Ever tried putting together a text-based online course that’s actually fun and engaging? Trust me, it’s trickier than it seems.

Here’s why: most e-learning courses are packed with content that leans heavily toward the client’s priorities, often at the expense of the learner’s experience. The result? Learners start the course and quickly find themselves overwhelmed with too much information, making it hard to stay engaged.

The trick is to use a framework that combines the client’s essential content with a touch of creative magic—narratives that make the material engaging and memorable.

“But wait,” you’re thinking, “why add more narratives?”

Here’s the deal: adding these layers expands the story’s focus, helping learners see their role in the content. It also allows them to visualize how applying the material can lead to meaningful, actionable results.

The challenge is finding a way to make these extra narratives work without watering down the core message or distracting learners.

Daunting? Maybe. But here’s the kicker: the perfect storytelling model is closer than you think, inspired by a children’s book series you probably grew up loving!

“Seatbelts, everyone!”

Recognize that phrase? If you grew up with The Magic School Bus, it probably brings back memories of Ms. Frizzle’s wild and wacky field trips to outer space, the human body, or even through time. These picture books aren’t just nostalgic; they’re a treasure chest of storytelling inspiration for e-learning designers.

Why? Because every page is packed with rich, layered narratives. Sure, the stories are fun and colorful, but beneath all that, they’re masterclasses in presenting complex ideas in an engaging, learner-friendly way.

The best part? You can apply those same techniques to elevate your e-learning courses.

Making magic with multiple narratives

If you take a closer look under the hood of The Magic School Bus books, you’ll notice they’re powered by not one, but three distinct narrative threads: the main narrative, the student narrative, and the alternate narrative. Each plays a unique role in delivering the story while keeping readers hooked.

• Main Narrative: This is your front-and-center storyline, the backbone of the book. It’s where the core lesson unfolds, told through Ms. Frizzle’s voice or a similar guiding narrator.
• Student Narrative: These are the thought bubbles, chat clouds, or side comments from the students. They mirror the main story but add humor, doubts, questions, and quirky observations—basically all the things that make it relatable and real.
• Alternate Narrative: Think of this as the bonus features. These are the sidebars, footnotes, or activity snippets, like assignments and experiments. They let readers (or learners) take what they’ve just learned and put it into practice.

Take a look at a typical page from the series:

So how does this storytelling model work for online courses?

The magic of The Magic School Bus lies in its ability to make learning fun, engaging, and layered with different perspectives. And conveniently, its acronym—MSB—gives us a perfect way to remember our framework for crafting impactful e-learning content: Main, Scope, Bridge.

• Main: Start with the primary narrative or core content. This is your foundation, the heart of the lesson where the essential information is presented clearly and confidently.
• Scope: Add perspective by reflecting the learner’s context, questions, and challenges. This layer brings depth and relatability, helping learners see the material through a lens that feels personal and relevant.
• Bridge: Finally, connect everything to real-world actions. This could be a tool, activity, or task that helps learners apply what they’ve learned and make it meaningful in their own experiences.

Using MSB: Main, Scope, Bridge, you can transform even the driest material into engaging and practical content.

Let’s see this in action

Let’s see it in action. Take a slide from a text-based course on change management.

On its own, it’s flat and uninspiring. But with MSB, you can reframe it:

Here’s how it works:

• Begin with the Main, clearly presenting the key information as the foundation.
• Add the Scope by including a dialogue or scenario that reflects the learner’s perspective and addresses their concerns.
• Build the Bridge by providing a practical tool, like a checklist or job aid, that empowers learners to apply the content.

With MSB: Main, Scope, Bridge, not only do you have a practical framework, but it’s one that’s easy to remember and just as effective at sparking engagement as Ms. Frizzle’s famous field trips.

Let’s talk design

To pull this off, your course needs a clear visual strategy so learners can easily tell one narrative from another. That’s where design templates and storyboards come into play. A little upfront planning goes a long way in making sure each narrative feels distinct and intentional.

Main Narrative

The Main narrative element is your foundation content. This is the core narrative that delivers the essential information. It needs to feel authoritative and structured.

• Fonts: Use clean, professional fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman to establish credibility.
• Placement: Position this content in a prominent area, such as the top left of the screen, where it’s immediately visible.
• Styling: Keep the design minimal to avoid distractions. Think simple text boxes or callouts that clearly highlight the primary message.

Scope or Learner Narrative

The Scope or learner narrative is where relatability comes into play. It captures the learner’s perspective, addressing their questions, challenges, and experiences.

• Fonts: Choose conversational or playful fonts like Comic Sans, Action Man, or Blambot to create a more approachable tone.
• Content Holders: Use speech bubbles, chat boxes, or thought clouds to represent dialogue or learner commentary.
• Characters: Incorporate illustrated or photographic characters to personify the learner’s voice. These could even be anthropomorphized objects or products that tie into your theme.

Bridge or Alternative Narrative

The Bridge connects knowledge to real-world application. It’s where learners actively engage with the content through tools or activities.

• Fonts: Use handwriting-style fonts like Noteworthy or Marker Felt for a personal, action-oriented feel.
• Content Holders: Design these as job aids, checklists, or task cards. Visual elements like sticky notes, clipboards, or smartphone screens work well here.
• Activities: Incorporate interactive elements like drag-and-drop tasks, quick assessments, or downloadable resources to reinforce learning.

By aligning each element of the MSB framework with a distinct design style, you create a cohesive and visually engaging learning experience that draws learners in and keeps them connected to the content.

About the books

Oh, and if you’re feeling inspired to dive deeper into the Magic School Bus world, make sure you grab the original series by Joanna Cole. The chapter books and TV shows are great, but the originals are where the storytelling magic really shines.

• The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks
• The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth
• The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body
• The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System
• The Magic School Bus On the Ocean Floor
• The Magic School Bus In the Time of the Dinosaurs
• The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane
• The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive
• The Magic School Bus And the Electric Field Trip
• The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses
• The Magic School Bus And the Science Fair Expedition
• The Magic School Bus And the Climate Challenge