Visual storyboarding tips for elearning

You should never start an elearning production without an approved storyboard in hand. A storyboard helps align all stakeholders to the production output expectation, quality, cost and production time. In elearning, storyboards are written in two styles. The descriptive storyboard uses text to describe the screens with only references to graphics. The visual storyboard on the other hand depicts the screens graphically showing what the final output will look like. Both styles have their own advantages. A visual storyboard will be interpreted by everyone in accordance with the screens created / shown. This post has some valuable tips that you can use for creating a great visual storyboard.

Branching scenarios and Dialogue trees

We know what scenario based learning is. Scenario based learning uses real-life situations or scenarios to explain a concept. In an elearning course, the scenarios are presented using images or videos. Branching scenarios allows learners to decide how they want the scenario to unfold. You must note here that the learner's control over the path in a Branching scenario is limited by the choices provided to them by the program - it is not truly infinite. Yet, this allows learners to experiment and discover possible outcomes from their actions at each point. Thereby, they learn favorable and unfavorable actions in a situation.

Word game with a story or scenario

Word games can be used in e-learning to not only present content, but also for reinforcement or even as a quiz. Games become more interesting if they have a story (a plot or a scenario). The story provides reason to why a learner should play the game. In this post we will try to make a simple word search game interesting by adding the flavour of a detective story. The intent here is to provide some ideas that you may be able to use when building your word game for learners.

Cartoons in Scenario based learning

Learners almost instantly get connected when the content includes infographics, cartoons or illustrations. Shapes and colors are attractive and more eye-catching than plain text. This not only makes it easier for a learner to skim through the content quickly but also helps in knowledge retention.