Pattern - Instructions
This pattern is for use in steps that contain instructions for learners to complete. Steps can contain either an individual instruction or a sequence of instructions, which we call an instructional set.
tip
This content pattern has multiple variations. Reach out to an instructional designer if you’re unsure of the right variation to use in a particular situation.
Instructions patterns
| Pattern variation | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Standard instructional set | Follow these instructions to [high level outcome description]: 1. First instruction. 2. Second instruction. X. Nth instruction. | Follow these instructions to use the standard instructional set content pattern: 1. Write a lead-in sentence that ends in a colon. 2. Manually write the instruction number followed by a period and make them bold. 3. Leave two spaces free. 4. Write your instruction and repeat as required. |
| Standalone instruction | Write your single instruction as a standalone sentence that begins with a verb. | Research the game mechanics that most interest you and make a list of creators who implement them in innovative ways. |
| Video instructional set | This pattern undergoing review. Please reach out to your instructional designer if you're creating a learning experience with videos that guide learners through the steps in a process. | ~ |
How to use this pattern
The instructions pattern:
- Does not need to be the only thing in a step on the Learn platform — there can be additional content before or after the instructional set.
- Should only be used once per tutorial step
The instructional set variants of this pattern:
- Can include more than one sentence per instruction.
- Can include images and silent videos to support individual instructions.
- Should generally be limited to 6 to 8 steps per instructional set. In some cases exceeding this may be the most sensible approach for a particular learning goal and experience, but you should evaluate longer sets carefully to see if they can be broken into chunks of this size.
Formatting instructional sets
The numerical lists used for instructional sets are created manually and require:
- A bold number and period to lead the instruction.
- Two spaces between the period and the instruction copy.
- A line break between instructions.
Examples
You can use the following examples as a reference for these content pattern variations in our learning experiences:
- Standalone instruction: This step in includes task for the learner to complete, but it doesn't require a set of instructions to guide them through a process.
- Standard instructional set: This step includes guidance for learners in the form of a process, so it uses the standard instructional set pattern.