21 Refining and improving drafts

Development of the content script is an iterative process. At each stage of the scripting process, learning designers can help identify how your course might be enhanced. There’s a lot to think about and it may be the first time educators have drafted materials for an online audience. As such, it can be helpful to benefit from the guidance of a learning designer.

To ensure that dialogue during the scripting process is as productive as possible, your learning designers might consider the following:

• If they are unsure if a change is necessary, ask for clarity (for example by attaching a comment rather than editing the text directly) and suggest an amendment.
• Comments should be made as constructive suggestions or recommendations, which authors can review and choose whether to accept.
• Highlight areas that present material in a particularly engaging way to help you identify what works well in the online environment.

Wherever possible, aim to ensure that there’s an opportunity to discuss the recommendations face-to-face. It’s normally more productive if there can be a dialogue, negotiation and agreement in real-time, rather than trying to interpret the meaning of editorial recommendations from the text alone.