- Get Joe interested right away.
Just as the first few minutes of a TV show are designed to suck you in, use the first slide (after the title) to connect with Joe. Get him thinking, “Oh, this is going to be interesting (after all).”
- Write objectives Joe really cares about.
If your design calls for a formal objectives or overview slide, write to what Joe really cares about. He’s not interested in defining things, listing advantages and disadvantages, or describing something. He wants to make decisions, solve problems, save time, etc. Write to that. (And maybe it’s OK to skip this slide altogether and jump right into learning.)
- Start building skills quickly.
While Joe may need some background and context for the module, what he really needs is to do something. Get to action-based learning quickly. For example, if you are still covering background, context, and definition by slide 5 in a 20-minute course, ask yourself if all of that is really necessary for Joe.
- Make it abundantly clear to Joe what he’s supposed to DO.
Be careful about just giving an overview, just covering something at a high level, or just making him aware of something. Be direct about what actions he should personally take in a situation. Talk directly to Joe using “you” language (including “you” implied).
- Use questions to let Joe practice a skill.
Build in practice activities rather than fact checks. Don’t ask yourself “What question should I ask?” Instead, ask “How can I help Joe practice this skill?” (And if it’s been a while since you’ve taught a skill worth practicing, then maybe that’s the issue you should tackle.)
- Get Joe to care.
You can teach him what to do, but if he doesn’t care, he won’t go do it. Tackle motivational issues, misconceptions, and other challenges.
- Ruthlessly cut content that isn’t needed.
If something doesn’t help Joe (a) do the right thing or (b) want to do the right thing, leave it out. Use clear, succinct writing that avoids unnecessary words.
- Write for and suggest vivid visuals.
Use language in your narration from the very first sentence that lends itself to compelling visuals. (Abstract, conceptual language is harder to illustrate.) If you are making graphic suggestions in the storyboards, avoid stereotypical, generic stock photography that serves only as window dressing. Look at the narration and ask yourself, “What’s the best thing for Joe to see here to make this clear or have greater impact than narration alone?”