Effective Communication in Higher Education

This concept project is a scenario based eLearning project designed to support new university professors in developing effective communication strategies with their students. This eLearning project places instructors in realistic classroom situations where they are asked to make decisions about how to respond or interact, helping them build awareness and confidence in handling everyday communication challenges.

• Audience: New university professors preparing to enter the classroom for the first time.
• Responsibilities: Instructional design, needs analysis, action mapping, storyboarding, visual design, and eLearning development.
• Tools Used: Articulate Storyline 360, Adobe Express, MindMeister, Adobe XD, Adobe Illustrator, Google Docs.

The Problem

Many universities offer little to no training to help new professors develop strong communication skills with their students, even though it’s one of the most important parts of effective teaching. Without that support, new instructors often feel unsure about how to handle real-life situations in the classroom. This can lead to student disengagement, poor academic performance, and even higher dropout rates. For professors, it can cause frustration and, in some cases, push them to leave their roles early.

Proposed Solution

After analyzing the performance gap, I proposed a scenario-based eLearning course as the best solution. This approach allows new university professors to engage with realistic classroom situations and see how their communication choices lead to different outcomes. The goal was to create a safe, guided environment where they could practice responding to common challenges, build confidence, and develop effective communication strategies before stepping into a real classroom.

Process

I designed this scenario-based eLearning course by combining my own teaching experience with valuable insights from subject matter experts (SMEs) in higher education.The overall project was guided by the ADDIE model and Cathy Moore’s Map It process. My process included action mapping, storyboard, designing visual mockups, building interactive prototype.

Action Map

To better understand the need for training in effective classroom communication, I began by gathering insights from subject matter experts (SMEs) in higher education. I created a questionnaire to collect initial information and followed up with interviews via Google Meet. These discussions explored responsibilities, expectations, common communication challenges, and real classroom scenarios new professors often encounter.

From this input, along with my own teaching experience, I developed an action map using MindMeister. I started by defining a clear, measurable learning goal, then outlined the specific actions professors need to take to communicate effectively with their students. The final action map highlights four key actions essential for navigating classroom communication successfully.

Text-Based Storyboard

Once the action map was finished, I started working on the text-based storyboard. I framed the scenario around a new university professor dealing with their first challenging interaction with a student. To keep the situation grounded in reality, I consulted with subject matter experts throughout the process.

While there are many situations that could work for this scenario-based eLearning experience, I chose to focus on a student who frequently shows up late and whose academic performance is starting to decline. The storyboard walks learners through the scenario one step at a time, presenting realistic choices, including both correct responses and believable distractors.

To support the learner, I included a mentor character who offers guidance when needed. If the learner selects an incorrect option, they receive a clear explanation of why that choice isn’t effective and are prompted to try again.

Visual Mockups

Once the storyboard was finalized and feedback was applied, I moved on to designing and iterating the slide layouts in Adobe XD. My goal was to create a clean, intuitive interface that supported the learning experience without distracting from the content. I paid close attention to layout, spacing, and visual hierarchy to ensure key elements stood out and the flow felt natural.

For image editing and customization, I used Adobe Illustrator to manipulate visuals, ensuring they aligned with the course’s tone. I experimented with color schemes, button styles, and visual elements that would support the content and guide user attention effectively. I also kept accessibility in mind, making sure fonts were readable and colors had enough contrast. Throughout the process, I gathered feedback, and made adjustments to ensure the design supported both the content and the learner experience.

Visual Storyboard

Once the visual mockups and design elements were complete, I created a visual storyboard to bring everything together before moving on to the prototype and full development. This step allowed me to combine the visual layouts from Adobe XD with the text-based storyboard, keeping all content, interactions, and design elements organized in one place.

During this stage, I also started mapping out the interactive components, like triggers, actions, layers, and feedback, to show how the scenario would function in Storyline 360. This step was essential in bringing the learning experience to life, helping to visualize not only the look and feel of the course, but also how learners would interact with the content throughout the scenario.

Interactive Prototype

I built an interactive prototype in Articulate Storyline 360, guided by the visual mockups and storyboard to program the scenario’s functionality. The prototype included the title screen, scenario introduction, mentor introduction, and the first question with both correct and incorrect response paths.

It gave me a chance to test the course flow and gather feedback on the overall structure, design, and interactivity before diving into full development. After several rounds of revisions, I was happy with how it came together and felt confident moving on to the next stage.

Full Development

The full development of the scenario in Articulate Storyline 360 was straightforward and efficient, as all visual elements had been created and a programming framework for each consequence was already in place. After applying feedback from the prototype, I moved into full development of the course, building out three additional scenario questions. I used states, layers, variables, and triggers

Takeaways

After completing the project, I shared it with the subject matter experts (SMEs), and it was very well received by both experienced and new professors. Reviewers praised the course for its polished look, engaging dialogue, and realistic scenario. Many also pointed out the bright art style, intuitive layout, and immersive experience as standout features. The SMEs specifically noted how effectively emotions were conveyed throughout the slides, which added depth and made the learning experience feel more authentic.

During the development process, I gained a deeper understanding of scenario based eLearning, especially when it comes to designing decision points, creating branching paths, and delivering meaningful feedback. I also developed stronger skills in working with character imagery, including fine tuning facial expressions and body language to match the tone of each moment and reinforce the emotional tone of the scenario.

This experience helped me see the value of emotional nuance in scenario design, and I plan to continue exploring how visual storytelling can enhance learner engagement.