What is a Storyboard?
A storyboard is a blueprint or draft for digital learning objects (DLOs) such as video or interactive tutorials that you want to develop. It helps you to organize the sequence of digital elements, animated objects, screen interactions, and script in a drafted plan. Usually, a storyboard is created before the development of the digital product and used to communicate with other subject matter experts on the sequence of the content and layouts of DLOs.
An example of a video storyboard:
Reference: Daum K., Hein B., Scott M., & Goeldi A. (2016) How to create a storyboard for your marketing video. Dummies. A Wiley Brand. Retrieved from https://www.dummies.com/article/business-careers-money/business/marketing/how-to-create-a-storyboard-for-your-marketing-video-176043.
Supplemental Materials
- Storyboarding PresentationOpen storyboarding workshop presentation slides. Log into your UCSB account in Google sign-in to access the presentation.
- Storyboard TemplatesOpen the Google folder to storyboard templates. Log into your UCSB account in Google sign-in to access the files. You can find Google documents and Google slides storyboard templates in this folder. They are also great tools for getting real-time comments/feedback from your reviewers.
Writing a Descriptive Script
Creating a descriptive script in your storyboarding process is a good way to ensure your visual content and information is accessible to accommodate your learners. In addition, a descriptive script can be used as additional learning material to support your digital learning content and videos. Here are some helpful sources to help you write an accessible descriptive script for your storyboard.
- Description of Visual InformationOpen Web Accessibility Initiative (W3C) website for tips on writing a descriptive script to convey visual information.
- Tips for Writing Descriptive ScriptsOpen UNCG's accessibility resource on writing descriptive scripts.
Asset Resources
You can use any existing assets from UCSB in your digital learning objects and videos. Be sure to give credit to the original owner of these assets.
- UCSB University Branding Tools and TemplateOpen Tools and Template of UCSB University Branding Website. Access to Library B-Roll folder for existing clips.
- T&L Slide Template w/ UCSB Library LogoThe basic slide templates used by Teaching & Learning to video tutorials and interactive tutorials.
Other Digital Storyboarding Tools
Besides using Google documents and Google slides as storyboard templates, here are other supplemental storyboarding tools that can help you create a storyboard. With the exception of Microsoft PowerPoint, all of the other tools listed may require monthly subscriptions and additional costs to use build-in resources. Please consider the needs of your project, the limitation of the free trial period, and associated costs before using these digital tools.
T&L Tutorials
- T&L Video Tutorials ExamplesOpen to view all of the T&L Video Tutorial Examples.