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Storyboarding: How to plan for an e-learning module

Lori Havard

Swansea University

www.swansea.ac.uk

Why we needed to create e-learning module

Library sessions needed to be embedded in Clinical

Information Management module but limited because of

timetabling (5 classes x3)

Self-directed ethos of the Swansea GEP

Consultation with the Director of Curriculum identified areas

where we felt support could be provided online

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Next steps

Specified the areas we would concentrate on;

Creating a search strategy

Finding & evaluating information on the web

Referencing & Plagiarism

Spoke to our E-learning support Officer

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What is Storyboarding?

It's a way to plan out what you want the user to understand

based on a step-by-step process.

What happens when?: first, next, and last.

What do you want the user to do throughout to assess

their understanding?

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It sounds simple, but…

Think of what you want to tell your audience and how you want to tell them

Think of how you would like to make the module interactive and worry about how the IT might let you do that later

Involve non librarians

Design modules/tutorials with the students viewpoint in mind

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Getting started: Storyboarding

3 Librarians, 1 E-learning support Officer,1 Library Assistant, a

bunch of markers, Blu Tack, multiple cups of tea and a

flipchart

- Not a computer in sight, nor the name of software spoken

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Framework for each module

Think of the process of learning a skill that you want the end

user to experience

Interaction – we want to ask them a question here

Tell them what you are going to tell them – tell them – then tell

them what you told them!

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Brainstorming session

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Evaluating the sequence and actions

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Non-librarian consultation

Have a variety of people look at sequence up on wall for

feedback:

•Library clerical staff

•Student

•Lecturer

•Learning Advisor

•My husband

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The finished product

• Added to our VLE Module

Used quizzes from VLE

• Added to Medical School VLE Module

Also recommended in lecturer and handout

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Evaluation

•Statistics of use through our VLE

•Evaluation Questionnaire

– ‘Useful as reference tool when searching/referencing

etc’ 

– ‘Definitely feel that it has improved my search strategy’

– ‘Easy to follow, self-test was good’

– ‘They were short and sweet!’

– ‘Very useful for referencing methods’

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Professional Achievement

•Reminder of student/user needs

•New or improved skills in teaching plans

•New skills for using interactive technologies

•New avenue to liaise with faculty

•Guaranteed involvement in curriculum

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In conclusion…

•Storyboarding is an effective way to plan the transfer from a

classroom to an e-learning module

•It is always good practice to put yourself back into the

learner’s shoes

•It helped us keep library and information literacy skills in the

curriculum

•Lots of time planning and creating, but it saves time in the

long run

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Lori Havard, Subject Librarian for School of Health Science

and School of Medicine, Swansea University

l.d.havard@swan.ac.uk

with thanks to Katrina Dalziel, Deputy Subject Librarian for

School of Medicine, Swansea University