How to write a storyboard for online training

If you have a need to write a storyboard for an online training course (sometimes referred to as a computer based training course, web based training course, CBT, WBT, or just plain online training)...then you have come to the right place!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• creativity
• pen and paper
• computer
• printer
• graphics program (if needed)

1. To begin, create a template that can be reused for many online courses - the template should be a fill-in-the-blank format that encompasses any topic, any length, any author, and type of navigation.
2. Ensure that the template includes the title of your course and how to navigate it, list all the buttons and 'face value' navigational components that you will propose to your subject matter expert or customer/client.
3. After the navigation instructions and welcome text, ensure that you provide your user with course objectives.
4. Provide an overview of the course.
5. Add a table for each page so that you can easily see how much text should be added to each page within the online course. Account for the space that each graphic will take up on each page.
6. List the graphic needed for each CBT page. That is, marry up a graphic that you will need to find for each page. This will be helpful for after the storyboard is complete - you can easily see the graphics that need to be bought, photographed, drawn, etc.
7. Tell the user or audience of the storyboard how they will navigate or transition from one page to the next. Be sure to add in alternate navigation. For example, if the user will progress through the course pages via a top menu, also create Next and Previous buttons.
8. Ensure the course has an ending that ties into the overview.
9. Be sure that the storyboard includes quizzes along the way or an overall quiz at the end.
10. Consider adding place holders in your storyboard for any simulations that you may plan to add after the storyboard has been approved.

Tips & Warnings

• Be very specific in your storyboard (navigation, animation, graphics, and story development)
• Make your storyboard flexible for changes from the customer/client!