Creating Storyboards for your eLearning course is of utmost importance as it gives you a map of your content, a map that illustrates your ideas, directions, or dialogues. Storyboards allow you to visualize how different screens will look when text, graphics, animation, and assessment questions are put together. A good storyboard helps in communicating your ideas.
Illustrators and developers often create mistakes while creating eLearning Storyboards that hamper the performance of the course. Hence, creating a solid storyboard is vital.
LMS helps in creating and building eLearning lessons. Those lessons can be delivered to customers, partners or employees. An LMS, such as Thinkfic, comes packed with features where several entrepreneurs can create, sell or market their own online courses.
Below are 5 pitfalls to avoid when creating eLearning storyboards:
1) Avoid putting too much Content on one Screen
Never put too much information on one screen, consider using white space aptly. Break the long strings of content into bullet points which will help in understanding the content. Do not put graphics, text, animation, videos, etc on one screen; break up the text and use appropriate images supporting the content. You can add links, downloadable files on the screen. Never overload the learner by including long videos and unending texts as this would force them to log out early. Avoid trying to catch the attention of learners on multiple things at the same time because every learner processes information in a different way.
2) Avoid usage of Irrelevant Images, Drawings, and Voiceovers
The quality and usage of audio, text, images, graphics, drawings, and voiceovers should be such that those enhance the work and not clutter it. Do not put the whole story in a text form and start reading the same, as this would make the whole learning process monotonous. Instead, use the information which the learners are unable to find anywhere in the form of images, graphics, etc, that will make each screen unique and interesting. The voiceover should be such that it should have the power to engage the learner, the content of the course and voiceover should complement each other. The use of voice modulation and appropriate pauses will leave an impact on learners.
3) Avoid having extensive narrated sections
Do not overload the course with information; the course should be interactive and not as if learners are reading a book. Too much text and narration will slow down the development of the training. Use narration in your course in a way that enhances and increases engagement. The learners get confused with the lengthy and tedious audio. Break the course material into parts and present, giving learners the control so that when they finish the first step they can move on to the next step. Let the audio narration drive the pace of the course which is well supported by graphics and images. Try and use more than one character or use voice modulation if the same character is leading the narration.
4) Do not miss Instructions and Discussions with Developers
Always give clear and precise instructions to the developer on how the course should look like and the way the screens are to be animated. Discuss the fine details of the course with the developer; let them know about the placement of the images, texts, and graphics. Make sure you talk about navigation with the developer as it plays a vital role in guiding the learner to move from one screen to the next.
5) Make sure you keep the same layout throughout the course
All the screens of the course should look like they belong together; opt for consistency in terms of the theme you are using. Make sure you apply the common theme to the verbal and visual play of text, the digital avatar or character used for narration should be consistent. Look for templates that are customizable which in turn will save time and money.
A strong Storyboard can make the learning process more efficient and engaging. Following the above steps will help you create an engaging, meaningful, and cost-effective Storyboard.
