11 Best Practices for E-Learning Storyboarding
Anyone who’s spent time in E-Learning Heroes has probably heard the term “storyboarding.” But what exactly does it mean? Storyboarding is a critical planning step for any slide-based e-learning project, during which you are essentially creating a blueprint before you start to develop your course. There are tons of different moving parts in slide-based e-learning development (the content, the navigation, the visual design, etc.). In order to make sure you’re on the right track before it’s too difficult or time-consuming to turn back and start over, you’ll want to start with an e-learning storyboard. If you’re using a web-based authoring app like Rise 360, you can skip the storyboarding phase and go straight to development. Since the navigation and design are both predefined, you can just concentrate on your content. And because it’s so fast and easy to create lessons in Rise 360, if you do end up changing your mind later on, it’s no problem! So in this article, we’ll focus on the storyboarding process for slide-based courses. Let’s take a closer look. Planning Your Storyboard To help you define the scale and scope of information for your project storyboard, use the following planning steps. Chances are you casually thought about these as you prepped your project, but it’s critical to document the information so you can get a big picture of all the stakeholders, objectives, and resources for your project. To plan your storyboard, you’ll want to: Define the Project Team Identify all stakeholders and participants on the project, and clearly communicate their roles in the group. This information is critical to determining how much detail your storyboard will need. For example, if the person creating the storyboard is not the same person who’ll develop the content, then you’ll need to be sure it includes all the info the developer will need to build the course. Do a Feasibility Check Make sure you know what apps will be used and what skills the team has before you storyboard, to ensure everything you include is actually feasible and appropriate for the project. Do Your Instructional Design Homework Know what learning activities you want to include in your course, and how you plan to sequence them. You’ll want to determine in advance if your client has particular exercises in mind, so you can incorporate them into your course design. Decide Which App to Use There’s no right or wrong way to build your storyboard. Some people prefer to build it in Word, others use PowerPoint, and still others develop their storyboard directly in the authoring app. Depending on the project, you may or may not be able to choose the format yourself. Sometimes it’s the client who dictates the app you use. When I have a choice, I prefer to storyboard directly in the authoring app, which in my case is usually Storyline 360. I find it’s a huge time-saver to get started directly in the app. That way I don’t have to copy the content over later on in the process. Committing the time and effort for these planning steps is well worth it in the long run to help you avoid costly reworks. With these four steps complete, you’re ready to start constructing your actual storyboard. Building Your Storyboard Now you get to assemble all your information into something tangible (or virtual, as it were). If you’re a creative geek like me, that’s really satisfying. To build your storyboard, you should: Use a Template You Like Don’t reinvent the wheel. If you have a template you like and you’re comfortable with, then use it. If you don’t, then browse these free storyboard templates and use or modify one to your liking. You can also post a thread here in the E-Learning Heroes forums asking for storyboard templates, and chances are the helpful folks in the Articulate community will put up samples in no time. Use a “Goldilocks” Approach to Detail Strike the right balance to give your team and stakeholders enough information about the navigation and links, media, text, interactions, on-screen elements, and programming notes without overwhelming or losing them in too much detail. The level of detail will depend on who, ultimately, is building your course from the storyboard. If it’s you, then you probably don’t need to describe in detail the kind of animations you’re imagining. But if you’re handing the storyboard off to a developer, you may want to include that information to ensure the end result corresponds to your intention. Consider Including a Visual Map If your course has complex branching or dynamic content, you may want to create a visual map so your team understands where learners land with every decision point. Being able to see the navigation flow is sometimes easier than trying to follow line numbers and references on a spreadsheet. You could create your visual map on a single slide in Storyline, using squares to represent slides and arrows to represent branching. Or you could simply build out your branching scenario using separate slides and the branching features in Storyline and take a screenshot of the “Story View.” Use Reference Labels in Your Storyboard Give each slide a reference label, whether it’s numeric, letters, or alphanumeric. Maybe your first slide is labeled A001, the next A002, then A003, and so on. Then, when you build the prototype of your course, you can include these reference labels, making it easy to map the slides in the storyboard with the actual slides in your course. This is especially useful if you end up changing the order of slides, because you’ll always have the original reference label. Remember, you’re not creating your actual course, so don’t write a book. This is simply a detailed outline that will set the framework for and scope of your course. Using Your Storyboard The great thing about a storyboard is that it’s not something you create in the beginning of the project and never look at again. It’s a living tool you can use to align your team around the directional details of your project. Before you start to develop your course, you should use your storyboard to: Act as a Review Checkpoint Circulate it to the team (as defined above) for review and approval. Doing so will build consensus on the project direction and approach, and can help flesh out scope and design issues before you’re deep into building, when it’s harder—and more costly—to change direction. If you’re using Storyline 360 to create your storyboard, then you can publish it to Review 360 so your team members can view and add comments directly. If you’re using a tool with a track changes feature (like Word), make sure to switch it on before sending the storyboard to them so you can easily see their revisions. Consolidate Client Feedback If you’re using Review 360, there’s no need to ask your reviewers to consolidate their feedback, as it’s already all in one spot. If you’re using another tool, like Word or PowerPoint, consider switching to something more collaborative, such as Google Docs or Google Slides, so all the comments are visible to everyone involved. Otherwise you could end up with multiple, slightly different versions of the same storyboard, which will result in you spending time consolidating them. Not a very effective use of your time! It’s also good practice, from an efficiency standpoint, to collect feedback in one fell swoop, by a certain date, rather than piecemeal, in a protracted and loosely defined review process. Find Opportunities for Efficient Development You don’t need to follow the linear path of your storyboard when you prepare to develop your course. Instead, you can identify nonoverlapping course sections and plan to develop them in parallel. This might mean a team member works on a later, discrete section before switching to collaborate on an earlier or sequential section. You’ll need to manage what work gets done when, but oftentimes you can find opportunities for completing more than one section at a time. When you finish your e-learning storyboard, you and your team will have a comprehensive view of how your course will look, feel, and function. Your storyboard may even save you time in the long run, since you’ll have the content and structure clearly mapped out and ready at your fingertips. Let your storyboard do some heavy lifting up front, so building your course is easier, faster, and more fun later on. Follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any comments, please share them below.Storyline competency matrix
Hi everyone, I've been tasked with upskilling my team in Storyline. I'm starting by putting together a tech competency matrix and wanted to know if anyone had any examples they've used (or if Articulate has one -- I couldn't find anything by searching). The matrix will have X number of core skills and 5 levels of expertise in each skill. I then need to specify which tasks fall into each core skill. For example, maybe one core skill is triggers and states. What specific tasks would go in that category in each expertise level? What core skills have other people used, and what tasks have you put in those skills? Thanks in advance!Alternatives to Process Blocks?
I'm experiencing a creative block. I've been working on e-learning content that is largely process based - so lots of step-by-step, screenshots, etc. I've relied heavily on the process block and the image carousel so far, and I'm wondering what other folks have done to create engaging process content without relying on just clicking through images. I'm open to all suggestions, as I am pretty comfortable with Storyline, but I'm really looking for some inspiration for Rise360.How are you approaching learning creation in your organization beyond “traditional” L&D use cases?
Hey ELH community 👋, We know that learning creation doesn’t live solely within L&D or instructional design teams. In large organizations especially, managers, training, enablement teams, and other departments are increasingly creating their own learning to meet team and business needs. We’re curious how that’s playing out in your organization. If you’re in L&D, what’s holding you back from bringing on more teams create courses in Articulate? Are there particular challenges—technical, process-related, or cultural—that make it harder to open things up? And if you have scaled and democratized course creation with Articulate beyond L&D, what’s helped it work well? We’d love to learn from your experiences; what’s working, what’s not, and what would make it easier. ~ The Articulate Research TeamKeyboard Shortcuts for Screen Readers
Hi - does anyone have a list of keyboard shortcuts they use for screen readers? We are using Alt-P and Alt-N for previous and next slides and have used Alt-R. We tried a couple more Alt- shortcuts and they conflict with the browser. Just wondered if anyone had a list of what they use that would be willing to share. Thanks in advance!How to Indicate Audio is Available to the User
We are looking for some guidance/best practices on informing the user when audio is available: When audio contains more details than displayed on the screen. How do you let your users know that? For example, if the block has header, (small paragraph of info), then list of bullet items followed by the audio at the bottom. I saw the attached note in a training and love it but it doesn't meet our question. Also, do you suggest something used throughout the course or just on the intro slide? Thank you!Expert Insight Needed!
Hi Everyone! I am a graduate student in an Instructional Design and Performance Technology program. In my Distance Learning Policy and Planning course, we are conducting an informal research investigation on current use of technology in our field. We are tasked with finding out what practitioners are using out in the real world, and how they feel about those technologies. Can you please share the platforms you use and your own personal feelings about these technologies (what works well, what is challenging, etc.) for purposes such as: Delivering instruction or training (such as an LMS) Communication and collaboration Assessments or testing Analytics Thank you so much for helping me learn from your experience!Localizing e-learning in Articulate Storyline 360: a guide
This article was originally published on LearningGuild.com This article draws on firsthand experience to outline the key stages of content preparation, translation, and post-processing within the Articulate Storyline 360 environment. Instead of looking at program features, we focus on practical aspects of localization, including typical tasks, common errors, and best practices for maintaining high quality and linguistic consistency across locales. While intended for localization professionals, the insights are equally valuable for global training managers planning to scale their internal learning programs across languages and regions. Stage 1. Analysis and preparation for translation Font compatibility During Storyline initialization, missing fonts are displayed in a separate dialog box: ox You should check if these fonts support the target languages. Storyline does not warn about missing characters in target languages; it automatically uses system fonts instead. This can cause subtle inconsistencies: while most of the text will appear visually correct, certain characters will be rendered in a different font. Detecting this can be tricky, so it’s best to check fonts on a larger text sample using a tool like Adobe InDesign. Paste a paragraph with characters specific to the target language, apply the original font, and any missing characters will be highlighted in red. Image text Textual elements within images may be non-editable but require localization. To view a complete list of images, navigate to the Media Library under the View tab. The Media Library also shows slide assignments for images: To streamline text inspection, you can export images as separate files. The next step is to identify and select elements that need to be prepared for translation. Because images can be incorporated into animations or associated with object groups, we recommend preparing textual elements within images by exporting them to an external file (such as a bilingual DOCX table) rather than processing them directly in Storyline. Integrating text frames directly into the project file will substantially increase the complexity of the setup needed to maintain animations and related elements. In addition, one image can be referenced across different slides. To be efficient, we should prepare it once and then replace it once after translation. Video and audio As with images, the Media Library provides functionality to view and export audio and video files used in the project: At this stage, identify the video and audio files to be prepared for translation. This process can include exporting on-screen text, preparing subtitles, and replacing voice-overs. Preparation of video and audio for translation is a separate process with numerous intricacies. Layers and slide masters Some slides may incorporate layers and slide masters (templates that define layout and design across multiple slides): Both layers and slide masters should be taken into account when estimating the workload, as there can be quite a few of them, and processing them will take time. Button states Individual slide elements can have multiple states: States are typically used for button elements and similar interactive controls. The text within different states can vary, and this needs to be considered when analyzing the workload. Export for translation There are two export formats available for translation: XLIFF and DOCX. The choice is up to the client. When exporting to DOCX, the number of slides, layers, templates, and other assets important for a general understanding of the scope of work is indicated in the report at the beginning of the file. Stage 2. Translation The translation stage begins after completing analysis and exporting. Beyond technical accuracy, translations need to be contextually coherent, particularly given that the same element may have multiple uses throughout the course. Key considerations during translation include: Ensuring accurate and complete translation of all elements, such as states, layers, and masters Finalizing glossaries and stylistic specifications Using CAT tools that support XLIFF, where applicable Bear in mind that insufficient context (such as the absence of screenshots) can compromise the quality of the translation output. Hence, we suggest giving linguists a DOCX report or credentials to access a preview environment. Stage 3. Post-translation Translation import Importing is identical to exporting. First, select the required format: It is common for errors to arise during importing. A prevalent cause of import errors is the lack of successful alignment between source and target texts. Storyline does not report the cause of an error. Pay special attention to the target language during formatting. Formatting Storyline is not equipped with automatic text scaling functionality. Therefore, if translated phrases become longer (which often happens), you should: Manually adjust fields and fonts Review the layout of all slides, focusing on those incorporating interactive elements If styles were used in the project, they can be reapplied; however, their infrequent application during course development adds complexity to the process. Font replacement Use the Replace Fonts tab, located within the Home —> Paragraph —> Find/Replace menu, to perform a global font replacement across the entire file. Multimedia replacement To replace localized images, video, and audio, use the Replace option in the Media Library. The system automatically updates a replaced file across all slides where it is used. Subtitles Subtitles can be added to audio and video elements. All standard formats are supported: SRT, VTT, SBV, and SUB. AI-powered audio generation Storyline features AI-powered voice generation. Using Insert Text-to-Speech functionality, a voice can be synthesized from text through AI Audio. Publishing and quality assurance Storyline supports a range of publishing formats. Critical steps before the final version is generated: Agree on the publishing format with the client. Perform a quality assurance check using Review 360, a user-friendly tool for text verification and commenting that is particularly useful when the workflow includes multiple contributors (linguists, designers, and the client). A notable feature of Review 360 is its integrated display of both the slide identifier and its visual preview. Conclusion Effective localization of e-learning content using Articulate Storyline 360 requires an end-to-end approach, from meticulous content preparation through post-processing and on to generation of the final version. The way interface elements, slide arrangements, multimedia integration, interactivity, and hidden content are implemented sets this localization process apart from those of other software. Gaining a deep understanding of Storyline helps project teams avoid hidden pitfalls, streamline the workflow, and reduce costs caused by revisions and backtracking. More importantly, it enables a consistent user experience across languages, which is critical for global learning effectiveness. In our experience, success in Storyline localization is rarely about translation alone. It comes from working with teams who specialize in e-learning workflows — teams who understand both the tool and the learning context, and who can collaborate early with content owners to flag risks before they become blockers. Organizations that treat e-learning localization as a strategic function, not a final step, gain the ability to launch multilingual courses faster, with greater confidence in quality and learner engagement. Ultimately, the result is learning content that performs consistently, resonates culturally, and helps global teams thrive.Instructional Design for Financial Services: Lessons from the UAE
Hello Articulate Community, I’m reaching out to connect with fellow learning designers, educators, and organizations exploring fresh ways to drive professional development through impactful e-learning. I’m an Instructional Designer based in Dubai, specializing in designing and developing training solutions and digital learning experiences using Articulate tools. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to scale large-scale training programs across the UAE, particularly in the financial sector, including banks and insurance companies. What makes my approach unique is the balance between instructional creativity and scalability. I’ve not only crafted engaging modules but also rolled out end-to-end learning journeys, covering classroom, digital, and blended formats, ensuring they align with compliance standards, industry regulations, and organizational goals. Some areas I’m passionate about include: Designing custom e-learning modules (SCORM-compliant) that seamlessly integrate into existing LMS. Building training frameworks that can scale from a single team to entire institutions. Creating learning content that bridges complex financial concepts with learner-friendly, practical delivery. I’m now exploring freelance opportunities to collaborate with organizations that want to reimagine their learning, scale their programs, and maximize learner engagement. If your organization is looking for instructional design expertise with proven UAE financial sector experience, I’d be happy to connect and discuss how we can work together. Feel free to reach out here or connect directly. Looking forward to learning and collaborating with this inspiring community!PowerPoint Meets AI: Testing 5 Motion Models
When it comes to adding AI motion, many designers bounce from one model to the next, often frustrated by strange results. Some eLearning apps don’t give the motion we want natively, and others take too long to configure, making it hard to know where to start. So, I tested 5 AI models on the same slide with the same prompt to see how each performed. The results were surprising: one nailed the physics, another went off into odd morphs, and a few missed the mark entirely. The lesson? Every model has strengths, but the right fit depends on your design goals and willingness to experiment. Watch the full tutorial: https://youtu.be/Udtg1X81mow Download the AI Models for Motion – Comparisons chart: [AI Models for Motion - Comparisons.pdf - Google Drive]
