Making Technical Content Less Yawn-Worthy: A Guide for Learning Designers
Most technical content feels like it was written for machines rather than humans. Let’s fix that.
What makes technical writing work for instructional design?
Every workplace has its share of technical documentation – those detailed guides explaining everything from how to reset your password to operating complex machinery without breaking it (or yourself). That’s technical writing: taking complicated systems, processes, and procedures and documenting them clearly. In instructional design, it’s how we turn expert knowledge into learning materials that actually make sense.
The problem is: technical writing often sacrifices clarity for formality. The result? Content that’s precise but painfully dull to read, making useful information feel utterly unusable.
Research by Clark and Mayer (2016) confirm what we already suspect: people learn better when content speaks to them like a knowledgeable colleague rather than a stern professor. No surprise there.
Why should you care?
Ever clicked “skip” on a tutorial that felt like a lecture? Your learners do the same. Boring technical content kills engagement faster than a Wi-Fi outage. But when you nail it, you:
- Make it stick: Clear, engaging explanations help learners absorb and recall info.
- Cut the clutter: Simplify content so they focus on using knowledge, not decoding jargon.
- Open the door: Well-structured writing works for all learning styles—no PhD required.
People learn better when you talk to them like a human, not a textbook.
How to bring technical content to life
Lead with the “so what?”
Before explaining how a software feature works, say why it matters. For example:
1. Lead with the “so what?”
Skip this: “Click the Settings icon to configure permissions.”
Try this: “Want to control who edits your project? Configure permissions in Settings—no surprise changes allowed.”
2. Anchor concepts in real-world scenarios
Use scenarios where skipping steps has consequences (non-disastrous, we promise). For engineers:
“Imagine inspecting a machine. Skipping lockout-tagout might save two minutes—but could cost you a broken valve. Here’s how to avoid that awkward chat with your boss.”
3. Chunk it down
Walls of text? Hard pass. Use bullet points, steps, and headers like your learners’ attention depends on it (spoiler: it does). Compare:
- Before: A 200-word paragraph on server errors.
- After: A step-by-step checklist with bolded keywords and “do this, not that” tips.
4. Slip in visuals (yes, even memes)
Diagrams, screenshots, or a well-placed meme can clarify chaos. Studies show task-relevant images cut comprehension time by 30% (Nielsen, 2006). Pair a flowchart with a process explanation—watch confusion vanish.
5. Spin micro-stories
Here’s a hot tip: Stories stick. Frame technical concepts as problem-solution arcs. Example:
“Maria needed to export data without the software crashing. Enter the ‘split large files’ option—sanity saved, crisis averted.”
Practical tips for less snooze, more use
- Ditch the passive voice – use an active tone: “Click the button” beats “The button should be clicked.”
- Swap jargon for plain English: “Use” instead of “utilise,” “help” instead of “facilitate.”
- Throw it at a clueless colleague: If they can’t explain it back, simplify.
- Add clicks, not clutter: Turn guides into clickable prototypes or quizzes (try Articulate Rise).
- Talk to learners like they’re human: Example: “You’ll need to update the software first.”
Final thoughts
The goal with technical writing is to smarten up your delivery without dumbing the context down. What’s one piece of content learners consistently find confusing? Could a scenario, visual, or simpler structure fix it?
It’s your goal to make learning feel less like a chore and more like a conversation with someone useful. Nail it, and you’ll turn even the driest material into something learners don’t just tolerate… they’ll use it.
References
- Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2016). e-Learning and the Science of Instruction. Wiley. Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119239086
- Nielsen, J. (2006). F-Shaped Pattern for Reading Web Content. Nielsen Norman Group. Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/f-shaped-pattern-reading-web-content-discovered/