Storyboarding essentially maps out your instructional design. But as you check, check again, rearrange elements and write content, you can easily get lost on your way to completion. By understanding the components of a finished storyboard – and knowing when to stop – you can transition from the planning stage straight into the design and development stage.
1. Clear Learning Objective
It should be the first order of business for your storyboard: A clear objective. While you should have defined your objective before you even started your storyboard, go back to that objective when you’re finished. A complete storyboard answers that goal completely – if it doesn’t, it’s not finished.
2. Chunks and Chapters
The organization of your course content may be just as important as the actual content itself. Information should be organized into chunks or chapters so you can clearly see the flow from subject to subject. Break larger subjects into more digestible chunks for better comprehension using bullet points and instructions.
3. Asset List
The storyboarding process is meant to streamline the development process. It’s the perfect time to gather all of the images, videos, audio and other assets you need to complete the design portion. A solid storyboard contains, at the very least, the type of media assets you’ll use and who will provide them.
4. Specific Features
Your finished storyboard should offer directions to the designer on any specific features you’d like your eLearning program to have. Whether it’s the ability to skip ahead to another topic, time to stop and take a quiz or discussion questions for each chapter, you’ll need to attach them for future reference.
5. Signatures
It’s not fully complete until everyone’s happy. Your storyboard is finished once all involved parties have signed off on the objective, organization, media and features.
