We’ve all been there. It’s time to make an exciting new training module but your creative well seems to have run dry. You find that your mind has gone as blank as the slide (or sheet of paper) in front of you. Even the most experienced instructional designers hit a wall sometimes.
After some totally valid procrastination (“that folder structure wasn’t going to organize itself”), you turn your attention back to that blank canvas. Sometimes, it helps to look at a few examples to get you through your creative block. We’ve taken inspiration from our favorite portfolio samples to help you get those creative juices flowing.
1. Put Your Learners in the Driver’s Seat
Branching scenarios are a great way to reinforce important concepts through storytelling, allowing learners to practice conversational skills while they navigate real-life situations.
Regardless of the treatment (first-person illustrations or third-person video), learners will love being able to make decisions and see their results.
2. Give Them a Mascot!
Sometimes, all you need to do to grab your learner’s attention is to give them something fun to guide them along the way.
In our Trivia Game Show, we played up our Chicago roots by bringing a certain famous popcorn bucket to life! In our Food Safety Training, we introduced Professor Gene (“Hi Gene!”) to influence the use of proper hygiene in the workplace.
3. Lean Into the Theme
When your training has a clear theme, you can turn it into a memorable experience, such as holiday product training with a festive twist or a building tour that brings concept art to life. With a theme woven throughout, learners will be drawn in and motivated to explore.
4. Blend Physical and Digital Training
Some topics are easier to grasp when learners can practice in-person with peers, working with a blend of hands-on materials and online tools. For example, in this physical card game, we helped learners practice their coaching and communication skills firsthand.
5. Use Characters to Tell the Story
A good story can turn even technical topics into something memorable. Telling that story with animated characters can create an emotional connection that draws learners into your message.
Our Character Animation Showcase highlights how using characters really brings your training to life and creates lasting impact.
6. Build a World Learners Can Explore
Immersive environments pull learners in and keep them engaged from start to finish.
Pixelton Adventures puts learners into a video game where they can explore, interact, make decisions and see the outcomes in the safety of a virtual environment.
Keep the Ideas Coming
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to make an impact. Sometimes, one small idea is all it takes to change the experience for your learners. Whether you try a branching scenario or simply add a character to help tell the story, the key is making it meaningful for the learner.
For even more inspiration, take a look at some of our previous articles, including:
20 Creative Ideas to inspire your next eLearning
Using Games to Inspire Better Training for Adults
Need help making your next training really pop? Reach out to us and we’d be happy to brainstorm together!
