Don't begin an eLearning course without a clear path in mind; like any other effort, planning is key. For that purpose, a storyboard can come in very handy.
What's a storyboard?
The term "storyboard" comes from movie production, where creators sketch out a film in a series of still images. An eLearning storyboard is the blueprint of the course, like a lesson plan - except a storyboard doesn't describe just general content, but everything else as well, from graphics to video.
Why do I need one? Storyboards provide many benefits, of which these are just a few:
While you can of course use whatever format works best for you, there are some elements that really need to be present in order for an eLearning storyboard to work effectively.
In general, your eLearning storyboard should be as detailed and specific as possible. You want to convey your idea to other team members, so give them everything they need to bring it to life.
Read more: Why Storyboarding Is Crucial to the eLearning Design Process
The creation of the eLearning storyboard itself is up to you, but here is a guide to important questions to answer before buckling down to get creative:
Needs Assessment: What is the target audience? What is their skill level? What pedagogical strategies have been working for this group in the past?
Organizing Materials: What do you have to work with? What learning material has been provided for you? What files are available? How are you going to break the course into modules?
Defining Goals: What is your single objective? Do you have any secondary objectives? (Check back here when you think you're done with your storyboard; if the main goal isn't achieved, you aren't as done as you thought.)
Selecting Instructional Technique: Do you want to present this content through storytelling, a scenario-based approach, or some other method?
Content Sequence: What order do things go in? What topics need to come before or after others? Are there any units or modules that fit together more naturally than others?
This may sound like a lot of work, and it is; storyboarding in full may be too involved for small or solo projects. But in larger ones, the initial effort is more than repaid by increased efficiency later on.
Also read:
6 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing an eLearning Storyboard
The 3 Types of eLearning Storyboards and When To Use Them
Start reading these helpful articles: