eLearning Template
Standards/Style Guide
eLearning Standards and Style
Guide
Project
Month 20YY
Version X.XX
Company Information
eLearning Standards/Styles Template
Contents
1. Introduction........................................................................................................... 3
2. Document History and Revisions...........................................................................3
3. Courses................................................................................................................. 3
4. Development Timeline and Delivery Dates...........................................................3
5. Roles and Responsibilities..................................................................................... 3
Instructional Designer........................................................................................... 3
Subject Matter Expert........................................................................................... 4
6. File Naming Conventions....................................................................................... 4
7. Properties.............................................................................................................. 4
8. Review and Delivery Process.................................................................................5
9. Stencils/Page Layouts............................................................................................ 5
10.Writing Style.......................................................................................................... 8
11.Terminology and Acronyms....................................................................................9
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
1.Introduction
[Introduce the purpose and scope of the guide, such as all courses for a particular
curriculum. You can also include names and links to any additional templates used
in the project. Examples throughout this template, such as use of U Perform
software tools should be modified according to the tools and conventions applicable
to your team]
This document is for online course developers working on the [project name]
courses. The document includes standards and best practices to ensure consistency
among all modules and courses. All module and/recording files are created using
the [name of templates] and the UPerform software.
2.Document History and Revisions
[Use this section to list version numbers and changes to make it easy for team
members to find new material. You can remove or add columns based on your
content needs.]
Date
Version
Number
Changes
3.8.2015
v1.0
Initial Draft
3.10.201
5
V2.0
New terms and
acronyms added
Made By
Reviewed/Appro
ved By
3.Courses
[If you know the number of courses within your project and their names, list them
here, along with any specifications that might help developers. You can also list
details about the audience profiles, purchasing or download options, etc.]
This program consists of three courses, Introduction, Deep Dive, and Practice. Each
course contains three modules and a final assessment.
4.Development Timeline and Delivery Dates
[List any pertinent details about the timelines for development, milestone dates
that require submission, etc.]
The development timeline is March-August 2015. Milestone delivery dates will be
determined, and will be broken into storyboard, module, and final deliverable.
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
5.Roles and Responsibilities
[List the roles and responsibilities for all team members, which may include
instructional designers, developers, and subject matter experts (SMEs).]
Instructional Designer
Meet with SME to help validate objectives and map previous content to new
instructional model.
Create module in uPerform using the Instruction Model as your guide.
Create, test, and publish recordings.
Publish and review course.
Work with SME through the review cycle making the appropriate edits.
Create zip package of recordings and course file as the final deliverable.
Check-in final course files to uPerform server. (Files should also be checked-in
nightly.)
Create course syllabus.
Subject Matter Expert
Validate objectives for each module.
Review content to ensure accuracy.
Supply application images for conceptual pages as requested by course
developer.
Review course and simulations. Use the annotations feature in uPerform to
indicate required edits.
6.File Naming Conventions
[Use this section to list the file naming structure for each type of file you are using
in the course development.]
File Type
Style
Example
PowerPoint
storyboard
courseinitials_version_mod
#_title_storyboard
intro_80_mod1_introduction_storyboard
Module file
name
courseinitials_version_mod
#_title
intro_8-0_mod1_introduction
Simulation file
name
courseinitials_mod#_title
intro_mod2_using_chat_feature
7.Properties
[Use this section to list the standard properties you are using in the course
development.]
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
Property
Style
Example
Title
[Course Title and Release
Number]: Title
Introduction to Service Desk
Course Code
[List code with capital letters
and no space before the
number]
SD100
Description
[Provide a sentence or two to
describe the course]
This course introduces the
Service Desk application and
provides steps for logging into
the system.
Release/Versi
on Number
[List release and/or version
number]
Release 8.0.0, Version 1.0
User Roles
Copyright
8.Review and Delivery Process
[List job titles and/or names as appropriate when you need to send storyboards,
modules, and finished products to a product manager, project manager, team
members, and more.]
When a module is ready for review, upload the file to the SharePoint site and inform
[name/title].
9.Stencils/Page Layouts
[Based on the software application you are using to develop and publish your
eLearning courses, you can modify this section to include screen designs, images,
and more.]
Page Type &
Stencil
Format and Writing Style
Example
Title
In Course pane, list the module
number: Module ##
Module 01
Standard-HalfBottom, 65%
split, centered
Use module number and name
style from source content as the
image (see title image to the
right).
module_number.png
Nothing in the heading area.
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
List the module objectives in
text area. Use the corresponding
audio file.
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title.jpg
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
Page Type &
Stencil
Format and Writing Style
Example
Welcome
The "Welcome" page is only
included in the first module of
each course.
Navigating this course
This course introduces you
to the system
functionality. You will learn
how to perform various
tasks from the
perspectives of a change
coordinator, change
manager, release
manager, approver, and
various support staff roles.
Standard-HalfBottom, 80%
split, centered
In the heading area, the text is
"Navigating this course."
The body text is attached in the
Welcome page text document to
the right.
This course includes an
end-of-course assessment.
While you can take the
assessment at any time,
we recommend that you
complete the entire
course prior to taking the
Course Assessment.
Note: There is no audio
for this screen.
Lesson
Create a lesson
folder with
Standard-HalfBottom stencil,
65%, centered
Content pages
Standard-HalfLeft, StandardHalf-Bottom,
Standard-Image
Use lesson style from source
content as the image (see
lesson1 image to the right).
Nothing in the heading area.
Copy/paste the objectives into
notepad to remove formatting or
set to normal in uPerform. Use
the corresponding audio file.
Try not to use the same text in
the Course pane and the
content heading area because
the published output will show it
twice. Also avoid using multiple
colons (:) in the Course pane
area.
Course pane: Requester
role example (sentence
case)
Content heading area:
Requesting an application
upgrade
If there is no audio, include text
to say "Note: There is no audio
for this screen."
Images should be left aligned
unless otherwise specified.
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
Page Type &
Stencil
Format and Writing Style
Example
Simulation
Grab text from source materials
to explain what the simulation is
about. Then follow with this text:
Course pane: Changing
profile and preferences
simulation (sentence case)
The simulation will open in a
new browser window.
Content heading area:
Using supplemental
features (sentence case)
Simulation-HalfRight
Click the button below to launch
the simulation.
Note: There is no audio during
the simulation.
Knowledge
Check
Introduction
Standard-HalfRight stencil,
35% split
Use the begin_simulation image
to the right.
In the Course pane area, the
text is "Knowledge Check." In
the heading area, the text is
"Introduction."
Some lessons contain more than
one knowledge check, so the
launch page text can vary. See
document to the right.
Use the question mark image to
the right.
Knowledge
Check
Questions
Page type
depends on the
question type
In the Course pane area, the
text is "Knowledge Check #.#"
The first number corresponds to
the lesson and the second
number corresponds to its order
within the knowledge check (i.e.,
question 1, question 2). The
question text can be
copied/pasted from Word files.
Use the custom feedback from
Word files but start with
"Correct." or "Incorrect."
Welcome to the final
assessment. The
assessment contains 50
questions that will test
your understanding of the
concepts and processes
discussed in this course.
Note: There is no audio
during the final
assessment.
Click Continue start.
Knowledge Check 2.1
Knowledge Check 1.1.1,
1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.2.1, 1.2.2,
1.2.3
Hotspot question stems
need ", then, click
Continue."
If there is more than one
knowledge check in a lesson,
the numbering varies (second
example to the right.
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
Summary
Standard-Image
Create an image using the text
from the source files and the
PPT file to the right. Left align
the image.
Use corresponding audio file.
Page Type &
Stencil
Format and Writing Style
Example
Course closing
The "Course closing" is placed
only in the final module for each
course, directly before the
assessment. In the Course pane
area, the text is "Course
closing."
You have now completed
the [] course. Thank you
for your participation.
Nothing in the heading area. The
body text is in the document to
the right.
Note: There is no audio
for this screen.
Click Next to start the
final assessment.
Standard-HalfBottom, 80%
split
Assessment
Introduction
Standard-HalfRight, 35% split
Your next step is to take
the final assessment.
DO NOT use the audio file
because the navigation
instructions do not apply.
The final course assessment is
placed only in the final module
for each course. In the Course
pane area, right-click and select
"Edit Assessment." Then click
the "Select questions from a
question pool" check box and
set the number to 50. The
question text can be
copied/pasted from Excel files.
Use this custom feedback "You
selected the correct response"
or "You did not select the correct
response."
In the Course pane area, the
text is "Final Assessment." In the
heading area, the text is
"Introduction."
Assessment
Questions
Use the image to the right.
In the Course pane area, the
text is "Final Assessment #.#"
The questions are randomized,
so the numbering doesn't
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Final Assessment 1.1, 1.2,
1.3, 1.4, 1.5
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
matter to the learner.
10. Writing Style
[Use this section to provide guidance on the expected writing style and formatting
for course materials, including when to use bold or italics for emphasis, the
preferred capitalization style, and a focus on active voice. As applicable, reference
organizational writing and style guidelines, including preferred authoritative
sources]
For this project, the content has been vetted, so only minor alterations to the text
are allowed (e.g., changing a capitalized job title to lowercase). Do not alter the
transcript text because it matches what is spoken in the audio files, which are not
going to be re-recorded.
Bold is used to emphasize main points. Below are lists of some common formatting
and UI elements.
Type
Font
Size
Style
Color
Line spacing
Example
Headli
ne
Verda
na
24-pt
Regula
r
RGB: 79,
129, 189
Paragraph
spacing: 10-pt
after
Headline
Line spacing:
Multiple at 1.15
Headin
gs
Calibri
14-pt
Bold
RGB: 0,
128, 0
Paragraph
spacing: 0-pt
before and
after
Heading
Line spacing:
Multiple at 1.15
Type
Example
Button
Icon
Link
Click the Save button.
Click the Calendar icon.
Click the Asset Console link.
Click the 4 link. (Example of what to write when there's a
calendar date.)
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
Text Entry
Click the Title*+ text box.
Type Web Report in the Title*+ text box. (When the user
has to type a lot of text, right-click the action, select "Edit
Action," and condense the text in the "example text" field.)
For guidance on how to name UI elements, consult the [Microsoft Manual of Style].
Materials must conform to organizational branding standards. [Link]
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
11. Terminology and Acronyms
[List all corresponding terms, acronyms, and usage guidelines in alphabetical
order.]
A
ADDIE - Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate
L
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
Y
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eLearning Standards/Styles Template
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