If you're an Instructional Designer, Course Manager, a new employee going through onboarding, or even just a student of an e-Learning course, you know how plain and dull some of them can sound. A lot goes into producing and developing great e-Learning modules like what Learning Management Software (LMS) to use, ensuring it’s compliant with current regulations in your field, and hopefully even fun. Yet, there are two things a lot of great designers forget about or is an afterthought.
1: Great Copy
Try to remember that there is another human on the other of the module trying to understand what you are meaning to convey. Don't use overly technical or business jargon where it isn't necessary. This is doubly true if it’s for onboarding and remember not all your students are English native speakers, or fluent in your industry "buzzwords" and lingo. A casual conversational tone increases engagement and user comprehension better than a flat narration. We've all probably sat through that PowerPoint presentation where the guy reads straight from the slide right? Nobody wants that and you probably forgot 98% of what was said when you left the meeting.
2: Narrating the module
You've got great graphics and slick video, interactive gamification but something is still not right. A VOICE ACTOR! Sure, you can find a robot voice generation program, but you, a human, wrote the script and cherish it, and have an idea of how you want it to sound. I'm guessing that sound isn't robotic sounding. NO! You want someone to sound believable, someone who can emote. I know it can be hard finding the right talent, but your project is worth it.
(video credit: Lost in Space)
Industry professionals like you hire me because they want someone believable, someone their students can relate to. You hire a voice talent for your narration because we can put emotion and passion into even dry topics like electrical conduit boxes or the exciting new sorting and labeling machine. Yeah, I’ve done them and when you get your finished piece, you’ll know it was the cherry on top and that it’s perfect.