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The Ultimate Instructional Design Storyboarding Template

Karen Mc Guinness
Karen Mc Guinness, Customer Success Specialist
Updated

In the digital age, video-based eLearning has become a quintessential part of effective educational programs. Whether you're imparting knowledge on complex subjects or simplifying intricate business procedures, the goal is always the same - to create compelling content that not only engages but also facilitates comprehension and retention.

Our Instructional Design Storyboarding Template is your secret weapon to plan, structure, and visualize your eLearning video content effectively. This is more than a mere tool; it's your strategic ally in creating impactful training videos.

Instructional Design Storyboarding Template

No need to build your own from scratch, try our simple template instead!

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However, the pathway to producing quality training videos that foster knowledge isn’t one without its challenges. One crucial yet often overlooked step in this process is storyboarding. Storyboarding is like creating a roadmap for your video, letting you chart your course, foresee potential obstacles, and plan for a smooth journey towards your objective. The task might seem daunting, but what if we told you there's a simpler way to navigate?

To further streamline the process of creating compelling storyboards for your eLearning videos, you can leverage the power of AI. By using an AI storyboard generator, you can quickly turn your script into vibrant scenes, characters, and visuals without the need for drawing.

Free Storyboard Software
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Boords

The Shortcut to Effective Storyboards.

Boords is an easy-to-use storyboarding tool to plan creative projects.

Try Boords for free

What is the Instructional Design Storyboard Template?

A storyboard is essentially a visual outline of your eLearning video. It's a series of panels on which you can map out every aspect of your video, scene by scene and detail by detail. Our Instructional Design Storyboarding Template takes this a step further, specifically catering to the unique needs of eLearning content creators.

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The Instructional Design Storyboarding Template is a comprehensive guide that helps you plan your eLearning project efficiently. It offers a structured format for outlining each scene, including the visuals, narration, on-screen text and any interactivity. It also includes dedicated sections for defining learning objectives and measuring learner outcomes, elements which are crucial to any effective eLearning content.

This free storyboard template is designed to bridge the gap between your ideas and their implementation. It provides a canvas where you can visually organize your thoughts, storyboard your video, and plan how to deliver your learning points most effectively. But it doesn't stop at the planning phase. You can also use the template throughout the production process to ensure your video aligns with your initial vision and educational goals.

While it's flexible enough to accommodate any eLearning content, the template is especially useful for complex topics that involve a lot of information, multiple steps, or intricate explanations. With a clear eLearning storyboard, you can ensure each piece of information flows logically into the next, leading to a more cohesive and engaging learning experience.

Whether you're a seasoned content creator or just starting in the eLearning arena, our Instructional Design Storyboarding Template will streamline your process, improve collaboration among team members, and elevate the quality of your videos. It’s a powerful tool to make your creative vision a reality. Remember, a well-planned video equals effective learning. Let's embark on this journey towards creating better eLearning content, one storyboard at a time.

How to use the template

Great! You've downloaded our Instructional Design Storyboarding Template and are ready to dive in. But how exactly do you use it to plan an effective eLearning video? Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make the most of this valuable resource:

Define your learning objectives

Before you begin drafting your storyboard, clearly outline what you want your learners to take away from your video. Write down your learning objectives at the top of your template. Having a clear understanding of your goals will help guide the rest of your storyboarding process.

Learn about Bloom’s Taxonomy in our guide to writing learning objectives.

Fill out the scenes

Each scene is a building block of your narrative. Use the scene sections to detail each part of your video and determine how the storyline will flow. Include a description of what's happening visually, any dialogue or narration, and any text that appears on screen. If you are part of a team, collaborate with subject matter experts on these scene descriptions to ensure all ideas are integrated.

Include interactivity

If your video includes interactive elements like quizzes or clickable links, make sure to include them in your storyboard. Detail where these elements should be placed for maximum impact, and how they contribute to the online learning experience.

Use visuals

In addition to written descriptions, consider using simple sketches to represent key visual elements of each scene. You don't have to be an artist to do this - simple stick figures or shapes can be enough to visualize how the scene will look.

Review and refine

Once you've filled out the template, review your storyboard. Does the flow of your scenes make sense? Are you meeting the learning objectives of your eLearning course? Refine and revise your storyboard until you're satisfied that it provides a clear and engaging pathway towards your goal.

Share and collaborate

After your storyboard is complete, don't keep it to yourself. Share it with your team or any other stakeholders to get feedback. Their insights can help you improve your storyboard even further. Remember, collaboration is key in creating impactful eLearning videos.

Following these steps will help you effectively use the Instructional Design Storyboarding Template. Every video is unique, so feel free to adapt these guidelines to your own instructional design process. The goal is to create a comprehensive, effective plan for your video that will lead to a valuable learning and development experience for your audience.

Free Storyboard Software
Boords App Screenshot
Boords

The Shortcut to Effective Storyboards.

Boords is an easy-to-use storyboarding tool to plan creative projects.

Try Boords for free

Common problems to avoid

Storyboarding your eLearning video using our Instructional Design Storyboarding Template can streamline your creative process and improve the quality of your end product. However, there are a few common pitfalls you should be mindful of when creating your eLearning storyboard. Let's walk through them:

Lack of clear learning objectives

This is one of the most common mistakes in the creation of eLearning videos. Your learning objectives should guide every decision you make when planning and creating your video. Without clear objectives, you may find your content lacks focus and fails to deliver the intended knowledge to learners.

Overloading information

While it's crucial to provide comprehensive information, it's also important to avoid overloading learners with too much data in a single video. This can lead to cognitive overload, making it difficult for learners to absorb and retain information. Try to break down complex topics into digestible segments, and use your storyboard to plan these out logically.

Ignoring the importance of visuals

eLearning is an inherently visual medium. Ignoring the visual aspect or poorly planning it can make your video less engaging. Make sure to use the visual section of the storyboard to plan and design attractive visuals and animations that support your content.

Skipping interactivity

Interactive elements can significantly improve learner engagement and retention. Forgetting to include these in your storyboard can mean missed opportunities to boost learning outcomes. If your video includes quizzes, clickable links, or other interactive elements, ensure you include these in your storyboard.

Failing to review and refine

Your first storyboard draft shouldn't be your last. It's important to continually review and refine your storyboard as you proceed, taking into account feedback from team members and stakeholders and revisiting your learning objectives.

Remember, your storyboard is not set in stone but is a flexible tool to guide the video creation process. Avoiding these common problems can help you create an effective visual storyboard and, consequently, an engaging and informative eLearning video. With the Instructional Design Storyboarding Template to hand, you're well-equipped to steer clear of these pitfalls and maximize your video's learning impact.

Learn all about Gagné's Nine Events of Instruction in our comprehensive guide.

Frequently asked questions

We understand that you might have a few questions about our Instructional Design Storyboarding Template and how to use it effectively in your course design. Here, we've answered some of the most common queries:

Can I use this template for all types of eLearning videos?

Yes, absolutely! While the template is particularly useful for complex subjects that require meticulous planning, it can be used for any type of eLearning video. Its flexible format can accommodate a wide range of video styles and content types.

How detailed should my storyboard be?

The level of detail in your storyboard can depend on your personal preference and the complexity of your video. However, as a rule of thumb, it's better to include more detail than less. The more specific you are in your storyboard, the easier it will be to create your video later.

Should I include every single visual element in the storyboard?

While you don't have to include every minor visual detail, your storyboard should give you a clear picture of what each scene will look like. Include key visual elements and any that have a direct impact on the learning objectives.

What should I do if my video doesn't have interactive elements?

If your video doesn't have interactive elements, you can simply leave that section blank. However, it might be worth considering some form of interactivity as this is a key way that people learn and retain information.

I'm not an artist. How can I draw the scenes?

Don't worry! You don't need to create a masterpiece for effective storyboarding. Simple sketches, stick figures, or even shapes can give you an idea of how your scenes will look. The main goal is to visualize the scene, not to create a detailed drawing.

Looking for some inspiration? Check out some of our favourite storyboard examples.

Additional information

While our Instructional Design Storyboarding Template is a standalone tool that aids in the planning and structuring of your eLearning videos, it can be further enhanced when used in conjunction with other tools and resources. Here, we'd like to spotlight a couple of features offered by Boords that can supercharge your storyboard development process: collaboration and iteration (versioning).

Free Storyboard Software
Boords App Screenshot
Boords

The Shortcut to Effective Storyboards.

Boords is an easy-to-use storyboarding tool to plan creative projects.

Try Boords for free

Collaboration

When it comes to creating eLearning content, collaboration is key. Different team members bring unique insights and perspectives that can improve the quality of your videos. Boords' collaboration feature allows you to invite team members to view and leave feedback on your storyboards.

Iteration (Versioning)

Your first storyboard is just a draft. It’s common (and healthy) for your storyboard to go through several iterations before reaching its final version. Boords’ versioning feature allows you to easily create and track different versions of your storyboard throughout the course development. You can revisit previous versions, see what changes were made, and decide which version best meets your learning objectives. This ensures that no good idea is lost and that your final storyboard is the best it can be.

Remember, the Instructional Design Storyboarding Template is just the first step in your journey. Combining it with the right tools and resources can truly unlock your potential to create high-quality, impactful eLearning videos. As you embark on this creative journey, keep iterating, keep collaborating, and most importantly, keep learning!

Conclusion

The process of creating compelling, effective eLearning videos is complex, requiring careful planning and attention to detail. At the heart of this process is your storyboard, the roadmap guiding you from the initial concept to the finished video.

Our Instructional Design Storyboarding Template is designed to simplify and streamline this critical step, offering a structured framework for mapping out your eLearning content. When used effectively, this tool can make your video creation process smoother, more efficient, and more collaborative, resulting in course content that is more engaging and impactful for your learners.

Instructional Design Storyboarding Template

No need to build your own from scratch, try our simple template instead!

download

Avoiding common pitfalls, addressing frequently asked questions, and leveraging additional resources like the collaboration and versioning features in Boords can further enhance your use of the template.

We hope this blog post has provided you with valuable insights on how to effectively use our Instructional Design Storyboarding Template to create high-quality eLearning videos. Remember, the ultimate goal is to create a learning experience that informs, engages, and inspires your audience. With careful planning and a bit of creativity, you are well-equipped to achieve this.

Happy storyboarding!

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