down the content into smaller modules or topics. Next, determine the flow and sequence of the topics, and decide on the multimedia elements you want to include. Finally, use a storyboard template or software to lay out the structure of each screen, including the text, graphics, and interactions.

Q: What should be included in an elearning storyboard?

A: An elearning storyboard should include the following elements: – Learning objectives: Clearly state what the learners should be able to do or know after completing the course. – Content: Break down the content into individual screens or slides, including the text, images, audio, and video. – Interactions: Identify any interactive elements such as quizzes, assessments, or simulations. – Navigation: Define how learners will navigate through the course, including the menu structure and any branching scenarios.

Q: How can I create an effective elearning storyboard?

A: To create an effective elearning storyboard, consider the following tips: 1. Start with clear learning objectives: Clearly define what you want the learners to achieve by the end of the course. 2. Use a storyboard template: This helps ensure consistency and saves time in the design process. 3. Include multimedia elements: Use images, audio, video, and interactive elements to engage the learners and enhance the learning experience. 4. Create a logical flow: Arrange the content in a logical sequence that follows the learning objectives. 5. Test and revise: Review the storyboard with the elearning team and make any necessary revisions based on their feedback.

Q: What is the role of instructional design in elearning storyboarding?

A: Instructional design plays a crucial role in elearning storyboarding. Instructional designers are responsible for determining the learning objectives, designing the overall course structure, and identifying the most effective instructional strategies and multimedia elements to achieve the desired learning outcomes. They collaborate with subject matter experts, graphic designers, and developers to create an engaging and effective elearning experience.

Q: Are there any free elearning storyboard templates available?

A: Yes, there are several free elearning storyboard templates available online. These templates provide a starting point for creating your own storyboard and can help you save time in the design process. Many elearning authoring tools also offer built-in storyboard templates that you can use.

Q: How can an elearning storyboard save time in the development process?

A: An elearning storyboard saves time in the development process by allowing you to plan and organize your course content before starting the actual development. It helps you identify any gaps or missing information in your content and make necessary revisions early on. Additionally, having a storyboard reduces the chances of scope creep and makes it easier to track progress during the development phase.

Q: What are some best practices for writing a storyboard for elearning?

A: Some best practices for writing a storyboard for elearning include: – Keep the content concise and to the point. – Use language that is easy for the target audience to understand. – Provide clear instructions and guidance for the learners. – Use visuals and multimedia elements effectively to support the content. – Proofread and edit the storyboard for accuracy and clarity.

Q: Can I use a storyboard template for different learning preferences?

A: Yes, a storyboard template can be used for different learning preferences. The content and format of the storyboard can be adapted to accommodate different learning styles, such as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. You can include multimedia elements and interactive activities that appeal to different learning preferences and engage learners in different ways.

Q: What is the difference between an elearning storyboard and an elearning script?

A: An elearning storyboard is a visual document that outlines the structure, flow, and content of an elearning course. It focuses on the overall organization of the course and may include images, text, and interactions. On the other hand, an elearning script is a detailed written document that provides the actual content and dialogue for each screen or slide of the course. It includes the narration, instructions, and any audio or video elements.

Conclusion

Creating e-learning storyboards is essential for quickly turning over topic ideas into full-fledged online courses.

It helps businesses create an easy-to-understand and simplified template for the development process of online courses. This way, content creators can quickly organize course content according to their brand’s unique requirements and goals.

What are some of your favorite tips for writing better e-learning storyboards? Let us know in the comments box below.