Top 5 Writing Tips for Instructional Designers

TL;DR

Learn five writing tips to enhance instructional design and eLearning, including using conversational tone, active voice, showing instead of telling, using commas correctly, and using simpler language.

Transcript

Hello, my friends! In today's video, we're  talking about writing and writing is important   because there's a common misconception that you  can make eLearning more engaging and effective   just by throwing in more interactions and  more animation and more visuals. But the   words that we use can actually have a  bigger impact than all of these th... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥌 Using a conversational tone and active voice enhances the engagement and effectiveness of eLearning content.
• 🛰️ "Show don't tell" principle helps create a more immersive learning experience by focusing on actions and dialogue.
• ❓ Proper comma usage contributes to sentence clarity and prevents confusion.
• 🖕 Simplifying language to a middle school reading level improves accessibility and comprehension.
• 💁 Writing tips complement each other, and incorporating multiple tips can lead to more compelling instructional design.
• ✍️ Transitioning from formal academic writing to writing for a broader audience can be challenging but crucial for effective eLearning.
• ✍️ Practicing rewriting sentences with simpler language and proper comma usage can enhance writing skills.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is using a conversational tone important in instructional design?

Using a conversational tone helps personalize the learning experience and is supported by the personalization principle. People learn better when the content is presented in a conversational and relatable manner.

Q: How can the active voice improve writing?

The active voice makes sentences clearer and more engaging. By focusing on the subject performing the action, the message becomes more direct and easier to understand.

Q: What is the significance of "show don't tell" in eLearning writing?

"Show don't tell" encourages writers to use actions and dialogue instead of summarizing emotions or internal states. This principle makes the content more engaging by allowing learners to visualize and connect with the information.

Q: How can proper comma usage impact writing clarity?

Using commas correctly, especially when separating two independent clauses, improves sentence clarity. By following comma rules, writers can avoid confusion and ensure their message is conveyed effectively.

Q: Why is it important to use simpler language in eLearning?

Simplifying language to a middle school reading level makes content more accessible and engaging. By avoiding complex vocabulary and sentence structures, learners can better understand and retain the information.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Writing is often underestimated in eLearning, but it can have a greater impact than interactive elements and visuals.

• Five writing tips to improve instructional design and eLearning skills are: using a conversational tone, using the active voice, showing instead of telling, using commas correctly, and using simpler language.

• These tips can help professionals transition from formal academic writing to writing for a broader audience.