This document outlines 7 tips for designing effective technical training tutorials: 1. Use iterative design methods like agile design to allow for imperfection and continuously improve tutorials. 2. Pick formats like text with images, video demos, step-by-step or interactive tutorials that fit the content and learners. 3. Keep tutorials short with microlearning and chunked content broken into small pieces for accessibility. 4. Start with detailed storyboards outlining scripts, on-screen text, graphics and animations to plan content. 5. Plan screenshots and determine needed assets while ensuring quality and correct aspect ratios. 6. Record high-quality audio with good microphones, minimal noise

1. 7 Tips for Designing
Top Tech Training Tutorials
Crystal Schimpf & Ginny Mies
LITA Forum
November 11, 2017
#litaforum
#7tipstechtutorials

2. Crystal Schimpf
o Librarian
o Consultant
o Training & Instructional Design
o eLearning Design
• DigitalLearn.org
• Project Outcome
• Infopeople
• International City/County Management Association

3. DigitalLearn.org
Public Library Association
o Interactive
o Self-paced courses
o Articulate storyline
o Custom website

4. Project Outcome
Public Library Association
o Video
o Short tutorials
o Camtasia & SnagIt
o Vimeo

5. Building an Effective Learning Culture
Infopeople
o Instructor-led
o Online course
o Storyline & video
o Docebo LMS

6. Ginny Mies
o eResources Librarian at SMCL
o Former Content Developer for
TechSoup for Libraries
o Former Tech Journalist
(PCWorld/Macworld)

7. Supporting San Mateo County Online
o Population served: 270,000
o 12 libraries, 1 bookmobile serving:
• 11 towns
• Unincorporated county across 744 sq miles
o 2 million digital items in collection
o 750 circulating Wi-Fi hotspots

8. Online vs. In-Library:
Seamless Customer Service
We want to provide the same level of customer
service online as we do in the library!

9. Online Patron Tutorials

10. Online
Staff Training
• Choose Your Own
Adventure
• Step-by-step
documents
• PowerPoint
videos

11. Do you have experience
designing tech training tutorials?
Or other types of eLearning?

12. Tech Training Tutorial Examples
o DigitalLearn.org
o GCF LearnFree
o Niche Academy
o Lynda.com
o Tech Boomers
o Gale Courses
o YouTube
o Coursera

13. 1. Use iterative design
2. Pick a format that fits
3. Keep tutorials short
4. Start with storyboarding
5. Plan out screen shots
6. Record good audio
7. Make it personal
7 Tips for Top Tech Training Tutorials

14. 1. Use iterative design

15. 1. Use iterative design
o Allow for imperfection
o Use agile design methodologies
o Reflect, improve, revise

16. 1a. Allow for imperfection
Perfection in
eLearning is
unattainable

17. Evaluate
Develop
Prototype/
Design
Successive
Approximation
Model
1b. Use agile design
methodologies

18. 1c. Reflect, improve, revise
Evaluate
Develop
Prototype/
Design
Evaluate
Develop
Prototype/
Design
Evaluate
Develop
Prototype/
Design

19. 1c. Reflect, improve, revise

20. 1c. Reflect, improve, revise

21. 2. Pick a format that fits

22. o Text + image
o Demo video
o Step-by-step tutorial
o Interactive tutorial
2. Pick a format that fits

23. 2a. Format: Text + Image

24. 2b. Format: Screencast video

25. 2c. Format: Step-by-step tutorial

26. 2d. Format: Interactive tutorial

27. 3. Keep tutorials short

28. 3. Keep tutorials short
o Microlearning
o Chunked learning
o Courses broken into small pieces

29. 3a. Microlearning

30. 3b. Chunked Learning

31. 1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
3c. Courses in Small Pieces

32. 3d. What Patrons Want: Access!
Action-focused
Visuals and
call-outs

33. 4. Start with Storyboarding

34. 4. Start with storyboarding
o Draft it out:
• Script notes
• On screen text
• Graphic elements
• Animation ideas
o Don’t add unnecessary content

35. 4a. Draft it out

36. 4a. Draft it out

37. 4b. Don’t add unnecessary content

38. 4b. Don’t add unnecessary content

39. 4b. Don’t add unnecessary content

40. 4b. Don’t add unnecessary content
Everything has a reason.

41. 5. Plan out screenshots

42. o Live screencast vs. sequenced screenshots
…or how about both?
o Determine assets needed
o Test quality & aspect ratio
5. Plan out screen shots5. Plan out screenshots

43. 5a. Live screencast

44. 5a. Sequenced screenshots

45. Screenclipping tools are your best
friends!
5a. Screenclipping tools

46. 5b. Determine assets needed

47. 5b. Determine assets needed

48. 5c. Test quality & aspect ratio

49. 6. Record good audio

50. 6. Record good audio
o Quality microphone
o Reduce background noise
o Test your levels
o Learn basic audio editing skills

51. 6a. Quality Microphone

52. 6b. Reduce background noise

53. 6c. Test Your Levels
“Testing….
Testing…
1-2-3…”

54. Camtasia’s built-in sound editor
6d. Learn basic audio editing skills

55. 7. Make it personal

56. 7. Make it personal
o Use conversational style
o Include relatable examples
o Provide good customer experience

57. 7a. Use conversational style
Speak casually
“I’ll”
“You should”
Don’t speak formally
“I will”
“One should”

58. 7b. Include relatable examples

59. 7c. Provide good customer experience
Friendly, welcoming tone

60. 7c. Provide good customer experience
Consistent branding

61. 1. Use iterative design
2. Pick a format that fits
3. Keep tutorials short
4. Start with storyboarding
5. Plan out screen shots
6. Record good audio
7. Make it personal
7 Tips for Top Tech Training Tutorials

62. Questions?

63. Discussion

64. Thank you!
Ginny Mies
mies@smcl.org
@g1nny
Crystal Schimpf
crystal@kixal.com
@kixalkixal
Download presentation materials at this link:
http://bit.ly/2h95zP8