Where does the course narrative actually appear in your online course?
You’ve taken the time in the early stages of your online course development to identify your course narrative. You’ve identified the 5 Pillars of content and drafted a Creative Brief that guides the creation of your course’s syllabus. All in all, you confidently understand the journey you are asking your learner to take, why it is important to them, and what they hope to achieve once they’ve completed your course. Now it’s time to actually write the video scripts. You might be asking yourself, “How do I actually incorporate the narrative into your course content to help you authentically connect with your learners?”
Let’s look at 5 different ways your course narrative will appear in the course content
Intros and Outros
The course introduction is the first, and arguably the most important, opportunity to authentically connect with your learner. The intro is likely the first time they are engaging with the course, so use this opportunity to show them that you understand who they are and that you designed this course based on their needs and hopes. The intro is also a perfect video to articulate why you are the right person to teach this course and what they should expect on their learning journey. The course outro script is your final opportunity to remind the learner of their journey, just how far they’ve come since they began the course, and most importantly, what they are now positioned to accomplish with their new skills.
Pro tip: Reference your creative brief and use its approved copy when writing your intro and outro scripts.
Real World Scenarios
What real world lessons, examples, or scenarios can you provide that help propel the lesson content while also articulating the course narrative? While examples can help substantiate a lesson, a scenario that relates directly to a learner’s experience or aspirations can make that topic truly come to life. Imagine a course designed to upskill a learner to further their career. In this case, consider featuring scenarios or examples the learner could actually expect in an advanced role. Consider creating a scenario that you introduce early in the course and continue to build upon as new lessons are taught. Alternatively, you could cast your learner directly in the scenario by using the second person “you.”
Instructor as Storyteller
The course instructor is a valuable touchpoint for your learner and can connect the course content in a more profound and deeper manner. When an instructor shares their own experience with the course content they foster the ongoing instructor/learner connection while also promoting comprehension. An instructor’s ‘story’ might also include their triumphs and their failures with the specific topics being taught. Obviously this tactic is optimal when you are creating an instructor-led course (with the instructor actually on camera), but it also should be considered if you’re only using voiceover to narrate the course.
Social Proof
Provide proof that supports the learning content while also legitimizing the learner’s commitment to the content. In other words, show your learner that your course’s promise actually delivers. For example, let’s revisit that course designed to upskill learners to advance in their career. Imagine how powerful a testimonial of a professional who had taken a similar journey could be. This could especially impactful if your learner is struggling with the curriculum or facing personal headwinds in completing the course. Case studies are another great example of using social proof to propel the course narrative and engage the learner.
Breadcrumbing
Breadcrumbing is the act of signaling to your learner where they are within the course and how that relates to their overall learning journey. This is a great tactic to keep your learner engaged by reminding them of lessons they’ve already learned and what lessons might be upcoming. Remember, a learner might take an asynchronous online course over an extended period of time, so reminding them of a previous lesson and how it relates to the current lessons can really help with comprehension. Connecting that same lesson to the larger course promise promotes the course narrative and creates a vision of what the learner could do with their new skill set.
Take the necessary time in the early stages of your online course development to craft your course narrative by identifying the 5 Pillars of Content. By doing this work upfront, you will be well-positioned to implement the narrative into the actual course content when you script the videos. By using the tactics listed above you stand a much better chance of authentically connecting to your learner. And this deeper connection you develop might mean the difference between a learner giving up or powering through and completing your course