‘Pack your backpack’ drag and drop activity (Articulate Storyline 3)

Learning Design

An interactive drag-and-drop module simulating real-world packing and weight distribution challenges, intended to be a part of an online article about how to pack for overnight and multi-day hiking adventures. This was my first experiment with Storyline and I learned some valuable lessons.

A screenshot of an Articulate Storyline interactive module which consists of a backpack with coloured zones and on the left, some items which can be dragged into the backpack

My role on this project: Sole designer and developer

Knowledge gap addressed: Novice hikers struggle with efficient packing for overnight and multi-day trips.

Key features:

  • Engaging drag-and-drop interface.
    Immediate feedback on item placement.
  • Simulates real weight distribution in a backpack.

Technical implementation:

  • Developed using Articulate Storyline 3.
  • Custom layers and triggers for enhanced user experience.
  • Designed for embedding in an instructional blog post.

Results:

  • Enhanced learning experience for The Bushwalking Blog readers.
  • Improved retention of packing principles through interactivity.

Challenges and learning:

  • Overcame Storyline’s default drag-and-drop limitations
  • Identified accessibility and responsive design improvements for future iterations

Next steps:

  • Implement accessibility features
  • Develop a mobile-responsive version

Note: I ceased publishing new content on The Bushwalking Blog while making this module, which is why I didn’t follow through with these changes.