What Makes a Good Storyboard?

Jul 14, 2025 | Articles, Instructional Design

Key Takeaways:

  • A well-crafted storyboard serves as a blueprint that guides the development of effective e-learning experiences.
  • Storyboards should always begin with clearly defined learning objectives that shape the structure and content of the course.
  • Media elements and interactive features should be mapped out in the storyboard, with every component supporting learning goals.
  • Consistency in storyboard templates and regular feedback from stakeholders help maintain clarity and alignment throughout the process.
  • Strong storyboards focus on purposeful, learner-centered design, including accessibility and essential navigation details.

Creating an effective e-learning storyboard is both a science and an art. It requires careful planning, a deep understanding of your learners, and a thoughtful approach to how content is sequenced and experienced. A good storyboard lays the foundation for the entire learning experience, providing a clear roadmap for instructional designers, developers, and subject matter experts to follow. It’s a visual and narrative plan that connects objectives, interactivity, media elements, and assessments in a cohesive manner. In this article, I’ll outline the benefits of using a storyboard for instructional design, and share four elements to prioritize when creating a storyboard.

Why use a storyboard for instructional design?

At its core, a strong e-learning storyboard serves as a blueprint for the final course. It starts by clearly articulating learning objectives. These objectives anchor the content, ensuring that each screen or interaction is purposeful. A good storyboard breaks down each module or lesson into manageable chunks that align with those objectives. Rather than overloading learners with information, it strategically distributes concepts to build understanding over time. When done well, the flow of the storyboard feels intuitive and intentional, with each screen leading logically into the next, marked by clear transitions and effective scaffolding.

Good storyboards anticipate how learners will interact with content. They take into consideration where learners may get stuck, what will motivate them to continue, and how to keep them engaged without unnecessary distractions. For example, they incorporate clear cues for navigation, allow for reflection or practice, and include only what is essential to support learning outcomes.

Build instructional value into your storyboard

A well-designed storyboard identifies the purpose of each interaction. Whether it’s a drag-and-drop activity, a branching scenario, or a clickable graphic, every interactive element should reinforce the core content. Storyboards help map out where these moments occur, how they’re triggered, and what feedback learners will receive. It’s not enough to add a quiz or a button for the sake of engagement; the storyboard must show how that element contributes to the learning goal.

Media elements such as visuals, audio, and video are also plotted in the storyboard. This includes detailed descriptions of on-screen text, narration scripts, image ideas, animations, and video cues.

A common pitfall is cramming a storyboard with media suggestions that don’t add instructional value. Strong storyboards use multimedia with purpose. For instance, an animation might be used to show a process that’s difficult to describe with words alone. A voiceover might guide the learner through a complex diagram. The storyboard should make these instructional decisions visible and explain why they’re included.

Here are four tips to help L&D professionals use storyboards effectively in the workplace:

  1. Start with the end in mind. Clearly define learning objectives before storyboarding. Every screen and activity should be mapped back to what learners need to know or be able to do by the end of the course.
  2. Think through the learner’s journey. Storyboard from the learner’s perspective, including how they will navigate the course, what they will see, hear, and do, and when they’ll need support or feedback.
  3. Use a consistent structure. Adopt a template or framework for your storyboard that includes space for visuals, narration, on-screen text, interactions, and development notes. Consistency improves clarity and collaboration.
  4. Review early and often. Share storyboards with stakeholders, SMEs, and developers early in the process. Iterative feedback ensures alignment and reduces the chance of surprises later in production.

What should be included in an e-learning storyboard?

The following table outlines what belongs and what doesn’t belong in a storyboard.

What Goes in a Storyboard What Doesn’t Go in a Storyboard
Learning objectives linked to each screen or module Tangential content unrelated to objectives
On-screen text and narration scripts Placeholder text (e.g., “Insert content here”)
Visual and media descriptions (e.g., images, animations, video) Overly detailed design notes about fonts, colors, or layout
Interaction types and learner actions (e.g., clicks, drag/drop) Vague directions like “make this more engaging.”
Assessment questions and feedback logic Quiz questions that haven’t been validated or linked to learning objectives
Navigation instructions and branching logic Redundant or confusing navigation options
Notes for developers and voiceover artists Internal SME debates or unresolved content arguments
Accessibility considerations (e.g., alt text, keyboard access) Design decisions that exclude learners with accessibility needs

A good storyboard isn’t flashy. Instead, it’s functional, thoughtful, and ultimately invisible once the course is live. When used well, storyboards are powerful tools for aligning stakeholders, preventing scope creep, and supporting a learner-first design approach.

By being intentional about what goes into a storyboard and how it’s used, L&D professionals can ensure that the final e-learning product is aligned, focused, and learner-centered.