{"id":8561,"date":"2024-06-20T08:00:03","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T08:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/?p=8561"},"modified":"2024-06-18T15:31:56","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T15:31:56","slug":"storyboarding-for-instructional-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/storyboarding-for-instructional-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Storyboarding for Instructional Designers: Proven Ways to Maximize Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s the Timon to our Pumbaa. The peanut butter to our jelly. We don\u2019t go anywhere without our instructional design storyboard template\u2014and neither should you! Not sure where to start with it? We\u2019ve cracked the code on storyboarding for instructional designers. Download our free template and have it handy to learn how to make the most of this powerful tool.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div><\/div>\n
\n
The Ultimate eLearning Storyboard Template<\/h5>\n

At Maestro, we\u2019ve thought a lot about our eLearning storyboard template, and we\u2019ve distilled that thinking into a simple, yet highly usable, document that\u2019s been tried and tested in hundreds of learning projects we\u2019ve worked on. We\u2019ve found that a great storyboard format has three qualities: it\u2019s simple, it\u2019s scannable, and it\u2019s adaptable. Want to steal our tried-and-true template for your own eLearning development process? It\u2019s all yours!<\/span><\/p>\n\nGet the template\u2192<\/i><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Make the storyboard yours<\/h2>\n

Storyboarding for instructional design isn\u2019t limited to eLearning courses. Different learning formats call for minor tweaks to our storyboard template. Our base template has four columns\u2014this format is great for narrated and facilitated learning experiences and video scripts. For narrated courses, like those built in Articulate Storyline, and video scripts, our template is ready to go right out of the box. For facilitated sessions, like ILT (instructor-led training) and vILT (virtual ILT), we change the \u201cvoiceover\u201d column label to \u201cfacilitator notes\u201d and voil\u00e0! It\u2019s an ILT storyboard!<\/p>\n

We build loads of eLearning courses in Articulate Rise<\/a>. All it takes to tweak our storyboard template is a quick \u201cdelete column\u201d for the voiceover column. Yes, it\u2019s that easy! We also use this format for printable and digital participant guides. And both versions knock it out of the park on custom simulations that turn L&D heads.<\/p>\n

We wouldn\u2019t want job aids and other copy docs to feel left out, so we even have a version for those. A two-column storyboard gets the job done (so repeat \u201cdelete column\u201d), and we like to use \u201cLocation\u201d and \u201cCopy\u201d for our two headers. We use the first column for document-position descriptions, type labels (think \u201cfooter\u201d and \u201ccallout\u201d), section subheadings, design notes, and\/or project labels, such as A and B, for example. There\u2019s no right or wrong here. We tweak how we use it to fit the specific resource we\u2019re creating.<\/p>\n

\"make<\/p>\n

What are you designing? Rename the column headings. Remove what you don\u2019t need and add what you do. Make it work for you and your moment.<\/p>\n

Let the storyboard do the heavy lifting<\/h2>\n

Storyboarding should make the instructional designer\u2019s life easier. If you\u2019re starting with an outline, a storyboard is the bullet train to your course destination.<\/p>\n

Eliminate blank-page syndrome<\/h3>\n

MasterClass and Medium are filled with tips on overcoming writer\u2019s block<\/a>, aka \u201cblank-page syndrome.\u201d #iykyk\u2014right, instructional designers? Storyboarding for instructional design can serve as a remedy for writer\u2019s block. Transferring your outline into storyboard format is almost too easy, but once it\u2019s done, you\u2019re no longer staring at a blank page. The course copy all but begs to be written.<\/p>\n

Get efficient<\/h3>\n

Storyboarding for instructional designers might feel like an extra step (be honest: you\u2019ve skipped it\u2014we all have!), but it\u2019ll usually make your process more efficient. Pinky promise!<\/p>\n

Spec out everything before adding final copy<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s tempting to hit the ground running, putting pen to paper. But the more you can spec out your storyboard, the better off you\u2019ll be when you start filling in the actual course copy. Consider the following elements\u2014if your course will have them\u2014and create them within the storyboard before you draft any actual copy:<\/p>\n