E-LEARNING METHODOLOGY

 As opposed to the computer-based training of the 1990s, the

term e- learning is used to refer to training imparted through
computers involving technologies that support interactivity
beyond the scope of a single computer. E-learning is a method
of learning through the use of devices based on computer and
communications technology.

 Moreover, e-learning basically provides an active learning

experience.

 A major advantage of information and communications

technology is the ability to provide training faster, at all places
at the same time, and potentially at lower costs compared to
class-room based instruction.
 The system is designed/or every learner’s learning ability by
refreshing their memories with summary and points to
remember.

 E-learning derives its value also from the fact that certain
skills, such as IT skills, product knowledge, knowledge of
company processes, etc., can be taught in an automated way.
Thus knowledge can be disseminated and all employees can
benefit from it at the same time.

 E-learning can be combined with any training process. The

archives of the training processes may be put on line to avail
them to the employees any time. E-training has a definite
advantage over real-time training. It is possible to reach out at
the same time to many people who are geographically
dispersed.

 One major reason for companies to adopt e-learning is the

savings on costs and traveling time. The course content used
once can always be saved and retrieved. And also the material
used in one part of the world can also be used in other parts
 It is not, that e-learning replaces traditional training system.
In fact, e- learning becomes more effective when blended with
traditional learning methods. Many firms use e-learning as a
prerequisite before classroom training popularly called
blended training, a combination of e-leaning with classroom
approach

 Types of E-Learning

 Informal Learning:
 In this type, a learner accesses a website or focused online
community and finds pertinent information. This type of e-
learning is not training because it does not include a formal
instructional strategy consisting a presentation of material,
application exercises, and feedback.

 ii. Self-Paced Learning:

 It refers to the process whereby learners access computer-
based training (CBT) or Web-based training (WBT) materials
at their own pace, normally on a CD-ROM for CBT or over a
network or the Internet for WBT. Learners select what they
wish to learn, decide when they will learn it, and set the pace
of their learning.

 iii. Leader-Led Learning:

 Unlike self-paced learning, this type of e-learning always
involves an instructor, coach, or facilitator. There are two
basic forms- (a) learners access real-time (synchronous)
materials via videoconferencing or an audio or text messaging
service, such as Internet chat, or (b) learners access delayed
materials (asynchronous) through threaded discussions or
streamed audio or video.

 iv. Performance Support Tools:

 This is an umbrella term for online materials that learners
access for help in performing a task, especially related to
software. Performance support tools normally lead the user
through the steps required to perform a task.
 E-Learning – Benefits For Learners, Instructors
and Managers
 According to Brooke Broadbent, the benefits of e-
learning for learners are as follows:
 i. Creates interactions that stimulate understanding and the
recall of information when learners exchange questions during
online discussions.
 ii. Accommodates different types of learners and fosters
learning through a variety of activities that apply different
learning styles.
 iii. Fosters self-paced learning so learners can learn at the rate
they prefer.
 iv. Provides convenient access to learning material any time,
any place.
 v. Reduces travel time and travel costs.
 vi. Encourages learners to browse for information through
hyperlinks to sites on the World Wide Web.
 vii. Allows learners to select targeted and appropriate material
on the Web.
 viii. Provides context-sensitive help through performance
support tools.
 ix. Develops technical abilities required to use the Internet.
 x. Encourages learners to take responsibility for their learning
and builds self- confidence.
 According to Brooke Broadbent, the benefits of e-
learning for instructors are as follows:
 i. Provides convenient access for instructors any time, any
place.
 ii. Allows pre-packaging of essential information for all
students to access and frees instructors to concentrate on
high-level activities in the delivery phase.
 iii. Retains records of discussion and allows for later reference
through the use of a threaded discussion or streaming video.
 iv. Generates more personal gratification for instructors
through quality e- learner participation.
 v. Reduces travel and accommodation costs associated with
training programs.
 vi. Encourages instructors to access up-to-date resources on
the web.
 vii. Allows instructors to communicate information in a more
engaging fashion than possible in text-based distance
education programs.
 According to Brooke Broadbent, the benefits of e-
learning for managers are as follows:
 i. Provides automated, continuous assessment and reporting
of employee participation and progress.
 ii. Reduces capital costs associated with traditional bricks-
and-mortar schools and training facilities.
 iii. Reduces costs of learning materials, mailing, and
telephones associated with distance learning programs.
 iv. Allows access to the same materials through a variety of
platforms such as Windows, UNIX, and Mac through the use
of html files in a browser.
 v. Creates more consistency in the training program through a
template approach.
 vi. Creates a one-stop shopping center through training
coordination software to offer courses from across the
organization.
 vii. Provides access to leading instructors worldwide.
 Golian (2000) summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of
the Internet as an educational tool. The benefits of the
learning through the Internet are (a) learning at one’s own
pace, (b) accessibility, (c) active learning, (d) cost-
effectiveness for certain activities, (e) collaborative learning,
(f) personalized learning environment, and (g) non-linear
learning. The weaknesses include (a) shift of the searching
responsibility to the learner, (b) data overload, (c) data
unreliability, (d) network/hardware unreliability, (e) access
control, and (f) teaching of application rather than theory.
 Barriers to utilizing networked e-learning technology have
been categorized into four areas- institutional, instructional,
technical and personal. Institutional constraints include such
issues as financial support and incentive systems.
Instructional issues involve time commitments and
interpersonal interaction.
 Equipment reliability and software adequacy fall into the
realm of technical barriers. Finally, personal barriers include
technological competence and attitudes toward acceptance of
the learner and the instructor. However, Piotrowski and
Vodanovich (2000) found research results in these areas to be
equivocal.
 Several studies have attempted to gauge educator attitudes
regarding the use of technology and the Internet. Teachers
have typically expressed a conservative view of the
effectiveness of computers in education. Research has
indicated that utilization of the Internet by teachers is related
to personal experience with the Internet in particular and
computers in general and institutional support and training.


 E-Learning – Advantages and Disadvantages

 Advantages of e-learning are:
 i. It is self-paced and allows for consistency and incorporates
built in guidance and help
 ii. It is interactive, tapping multiple trainees senses
 iii. Allows for consistency in the delivery of training
 iv. Enables scoring of services / assessments and appropriate
feedback
 v. Incorporates built in guidance and help for trainees, to use
when needed
 vi. It is relatively easy for trainers to update content
 vii. Can be used to enhance instructor led training
 While the disadvantages are:
 i. May cause trainee anxiety
 ii. Not all trainees may be ready for e-learning
 iii. Not all trainees may have easy and uninterrupted access to
computers
 iv. Not appropriate for all training content (e.g. leadership /
cultural change)
 v. Requires significant upfront cost and investment
 vi. No significantly greater learning evidenced in research
studies
  vii. Requires significant top management support to be
successful

The stages in eLearning design and development:

1. Analysis
2. Design
3. Development
4. Evaluation and Implementation
5. Translation
6. LMS (Learning Management System) hosting

What is eLearning?

E-learning is the use of technology to enable people to learn anywhere and

anytime. Simply put, learning accomplished with the use of electronic media is
eLearning. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. The information provided
by subject-matter experts is made learner-friendly with the application of the
principles of instructional and visual design and then produced using authoring
tools/ software such as Articulate, Lectora, Captivate, Flash etc. Finally, it is
made AICC or SCORM compliant and made available on the Learning
Management System, Web Portal or intranet for users to access. The objective of
an eLearning course is to teach or help individuals, who are essentially trying to
learn by themselves.

However, eLearning is NOT just adding audio to presentations or recording live

sessions and uploading them on an LMS/the Internet/a website. While this is easy
and incurs less cost, it provides very little to the learner. After all, it is a one-way
communication without any consideration to learners and their needs.

Instructional Design Principles:

Finally, we have to apply sound INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES to
facilitate learning for adults. There are many models of instructional design we
follow, depending on the audience profile and the subject at hand. The most
popular and commonly used model is the ADDIE model. ADDIE is an acronym
for Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. The model prescribes
an audience and content analysis, then design the course by deciding on the
instructional, visual and auditory strategy, develop the course with the
appropriate authoring tools, implement the learning and finally evaluate it. The
other model called the Gagne’s 9 step model is especially suitable for PROCESS
training. Kirkpatrick’s model is used for evaluation of learning outcomes. There
are many more models at the disposal of learning experts, and they need to
choose the right one based on different situations.

Thus, designing an e-learning course is an exacting process based on sound

learning principles. It involves application of a number of principles and practices
that is far more specialized than making a simple PowerPoint slide deck. This
ensures that the course is effective, ensuring participants learn and apply what
they learn to their jobs.

E-learning Design and Development

Now, let’s see the different stages in eLearning design and development . The
following diagram gives a bird’s eye view of the entire process.

Analysis:

This is the first step of the eLearning development process. At this stage, you
need to analyze the learning content, learning objectives and the profile of the
target audience. You also need to take a look at the type of job or tasks that the
participants are expected to accomplish after taking the course. Based on this, a
broad instructional strategy is formulated to decide on the best way to present the
content.
Design:

Next, learning experts need to create a design document that incorporates the
recommendations of the learning management team. Requirements of the
stakeholders, training objectives, assessments required and design challenges are
taken into account at this stage. This document also specifies the instructional,
visual and audio elements to be included in the course curriculum.

Develop:

The specifications in the design document are executed by incorporating the

content, visuals and assessments into a storyboard. The page layout, graphic user
interface and multimedia elements are all finalized at this stage and incorporated
into the course. There are a range of rapid authoring tools today such as
Articulate Storyline, Lectora, Captivate, etc., which can be used for giving a
definite shape to your eLearning course. Using rapid authoring tools expedites the
course development process considerably thanks to their in-built interactivities
and templates. Check out this online video that explains how to zero in on the
right authoring tool for your eLearning course development.

Evaluate & Implement:

Next, is the evaluation stage where the quality of the developed course is tested to
ensure accuracy of functionality as well as content. Editors, instructional
designers, subject matter experts and quality control managers check various
components of the course to ensure perfection. Feedback is incorporated into the
course and uploaded.

LMS Hosting:

Finally, the course is hosted on the LMS or any other learning portal. The target
audience is given the link, user information and passwords to access the course.
Using an LMS allows managers to monitor and evaluate the training program at
every stage – how many users have registered, how many have completed, how
many have abandoned mid-way, etc. This helps in taking corrective action and
ensuring maximum success of the training initiative. Communication is the key
and one has to ensure that the courses are not just merely uploaded on to the
LMS, but information about them is correctly and persuasively reached to the
target audience.

To summarize, a good eLearning course can be developed once you analyze your
requirements and devise an effective learning strategy to share the knowledge
required. You need to understand the components such as adult learning
principles, learning styles and instructional design principles to create a course
that meets your objectives. Finally, to develop the course you need to adopt a
streamlined process and use the right tools to execute course development. The
responsibility does not end here. Once the course is deployed, it needs to reach
the target audience. For this purpose, you need to have a good communication
strategy that ensures your intentions are understood, appreciated and accepted by
everyone.

E-learning Design and Development – A Snapshot

What is e-learning? It is the use of technology to enable people to learn from

anywhere and anytime. Simply put, learning that happens with the use of
electronic medium is e-learning. So, does that mean that reading a document on
your mobile or computer counts as e-learning? Not by a longshot. For a digital
medium to qualify as e-learning, it is essential that the subject matter is made
learner-friendly with the application of instructional and visual design principles.
Only then can the content act as a standalone ‘teacher’ that facilitates
independent learning among your employees.

So how is the bulk subject matter converted into a polished e-learning course?
Every e-learning development company follows an approach most appropriate to
its capabilities and deliverables. Having said this, every e-learning development
company ought to follow a logical sequence of thought and action that is crucial
to shape an effective e-learning course. Discussed in this post is a top-level
overview of the thought process and some steps that need to be followed for
smooth e-learning design and development:

Set Goals
This is the first and the most important hurdle that developers and learning
managers need to clear. What will the e-learning course achieve and what are the
performance gaps it must address? This means, deciding the behavioral and
knowledge changes that will apply to learners, as well as the organizational
ramifications that these changes will bring about.

It’s important to have a clear idea of each set of goals, as they are going to serve
as a guide throughout the e-learning course design and development process. At
the same time, project managers and training managers also need to lay down
project milestones or checkpoints that will help you keep the course development
on-time and on-task.

Create an Instructional Design Document

An Instructional Design Document or IDD is basically a top-level plan of how
the subject matter will be approached from an instructional design point of view.
This document dictates how the subject matter will be broken down into courses,
modules, and screens. Along with this, it also states the common visual
guidelines that your course will follow, like avatars, color theme, design
parameters, etc.

It also specifies the instructional design strategy (for example, scenarios, game-
based content, guided learning), that are to be used throughout the course. Subject
matter experts and stakeholders review this document and give their approval.
This ensures that the entire team is on the same page when it comes to the
instructional approach of the content.

Scripting and Storyboards

Now that you know what the subject matter is and in what manner you are going
to convey it, it is time to get on with the actual content creation. This stage of
development can be viewed as filling up the headings of modules with actual
subject matter. Based on what was decided in the IDD, instructional designers
prepare the storyboard for the entire course.

A storyboard is the blueprint for course development and lays out the basic flow
of images with its corresponding text. Then you can proceed to write appropriate
audio script and animations each individual screen; do this while keeping in mind
the various constraints of your design parameters.

Develop a Prototype
Once the storyboard and content is in place, authoring tool experts proceed to
develop a sample course, also called a prototype. Designers usually select a few
screens, preferably one of each type (for example static, interactive, assessment,
etc.). This sample gives stakeholders a very good idea about the functionality,
GUI, and general treatment of the course content. Looking at this, stakeholders
provide feedback that the Learning and Development team can rework into the
storyboard or the script, accordingly.

A Full Course Without Multimedia Elements

Once your content is locked in, you can go ahead and start the course
development in full swing. The entire course is developed at this stage, with only
one exception: multimedia elements. Even at this stage, stakeholders tend to
make changes in content that must be accommodated. However, changing
multimedia elements such as audio and video can become an expensive affair,
hence developing these at this stage is usually avoided.

The Final Deliverable

Once the stakeholders finalize the entire course content, you should move ahead
with creating all the multimedia elements. This completes the creation of the
entire course and puts a pin on the development process. Post this, the SCROM,
AICC, or XAPI compliant version of the course is uploaded on the LMS and
released to your global employees.

It is always better to break down the entire development process into specific
milestones. This helps developers keep the development process in check and
allows multiple stakeholders to keep track of the entire process.

Key Elements of an E-learning Storyboard [Infographic]

It is no exaggeration to say that good storyboarding is the heart of an effective
eLearning course. An skilled instructional designer creates an excellent
storyboard, incorporating suitable instructional design strategies, and this serves
as a ‘blueprint’ for an online course that captures the imagination of learners.

But, what does a storyboard look like? What are its different parts? Well, here is
an info-graphic that lists the different facets of an eLearning storyboard.
Advantages of E-Learning
1. 1. Online learning is self-paced
2. 2. E-Learning is student-centered
3. 3. E-Learning is cost-effective
4. 4. Individual learning styles
5. 5. Customizable learning environments
6. 6. E-Learning fully utilizes analytics
7. 7. Online learning could solve teacher scarcity
8. 8. E-Learning is environmentally friendly
9. 9. No need for textbooks
10. 10. Online learning is time-efficient
1. Online learning is self-paced
Students who study online can plan their own time schedule, without having to make
personal sacrifices in order to meet the class attendance requirements of teachers
and traditional universities. The research has demonstrated that self-paced learning
leads to increased student satisfaction and reduced stress, resulting in improved
learning outcomes for everyone involved. Some of the advantages of self-paced
learning include efficiency, effectiveness, convenience, scalability, and reusability.

2. E-Learning is student-centered
Student-centered learning (SCL), also referred to as learner-centered education, is a
modern learning method which aims to put the students in the center of focus, rather
than the teachers. The reason why I listed it as an advantage of E-Learning is that
student-centered learning goes hand in hand with E-Learning. Online learning is
fundamentally student-centered, due to the easy implementation of
student discussion boards and peer grading systems.
In fact, many of the 10 types of E-Learning largely revolve around the idea of
student-centeredness. Both collaborative E-Learning and synchronous online
learning promote student-to-student interaction. Being able to plan and design fully
student-centered online learning environments is one of the greatest advantages that
E-Learning has. The value of student-centeredness must not be understated.

3. E-Learning is cost-effective
Due to simplified logistics and lowered travel costs, among other factors, learning
institutions who utilize E-Learning can expect to save 50% to 70% on overall training
costs. How, exactly?
Let’s bring some real-life examples of e-learning to the table.
The University of North Carolina in Charlotte (UNC) is an excellent example of cost-
efficiency. UNC claims that they managed to save US$5,000,000 in 2010 by
focusing on e-learning rather than traditional classroom-based learning. Additionally,
they saw an increased number of total students in their faculties. These savings
came from the simple fact that they did not have to make investments into business
premises to facilitate learning. Virtual classrooms have no need for physical lecture
halls, which tend to get very costly.
Another example of advantageous cost-efficiency in e-learning would have to be the
Wisconsin-Madison University, which saved US$172,000 solely due to savings in
professors’ time. E-Learning reduced the amount of overall time professors had to
spend on learning sessions, and these time savingsled to reduced monetary
spending for the university.

For educational institutions, the cost-effectiveness of E-Learning can also be

advantageous when used together with classroom-based learning. This is known as
blended learning, and it’s an excellent alternative to those organizations who are not
yet ready to fully move over to E-Learning.
Cost-efficiency in E-Learning applies not only to educational instituions, but it also
similarly applies to the students. For instance, E-Learning reduces all the costs
associated with commuting, textbooks, and childcare. I will cover some of these
points later in this article.

4. Individual learning styles

E-Learning takes into consideration the differences of individual learners, and it
allows students to practice their own individual learning styles. In other words,
students are not always required to pass all unwanted courses in a curriculum and
they can choose specific topics of interest to them. All students have different
learning styles and there will never be a one-size-fits-all type of solution which will
match all students at once. That is why individualistic learning methods are some of
the greatest advantages of E-Learning.
For instance, one of the most innovative types of E-Learning, adaptive E-Learning,
has the potential to be the most individualistic learning method ever made if
implemented correctly. To recap, adaptive E-Learning materials are designed to
automatically change and adapt according to the knowledge, skills, and needs of
each individual student.

5. Customizable learning environments

Researchers found that employees working in environments without pictures, plants,
souvenirs and other were 15% less productive than those working with said
“distractions”. This also applies to the educational context – students who don’t have
a desirable learning environment will feel its effects on their learning performance
and mental health.
This is where the problem arises – in traditional classrooms, the learning
environments are predetermined by the educational institutions according to their
preferences. In other words, the students rarely have any say in what their learning
environment looks like.

On the other hand, in the case of E-Learning, the students have total control of their
learning environment. Those students who feel the benefits of a plant-filled
environment can customize their E-Learning environment accordingly. And, those
students who feel better in a minimalistic learning environment without any
distractions can reap the benefits of such an E-Learning environment.

6. E-Learning fully utilizes analytics

Data is the new oil, and E-Learning makes use of student data much more effectively
than any other form of learning in history. That is because of E-Learning Analytics.
E-Learning Analytics is the extraction of valuable information from online learning
management systems, and it’s another one of the greatest benefits of E-Learning.
With student data gained through E-Learning Analytics, educational institutions can
improve their training materials and boost learning outcomes in various ways. For
example, if we have data on student dropout rates, we can identify potential pitfalls in
our learning materials and eliminate them. Afterward, we can gather new data and
analyze whether our change was beneficial to our E-Learning outcomes or not. The
value of data in education is immense, and its full potential is yet to be realized.

7. Online learning could solve teacher scarcity

In 2019, the EPI (Economic Policy Institute) educational economists wrote in their
report that the shortage of experienced teachers is “real, large, growing, and worse
than we thought”. Moreover, the LPI (Learning Policy Institute) has also identified the
problem of teacher scarcity on numerous occasions, describing it as “one of the most
pressing issues facing policymakers”.
The issue of teacher shortage will undoubtedly be difficult to solve, but the benefits
of E-Learning in combating teacher scarcity could be vastly underestimated. To
clarify, let’s make a comparison. Regular universities have an average of 16.5
students per staff member, while E-Learning courses compiled by one or two
qualified and experienced teachers can be served to thousands, if not millions, of
students. E-Learning could potentially eliminate the need for retaining the massive 3-
million person teaching workforce used in the U.S today. Instead of focusing our
efforts on recruiting more teachers, perhaps we should instead focus on enabling our
highest quality teachers to deliver their materials to a broader range of students
through E-Learning.

8. E-Learning is environmentally friendly

On average, distance learning courses consume 90% less energy and emitted 85%
fewer CO2 emissions than traditional university courses. In addition, as E-Learning is
a paperless learning method, it does not contribute to many of the environmental
issues associated with paper production. For example, there is no need to cut down
trees for paper or to create paper-cellulose production factories which are known to
cause atmospheric pollution in surrounding areas.

9. No need for textbooks

The total value of the textbook industry is $7-$10 billion, and the average college
student spends close to $1,200 per year on textbooks alone. Many students finance
their textbook purchases from their student loans, and students who graduate with
student loans are known to experience increased stress and depression.
One big advantage of E-Learning is that it requires absolutely no textbooks from its
students. All the learning materials can be accessed online, without restriction.
Online learning materials can be retaken and updated an infinite amount of times,
unlike textbooks which need to be reissued and rebought once again when they
become obsolete.

10. Online learning is time-efficient

Online learning cuts the learning time down by 25% to 60% compared to traditional
classroom learning. Coupled with the advantages of self-paced E-Learning, this
results in a highly time-efficient learning solution both for the students and the
teachers.
In traditional learning institutions, making changes to school curriculums is a long
and complicated process which is often avoided due to its complexity. However, in
the case of E-Learning, lessons can be delivered and updated quickly and efficiently
– sometimes within days. When used in conjunction with data-oriented E-Learning
Analytics, these changes to the learning materials are not only based on theory but
real evidence.

What is a Storyboard in Instructional

Design?
As the name suggests, a storyboard tells the story of your training
course. It’s a document, slide deck, or prototype in which
the instructional designer or training developer lays out the
framework for the eLearning course that they plan to create.
Instructional design principles should guide the storyboarding
process. This helps to organize and present course content in a way
that engages the learner, for instance via the use of dialog and
interactivity. In addition to the written content, the instructional
designer should consider how to connect with the learner visually.
What photos, icons, charts, infographics, or animations will best
support the learning objectives?

Why Use a Storyboard for eLearning

There are many compelling reasons to use a storyboard in the
course design process; some are obvious, like planning the design
of your eLearning course, but some you may not have considered
before.

Let’s look at the top reasons for using a storyboard:

 Visualize training
design. A key benefit of
storyboarding is working
through how your training
will look and function in its
final form. You can specify
what kind of images will be
used, the type of user
interface that will be
presented to the learner,
and the animations and
interactions that will engage
your audience.
 Aiding team
collaboration. By using a
storyboard, your eLearning
project can be validated by a
subject matter expert, a
project manager, a graphic
 designer, and other team
members.
 Identify weaknesses in
training design. One of
the best things about
storyboarding is being able
to visualize what will
happen on screen, how your
audience will interact with
the training and identify any
weaknesses in the eLearning
design. You’re likely to find
many things that can be
improved or tweaked by
picking through your
storyboard with a ‘user hat’
on.
 Save time. It might seem
like storyboarding is a lot of
work when you could just
start building eLearning
content immediately and
make changes on the fly.
Storyboarding does take
time, but it’s time well
spent. Getting your entire
design signed off will save a
lot of costly mistakes later if
major changes happen after
development starts. In the
long run, storyboarding will
save everybody time on
larger projects and facilitate
project management.
Examples of Instructional Design
Storyboards
There’s no one-size-fits-all storyboard, but there are some industry-
standard types and methods of storyboarding that you can use as
your base and adapt as required. Many course developers prefer
Word and PowerPoint for building instructional design
storyboards, because these programs are accessible and simple to
use.

Let’s consider different eLearning storyboard examples one by one

and look at why and when you may choose each of them.

Word / Pages
You might consider using a Word storyboard (also known as a text-
based storyboard) when you, as the training designer, have a design
resource handling most of the graphics.

A Word storyboard is also a good choice in instances where the

visual look of the course has already been established. For instance,
your organization may use a slide template with approved branding
and colors, or there have been previous eLearning courses
developed that the business is happy with, and there are template
files available.

Another consideration is the technical literacy of your SMEs and

reviewers. Are they tech-challenged, or really pressed for time?
Most people can open and review a Word document without too
much trouble.

Word storyboards usually have a landscape page layout, with

columns and rows. The image below is a good example of how this
might look.
 Word storyboard example
Here is what this sample of an instructional design storyboard in
Word contains:

 The screen title and number

(#)
 Media Files that will be used
on each screen
 Visual
Instructions/Developer
Notes (which will include
comments on how the
graphics behave, how the
slide advances, and where
the learner is going after
this screen)
  Page/Media Text (On
Screen which is any text
that appears on the screen)

 Audio File Narration – The

script that will be used to
create the voice over

PowerPoint / Keynote
Also known as visual storyboards, these are usually built in
PowerPoint. By nature, these focus more on what the learner’s
going to see on-screen, and can help to visualize and build out
graphics and scenarios.

You might consider using it when you want to give reviewers a clear
picture of what you’re planning to show on the screen. If your
reviewers are new to storyboarding, or if your layouts and graphics
are different than the standard used in previous online courses,
creating a visual storyboard may save you a lot of time and rework.
You might also consider using a visual storyboard when you, as the
eLearning developer, are mostly responsible for the layouts and
graphics of the course.

Visual storyboards usually have a landscape layout. The image

below is an example of how this might look.
 PPT storyboard example 1
Here is what this sample of an instructional design storyboard in
PowerPoint contains:

 Note to developer: How we

want the action to unfold on
screen
 Image asset: Placeholder or
actual image
 Note to artist: What
graphics assets to create so
the developer can create the
scene
 Screen name/number
 Lesson and topic
Other things you could include in a visual storyboard are navigation
indications and buttons, and a narration script. You might use
stock pics or SmartArt in PowerPoint to give simple mockups of
charts and infographics.
Here’s another example of a visual storyboard:

PPT storyboard example 2

In this example, we have the following information (from top left):

 Screen title
 Mockup graphic (timeline)
 Developer instructions
 Voice over/narration script
Note that the background graphic has already been added to the
slide.

Prototype
Rapid prototyping is building a rough version of a slide or
interaction complete with narration and animations. Instead of
storyboarding what you’re planning to do, you build a quick version
of the slide and present it to the reviewers for their feedback. This
can either be done with an eLearning authoring tool, with any UX
prototyping software, or even in Photoshop.
The example below shows a prototype built with an authoring tool.

Prototype example
When might you choose to prototype? When it’s crucial that your
reviewers’ experience, the proposed look, and feel of the course. For
instance, if you’re building a large course for a new customer, it’s a
good idea early in the process to actually build a few slides and
interactions, so the customer can experience your vision of what
the course will look and feel like.

You may also choose to prototype for complex interactions. For

example, if you’re building a fairly complicated branching
scenario and your reviewers have never gone through one, build a
prototype so they can experience it as a learner would. By doing
this, you use your team as a way to receive learner feedback and
help further refine your content or layout.
Also read: → Best 30 eLearning Examples
Components of an eLearning Storyboard
We already saw some of the components that can be included in an
eLearning storyboard in the examples above. Here’s a more
detailed look at what the main components are, and the reasons
you would want to include them.

Screen/Slide number
A slide/screen number naming convention will keep you consistent
throughout your projects and avoid confusion for others. An
example could be something like ‘OB_M1_S2_T1_1’. Looks
confusing right? Let’s break it down in full sentences and see if it
makes more sense.

Now imagine how much easier it will be in the review process if you
need to direct your developer to make an edit on a specific slide, or
a reviewer to re-check an edit.

Depending on the structure of your course, you can come up with

your own naming convention that best suits your needs.
Slide title/name
This could either be the visible ‘Title’ line of the slide, or it could be
a description of the slide, such as ‘Jump page’, ‘Closing slide’, etc.
Whichever you use, make sure you keep it consistent.

Screen text and elements

This will take up a significant amount of space in your storyboard
and is usually the main part of the course content. This typically
includes all visible text on the slide and should appear exactly as
you want it written and in the order you would like it displayed.

Graphics and animation

You can find placeholder images, create graphics mockups, or
simply describe for the designer/animator what you want to do.

 Use thumbnails of the

actual big size images if
possible.
 If using an animation,
provide a full description of
what the animation will
show, including timings.

Navigation
You may need to describe the path the user will take after clicking a
certain element on the screen, for example to the next slide, the
previous slide, jump to a specific slide, to a popup form, start a
quiz, etc.

Branching
More complex eLearning courses often involve branching. This is
when a choice the user makes determines the screen that comes up
next. This could be a decision to access further information on a
topic, or the answer they give for a question or interaction.
Whatever the trigger is, be sure to clearly explain to the developer
where the user should end up next.

Developer notes
Include anything here that will help the developer translate what’s
on the storyboard into the eLearning content.

Audio narration script

This is the narration text that will be used in the voice over. It’s
recommended that you have the project owner sign off on this
separately to avoid unnecessary changes and complications later.

How to Create an eLearning Storyboard

Now that we have all the background information we need, it’s time
to dive in and start creating our eLearning storyboard. We’ll walk
you through this process step by step with examples so you can use
it as a reference when you start creating your own storyboard.
Step 1. Assess your needs
Depending on your project, this step may have already been
completed in the analysis stage by an instructional designer. In this
step you should aim to identify the target audience of your learning
and development project and its learning objectives.
Step 2. Decide on an instructional
technique/design approach
Now it’s time to think about how you will present the content to the
learner. Do you want to present it through storytelling, a scenario-
based approach, narrated infographics, or a combination of
different content types?

If you haven’t decided yet on how you’re going to break up the

course into modules, sections, and topics, now is the time to do so.
You will hopefully have a course outline as a result of the previous
analysis that you can leverage at this stage.

Step 3. Gather and organize content

At this stage, consider what resources you have to work with. What
reference or learning material has been provided for you? What
assets are available, for instance, photos, graphics, charts, software
simulations, etc.? It’s helpful to catalog or store this material in a
folder structure with naming conventions that make it easy to find
and organize.

You should also decide what components you need to include to tell
the story of your course. You can refer to the previous section for a
recommended list.

Step 4. Pick a storyboard template

Based on the work you did in the first three steps, you should be
ready to decide what type of storyboard you will use. Remember,
you can download one of our free starter templates.

Step 5. Add and sequence content

This is when the real work starts! Begin adding your content and
arranging the sequence in the screens or text columns of your
chosen storyboard type. Consider the order of content and what
topics need to come before or after others.

Add the interactions, scripts, progressions, navigation, branching,

and design details. For example, when the learner leaves a slide,
where do they end up next? Is there more than one option? If so,
you may need to add branching options to your storyboard.

Step 6. Choose an authoring tool

By the time you hit this step, you will have a fully complete
storyboard and a good idea of both the visual look and the level of
interactivity that will be used in your course. Now, it’s time to pick
an authoring tool. This is the software that will make your vision
come to life, so make sure you do your research and choose a tool
that’s appropriate for the job.

You may already have an authoring tool in mind, or have been

prescribed one by your organization. If not, then now is the time to
decide on one.

When choosing an authoring tool, ask yourself these questions:

 Will it help me get

what’s in my storyboard
developed quickly and
effectively?

 What features does it

have that will make my
 life easier? Does my
storyboard contain a lot of
eLearning interactions?
Developing these can be
time-consuming. Is there
anything in the storyboard
that could slow down
development?
 Will the authoring tool
help me do it
faster? Maybe you have a
great dialog simulation in
your storyboard or planned
ambitious designs but
you’re worried about how
the developer will bring it to
life.
If you want to build beautiful interactive courses, try iSpring Suite.
This is an authoring toolkit that offers a rich feature set to bring
your storyboard to life easily and speed up course production
drastically. With iSpring, you can make slide-based courses,
quizzes, dialog simulations, interactions, and video tutorials. Get
a free iSpring Suite trial and explore all its features right now.

Tips for Effective Storyboarding in

eLearning
Storyboarding belongs to eLearning best practices: it facilitates
course building and helps instructional designers greatly. We
covered storyboarding in quite a bit of detail in this article, but let’s
wrap up with some tips to make your storyboards even better!

Tip 1: Choose a consistent theme and style

for your storyboard
If your organization uses a certain look, feel or branding for other
training materials, your storyboard should indicate how that will be
reflected in eLearning courses.

Tip 2: Make it visual

Adding visual elements can convey how your course will present
itself to learners with just one look.

Tip 3: Review with your SMEs

Storyboarding is an easy way to include your subject matter experts
in the development process. It’s crucial to get their feedback on
your storyboard before you start developing the eLearning course.

Tip 4: Try to cater to different learner types

People learn in different ways, so try to combine different learning
modalities in your storyboarding to accommodate for visual,
auditory and kinesthetic learning preferences. Example:

Tip 5: Focus on the learning objectives

Writing content for your identified learning objectives will help
keep your eLearning storyboard flow natural and your audience
focused. Remember to state each topic, explain the idea, focus on
key points, and use simple language with a focus on plain English.
Short sentences, examples, and questions are all good things to
include. When you have finished your storyboard, review it to
ensure your content covers all the learning objectives.

The Grab-and-Go eLearning Storyboard

Templates
It’s easier to get started if you have ready-made eLearning
storyboard templates. Using them as a base, you can develop your
own format to reuse for future eLearning projects. This allows you
to reuse certain elements that are unique to your course design, for
example, creative course introduction pages or interesting slide
interactions.

You might want to create your own storyboard template if you have
some very specific project requirements, but for most scenarios,
ready-made templates from iSpring will be a perfect fit. Feel free to
choose and download any of these for your personal use:

Word storyboard template

 PPT eLearning storyboard
template
Hit the ground running with these free storyboard templates!

FAQ
Take a look at a few more questions and answers regarding
storyboards.

What should a storyboard include?

Commonly, storyboards for eLearning include:

  Screen title or number
 Lesson and topic
 Voice over/narration script
 Plan of interactivities
 Mockup graphic (e.g.,
timeline) and image
placeholders
 Navigation buttons
 Branching
 Notes to developers and
designers
A storyboard is only as good as the sum of its parts, so components
are key. If you’re missing a crucial component, it won’t tell the
whole story, so select what to include wisely.

How can you review an eLearning storyboard?

It’s critical to invite subject matter experts and project stakeholders

to assess your mockup and collect feedback from them. But it tends
to result in emailing materials back and forth and the risk of
missing all deadlines. If you use PowerPoint for storyboarding in
eLearning and subsequent course authoring, the review process is
much easier with iSpring Suite Max that provides an online space
for real-time collaboration.

How do you create a storyboard in PowerPoint?

The process starts from setting a landscape layout and then

arranging content on it. You can utilize a free eLearning template
for storyboarding in PowerPoint – just download it via the link
above.
Takeaways
We hope this article helped kick-start your storyboarding process.
Remember these key takeaways to ensure your first storyboard is a
memorable one.

 Identify your ‘why’. If

you keep the reasons for
using a storyboard at the
front of your mind, it will
help you all the way through
the process.
 Use the right tool for the
job. Selecting the correct
type of storyboard template
will make the whole process
a lot easier.
 Keep learning objectives
front and center. Always
check that your storyboard
content maps back to a
learning objective. If it
doesn’t, question why you
are including it.

 Include also questionnaire for improvement

 Quizzes – can be archive (date/location/answer/score/print)
 Terminology : English and Malay
 Sample practical exercise.