Templates

I find that the best way to beat the tyranny of the blank page is to use a template. Not only that, templates help:

• Structure thinking,
• Ensure all the key elements are included, and
• Save time.

Here’s an example of a branching scenario planning template I’ve created for designing, developing, and building interactive fiction for learning. 

Notice how this template includes sections separated with headings for easy navigation. The first section includes a summary of the needs analysis, learning outcomes, and purpose of the learning asset. Each succeeding section breaks the previous section down into finer detail. In other words, the template itself is scaffolded for easy and intuitive development that takes the builder’s needs into account as well. Finally, there is a checklist for easy quality assurance that guarantees a seamless and accessible user experience.