Before you begin creating any eLearning module, it is important to first storyboard your course. Let’s take a deeper look into what is a storyboard, how will it benefit you and how do you create one?
What is a storyboard?
An eLearning storyboard is a course script which entails the learning objectives, visual elements, text elements, audio elements, interactions and branching of every screen or slide in your online course. Storyboarding should be created during the development phase and is usually done after analysis.
What are the benefits of storyboarding?
Storyboarding provides a clear sequence instruction which shows how different elements relate and fit together. This then allows all stakeholders involved in this project to be on the same page. The graphic designer will know what to create, the illustrator will know what to draw, and the programmer will know what to produce and so on. The storyboard also generates a clear plan for project management and is a record of document changes and previous ideas.
How do you create a storyboard?
Storyboards can be text or visual based. Let’s have a look at a template that includes both text and visual. You can create your storyboard template in Microsoft Word, in PowerPoint, in a commercial storyboarding application or directly in your eLearning authoring tool.
Create a template using the following blocks:
- Title area – Add the unit, module, lesson or topic name.
- Screen number area – Enter a unique screen number for each screen. For example “m1l2s3″ for module 1, lesson 2, screen3.
- Visual area – Use this block to place the images, videos and text that will appear on the screen.
- Audio area – this is where you add the audio script, sound files and sound effects.
- Interaction area – Describe the interactions that occur on each screen.
- Branching area – Describe the system branching. This differs from interactions as it refers to the whole system. For example, what will happen if a learner fails the quiz or selects a certain answer for a scenario or needs to retake a test.
Good luck with creating your storyboard.
