Terms that indicate "pay attention, we're getting ready to change"

I also use your Now let's loolk... also use Next let's explore. Smetimes I'll vary it up with a question, like Now that we've built the founndation, we need to expand...

Along with what Jeanette suggested, one of my favorite ways to cue the learner that the topic is changing is to add a visual slide transition like fade to black. Since Articulate doesn't support PPT slide transitions, I fake it by

-creating a black square the size of the slide

-cut and paste special to bring it back as a PNG

-To get the fade thru black effect, I'll add it as the last animation on the slide set to fade in. Then the first animation on the next slide to fade out.

I use transitional terminology as well, but I really think that visual element helps since we're used to feeling like something has ended when it fades to black.

LIke so many of us with roots in stand-up training, my tendency is to write as I would deliver trainining...

"Now that we understand X, we can look at Y...."

"Let's explore the next step in Z..."

It's conversational and friendly for the learner. And let's be honest, it's comfortable to for us to write since it's how we think.  But there is the challenge...

Unlike stand-up training, we can't always be sure exactly what particular path the learner will use to progress through the course. So we have to pay special attention to be nuetral in our transitions.

Some designers approach this with a choice....

Eg. "By clicking NEXT we can look at how what we just learned applies to XYZ. Or click HOME to explore a different topic altogether"

Some designers try to write transitions that work no matter where the learner came from or leaves to in the course...

And some designers simply forego transitions altogether to avoid the issue...

In the end it's just one more thing we have to be concious of in order to create good elearning. Hmm, perhaps we should all put in for a raise! 

Like the choice language, Bob.  Great!

To Natalia's point about using fade-to-black and other subtle visual cues... I've also seen designers use a change in the player's view mode as a nice transition. Like, maybe they use Standard View for most of their content, but on slides where a new section starts, they might use Slide Only View, or No Sidebar View. It can be a nice reminder to the learner that they're entering a new portion of the course

In case anyone's not familiar with switching up the View Mode, here's a tutorial: http://community.articulate.com/tutorials/products/customizing-the-view-modes-of-your-player.aspx

Oooh I like that, Jeanette! I'll definitely use that 

Bob - good point about the open-entry/open-exit available to e-learners. Some transitional phrases may not make sense. That's actually an e-learning development challenge - how to avoid repetition for those who go straight through while accomodating those who hop around. Most courses we develop are set up to run sequentially, but we're trying to make them more interactive by letting the learner go where he/she wants.

Good point Bob and Harriet. If we develop non-linear training and allow the user to skip around, it would be disorienting for the user if we used a statement such as, "As we previously discussed..." or "In the earlier example..."

There would probably be confusion as to what "previous" or "earlier" is referring to, since each user would likely navigate the course differently.

Don't forget our AUDITORY sense! When switiching to a subtopic, we insert a title slide with 4 seconds of silence. The silence wipes the brain clean and readies it for a new category of facts and concepts.

I liked Natalia's fade in/out idea.

How about making a bit more transitional by adding (gasp) bullets to the effect that  (Fade to black: "Now that we covered A, B. and C, we're going to turn our attention to X, Y, and Z.).  Fade to next screen.

A word or two for each bullet, just the highlights; this would recap the material just presented and act as an advanced organizer for the new material.  No more than 8-10 seconds tops.

I'd probably throw in a gong sound and baby as well, just for motivation's sake...  

Michael