At last week's workshop with Charity Learning, we talked about storyboarding courses and the formats available to designers. It doesn't matter at all how designers choose to write and storyboard courses. The takeaway is that most designers are passionate about the way they approach storyboarding... whether it's in Word, PowerPoint, or Storyline. It's probably no surprise that Storyline was a hot topic for prototyping ideas, but there was even more interest in using it as a storyboarding and authoring tool. If you outline, write, and author your courses in Storyline, can you share a little about your process?

Interesting topic. I’ve done my storyboarding right in Storyline for my last two elearning projects at Langevin Learning Services and it’s worked great for me. Disclaimer: I do the instructional design, storyboarding and development for the e-learning, so the amount of people involved, and the tools they are familiar with themselves, are something to take into consideration when choosing your storyboarding tools. I always do my up-front task analysis and writing in Word; that’s where I do all the editing and content organizing. Then I storyboard in Storyline. I move “chunks” of text from my Word document onto the slides in Storyline, and I put basic shapes and placeholder images. I will even do some basic linking just to make sure all the functionality I want will work out. When the Storyline storyboard is finished I know what each slide will have on it (content wise) and how the course will flow. And then, the REAL time-saver, is that I will just create a copy of my storyboard file and develop my course right from there. This means all the text, shapes and image placeholders are already there, I just have to style, add animations and ta-da!

Very interesting! I usually do all of my scripting in a MS Word document. I have a standard/simple template that I regularly use (here) to write all of my content. This is nice when working with SMEs, as it keeps them focused on the content and prevents them from getting hung-up on visuals, etc. In the past when I’ve presented my content in a storyboard/wireframe format, the business partner(s) struggle looking at it as a draft. Meaning, they aren’t able to see that what I am showing them is NOT how the final product will look. So, I typically keep my reviews of content (narration) separate from my reviews of slides (the visual stuff). It’s what works for me.

Hi, David: I used to do detailed Word-based storyboards (see attached), and then one day, it hit me: "Dude, clients dig like 85% percent of the storyboard, so why am I going though all the extra time formatting, copying and pasting, etc., etc..." Sort of reminds of the aphorism about writing about music: "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." (This quote is often attributed to Elvis Costello, but most likely is more the idea of Martin Mull (but I digress)) So now I rapid prototype, meaning, I build the key slides and activities in Storyline (VO and everything) and send to client and basically say, "Are we cool, so far?"

I do something similar to Tim. I have an outline document that is used to show the narration, describe interaction, and show how it alligns to the objectives. The client reviews this before I start building in storyline. After the outline is approved, I jump right into development and skip the storyboard step altogether. If there is an interaction that I think needs more input from the client, I'll create a rough version for them to review. One of the beautiful things about Storyline, in my opinion, is that it saves so much time because you don't have to complete a full storyboard. Note: I do both the design and development for my courses, so this process works for me. I can see how if you are handing off development that it might need some storyboarding.

Much the same as Nicole - and I would like to add that once the first batch of text/script have been added into Storyline from there onwards I use the amazing translate feature to edit during the development and review phases. Which accepts formatting alternations as well as text changes. http://learn.articulate.com/reviewer-edits-with-translation-feature/

Using Storyline to storyboard projects

PhilMayor
Super Hero
12 years ago
I start building straight into storyline, I also draw loads of diagrams and make notes on old fashioned paper
AnnBarton
Community Member
12 years ago

I do similar to April. First I work with the SME's to create an outline in MS Word, but then I show them a visual output of a similar story, so they get the full picture. The outline storyboard helps to set the stage; setting, audience, objectives, issues/resolutions, which paths to take and expected outcomes. Working with the SME's, I do not dwell on the graphics, but more the "story" they are trying to tell engaging the learner.

I also jump right into development using the outline and capture the 'story' with visuals and interactivity as I progress through the outline. I choose visuals and scenarios based on my learners experience. For example, many of my learners are travelers, so I a project I am working on now has airports, car rental lines, baggage claim, gps navigation, etc. Near completion, I set up a redlining session to preview with the SME's (Team), then finalize and publish.
HelenaFroyton
Community Member
12 years ago

Hi Holly,

Would you mind sharing what your instructional approach document that links the learning objectives to elearning specs in a table looks like? I am very interested in seeing how you have them both come together. If you also would not mind sharing the flowchart to that document to show how the course will progress as a first pass, I would greatly appreciate it! I am trying to see what is out there, so that I can also improve my approach. Thank you.

Regards,

Helena
AriAvivi
Community Member
12 years ago

One of the drawbacks of using storyline to storyboard ( and I love the output to word function) I have found that is if you have items that overlap, it doesn't print well.

I.e. if you have a trigger that changes a text box to normal from hidden, and a different one from hidden to normal, it shows them on top of each other and is unusaable.

We are still looking for a good solution.
HelenaFroyton
Community Member
12 years ago

Thank you for your reply Ari. Any ideas on where I can find out more about using Storyline as a storyboard tool? I will check out the tutorials with the trial version, but what just wondering...I am considering it as an option. I have Articulate Studio '09.

-Helena
AriAvivi
Community Member
12 years ago

Helena,

We love storyline, we have studio but have basically abandoned it.

I'll let you know if we come up with any good storyboarding options. One of oru challenges also is that we are embedded within the company, not freelance, so we are sometimes at the whims of managers and sme's for what they want, rather than what makes sense.

r.e.
JoyceNelson-119
Community Member
12 years ago

Holly MacDonald said:

Helena Froyton said:

Hi Holly,

Would you mind sharing what your instructional approach document that links the learning objectives to elearning specs in a table looks like? I am very interested in seeing how you have them both come together. If you also would not mind sharing the flowchart to that document to show how the course will progress as a first pass, I would greatly appreciate it! I am trying to see what is out there, so that I can also improve my approach. Thank you.

Regards,

Helena

Hi Helena - it's a work-in-progress, but this is what I documented and continue to evolve. I find for clients that I'm not doing the early parts of the design process face-to-face, trying to show them how it works visually is helpful. If Storyline printed out the scene view, I think we could do the whole thing in SL with little supplemental development tools. For production purposes, I'm using the staging area of either Studio or Storyline fairly heavily. If I'm doing the work myself, it's less of an issue, but working with subcontractors necessitates more documentation.

Hope this helps

Holly

...of course love feedback from anyone in the forum on the doc, with suggestions or any other tips you've got.
JoyceNelson-119
Community Member
12 years ago
Holly I really like what you've done with the instructional strategy for e-learning doc! I too am grappling with how to best use storyboarding, or rapid prototyping and Storyline when creating courses. Thank you so much. Everyone in this conversation has helped me by your wonderful sharing!
HelenaFroyton
Community Member
12 years ago

Hi Bruce,

Thank you for David's article. I will check it out.

Hi Holly,

Thank you so much for sharing your Instructional Strategy for E-learning. I really like it! It is very similar to what I had in mind in developing for the current project I am working on. I will be developing something similar and will let you know if something else comes to mind. Do you use a special software for creating your flowchart? Are there any out there besides Visio that you would recommend? I really appreciate your comments.

-Helena
HollyMacDonald
Super Hero
12 years ago

Helena - I usually just use smart art in word/ppt and if it needs more detail I use a product called SmartDraw that I bought a few years ago. If the client needs to change anything then it's just boxes and lines hand drawn, or I have experimented with online bulletin board services as a way to collaborate on the "map" virtually, but beware these services come/go. I was using Stixy, but they are shutting down, so do a search for others if it appeals.

Hope that helps.