Storyboarding is an essential part of any visual eLearning project, whether it’s for online courses, educational videos, or interactive presentations. It involves creating a series of drawings or images that visually depict the key moments of a story. To create a successful storyboard, it’s essential to have a solid outline that guides the entire process. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to create a solid outline for your eLearning storyboard.

Step 1: Develop the story

The first step in creating a storyboard is to develop the story. Start by brainstorming ideas and concepts that fit the learning objectives and target audience. Once you have a rough idea of the story, create a detailed synopsis of the story. This synopsis should cover all the essential elements of the story, including the setting, characters, and major learning points.

Step 2: Divide the story into modules

Once you have a solid synopsis of the story, divide it into modules or lessons. This division is essential because it helps you structure the story and ensures that it has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The number of modules can vary depending on the complexity of the learning objectives and the length of the eLearning course.

For more information and visual examples, check out this helpful YouTube video on creating storyboards for eLearning:

Step 3: Create a detailed outline

With the story divided into modules, create a detailed outline of each module. This outline should include all the significant events and learning points that take place in each module. Make sure that each event and learning point is relevant to the story and moves the learner towards achieving the learning objectives. It’s also essential to note any visual elements, such as images, videos, or animations, that may be necessary to depict each event in the storyboard.

Step 4: Sketch the storyboard

Once you have a detailed outline, start sketching the storyboard. Sketching allows you to visualize the events in the story and how they will flow visually. You don’t need to be an artist to create a storyboard; stick figures and simple drawings are often enough to convey the necessary information. Be sure to include captions or text descriptions that accompany each visual element to guide the eLearning developer or designer.

Step 5: Review and refine

After sketching the storyboard, review and refine it. Share the storyboard with your team or colleagues to get feedback and suggestions. Make sure that the storyboard accurately reflects the learning objectives and the target audience. Refine the storyboard based on the feedback received and ensure that it aligns with the eLearning development process.

Creating a solid outline for your eLearning storyboard is crucial to ensuring that your eLearning course is effective and engaging for learners. By following these five steps, you’ll be able to create a storyboard that effectively conveys your learning objectives and helps learners achieve their goals.