Random Plot Generator
A writing prompt tool to generate two characters, a setting, situation, theme, and character action. This could be a fun way to start scenarios if you're feeling stuck. h/t Jean Marrapodi
StorytellingResources - Duets Learning
Hadiya Nurridin's templates and documents for crafting stories for learning. These are mostly for IDs to use, not that would be given to a stakeholder to review.
Failure in Branching Scenarios
Karl Kapp writes on the importance of failure in branching scenarios. The choices and options should reflect common failure points. Karl gives two examples of the types of mistakes that you could include: skipping a step in a process and deviation from the process (doing something incorrectly).
You want learners to fail in an environment where they can receive corrective feedback and learn from their failures rather than make the failure on-the-job in the actual situation such as in front of a customer or violating a safety protocol on a piece of equipment.
Scenario Based Learning: Examples and Templates for How to Create SBL
Rued Riis gives a quick overview of scenario-based learning with animated Vyond videos. In his example, he uses links within YouTube to go to the next video based on which choice you make. This blog post summarizes everything from all of the videos.
Workshop on Writing Scenario Questions » Work-Learning Research
Will Thalheimer's workshop on writing scenario questions using his SEDA model. His prices for a 2-day workshop definitely reflect his research and expertise.
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Two-Day Workshop Fee:</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Starting at $19,500<br>
(including travel within contiguous US)<br>
plus workbooks at $95 per participant.</p>
Video Game Secrets - BIANCA WOODS
Slides from Bianca Woods's presentation on "The Secrets Video Games Can Teach L&D About Crafting Scenarios and Simulations That Work." I didn't attend the session, but the slides and references to the games used as inspiration are still useful.
Hack: How to Add Custom Characters to Scenario Blocks - Overview
While the Rise scenario block doesn't have a way to add your own customer characters, you can use this trick from Tom Kuhlmann. It's a bit of a kludge, but you can swap out the images in the published file. The image file names aren't obvious, but Tom shows how he uses PPT to keep track of which label goes with each image.
How to Create Branching Scenarios (5 Instructional Design Tips) — The Interactive Story
Kimberly Goh shares tips on branching scenario structure, comparing the time cave vs. branch and bottleneck structure. She recommends skipping both of those and using a gauntlet structure, which she calls a "mastery loop." This is her "optimized branching structure." She builds on to it a little more by showing more consequences for bad choices, but it's still ultimately a friendly gauntlet that always forces you back to the right path. I'm part of the "some people" who often discourage the limited gauntlet structure; I don't think this is a true branching scenario. But, it is an interactive story.
<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">In a Mastery Loop, every time you make a poor decision, you see the poor consequence play out, then you automatically get to make the decision again. Once you make the right decision, the story continues. There’s really only one way to get to the ending, and it’s always the best ending.</p><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Some people discourage the use of Mastery Loops because they feel it’s overly controlling to “force” people to eventually choose the right path. </p><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">But if your business problem is relatively simple, and doesn’t require a lot of nuanced decisions, a Mastery Loop might be the best format to use. </p>
Does writing style change how learners perceive choices in a branched scenario? – Learningworld Design
Description of PhD research on how the writing style of choices in a branching scenario affected which options learners chose and how they thought about those options. This is a small sample size, but still interesting results in favor of using dialog for branching scenario choices.
Finally, version with dialogue-based choices (see screenshot above) was perceived as more personal and engaging, “lively” and helpful for making a selection (“made me feel like I was talking out loud in my head”).
The findings from this pilot questionnaire seem to indicate that providing framing in the options themselves has more effect on the learner than providing it in an introductory text.
Additionally, options written as dialogue were experienced as more personal and elicited higher emotional reactions of the learner towards the characters. This may be of use in courses about soft skills.
How to Craft Branched Scenario Choices Like a Game Designer - E-Learning Heroes
Taking inspiration from games, this post notes some specific features of games that we can borrow for branching scenarios. Plus, Bianca includes recommendations for games to try for more ideas.
6 Things Video Games Can Teach You About Writing Engaging Scenarios - E-Learning Heroes
Tips for writing engaging scenarios, plus examples from specific games
Now, this isn’t to say your scenario’s aesthetics are meaningless. It’s more that if you have a limited amount of time and resources, it’s best to focus on crafting the story and keep the look and feel simple.
<p>When it doesn’t take much thinking to identify the correct choice, it quickly becomes boring.</p>
<p>Instead, it’s better to give your audience challenging yet realistic decisions to ponder. Things that make them think hard about what the best option could be. </p>
So what’s the best way to avoid clunky 90’s video game dialogue in your scenarios? Read your script out loud as you’re drafting it. If it sounds weird as you say it, that’s a good sign that it could use reworking.
Fun is a crucial part of what makes game-like experiences like scenarios so engaging. Just make sure that the majority of the fun serves to reinforce the project’s learning goals.
Create a Branching Scenario in 7 Steps – jamie billingham
Jamie Billingham explains his process for creating a branching scenario. He plans the structure in a mind mapping tool called Plectica and uses tables to organize content. The final product was built in Storyline. This process is a little different than mine, and it's interesting to see someone else walk through their steps.
The power of feedback and reflection: Testing an online scenario-based learning intervention for student teachers - ScienceDirect
Study looking at how feedback and reflection affect the effectiveness of scenario-based learning in improving self-efficacy and classroom readiness for student teachers. Providing automatic feedback and opportunity to reflect had the biggest effect.
The student teachers were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions:control group (online scenario-based learning activity), intervention group 1 (online scenario-based learning activity and feedback), and intervention group 2 (online scenario-based learning, feedback, and reflection). The findings indicated that, compared to the control group, both intervention conditions had a significant positive effect on cognitive classroom readiness. A significant positive effect on self-efficacy was found for intervention group 2. Overall, our research demonstrates the potential of an easy-to-implement online intervention in enhancing self-efficacy and classroom readiness and points towards the importance of combining feedback and reflection within online scenario-based learning activities.
Issue 58: Are Group Projects Actually Dreaded?
This issue summarizes a study comparing in-class scenario-based learning to scenario-based elearning. The study found no significant differences in perceived learning, flow, or enjoyment in the in-class and online settings. In effect, the self-paced elearning version of the case study had comparable results to the in-person version.
While the e-learning SBL was not better than the classroom experience, it was comparable. The lack of significance tells us that the online learning students view their engagement, enjoyment, and learning similarly.
<strong>Key Takeaway:</strong> Scenario-based learning is beneficial, both online and in-person. Thus, implementing SBL into e-learning settings, particularly when preparing learners for real-world settings, is an effective way to engage learners.
Scenario-based learning
2-page PDF overview of scenario-based learning with citations of research for further reading
Set the Scene
My article on scenario-based learning for TD Magazine (members only)
Decisions, Decisions! – Engage Brain and Train!
A humorous Choose Your Own Adventure branching scenario sample by Jonathan Hill. The look and feel matches the classic books. Jonathan includes a tip to consider adding decisions in the beginning that have no impact on the outcome (just a cosmetic change), but provide a tutorial or practice on using the controls.
Scenario Writing: Top 5 Pitfalls | Scissortail Creative Services, LLC
Common mistakes and pitfalls for writing scenario-based learning.
- Not tying the story to the learning objectives.
- Getting preachy.
- Avoiding the gray areas.
- Writing robotic speech.
- Disguising info dumps as conversations.
Branching Scenarios: Yes, No, Maybe? – The H5P PB Kitchen
This is another post about Alan Levine's branching scenario built in H5P and Pressbooks. At the bottom of the post, Alan provides links to several other examples of branching scenarios built in H5P.
An H5P Branching Scenario That Might Break the Boat – CogDogBlog
Alan Levine built this very complex branching scenario in H5P and Pressbooks. This includes some scenario images and descriptions, plus a separate tracker where you have to fill out forms with info and keep track of finances and other notes. Alan's blog post explains how he built the random events (which were originally a card draw in the physical version).
Designing Scenario-Based Learning for Skill Development | Learning Solutions Magazine
This article from Bill Brandon gives an overview of the development sequence for scenario-based learning, plus a preview of my session on Streamlining Branching Scenario Planning and Design.
<a href="https://learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1108/how-to-engage-learners-with-scenario-based-learning-/?utm_campaign=lspub&utm_medium=link&utm_source=link">Scenario-based learning</a> (SBL) and the inclusion of practice with feedback are much more effective approaches to the development of skill and competence.
Celestory - Create your customized training
Tool for creating branching scenario training or interactive games. I haven't tried this yet, but there's a free version that would be enough to test it out. The tool collects data on user behavior. The website says it's using AI to analyze behavior, but it's not quite clear exactly what that AI is doing.
How to give delayed FEEDBACK in a Google Form -
Branching scenarios can be built in Google Forms. It may not be my first choice as a tool, but plenty of teachers in schools are restricted to Google tools. This post goes step by step to show how to provide either immediate or delayed feedback and how to create branching with the "Go to Section" option.
Resources for Creating Branching Scenarios - E-Learning Uncovered
Diane Elkin's curated resources on creating branching scenarios, including examples, books, blog posts, and templates.
Scenario examples for training – Learn instructional design for the workplace from Cathy Moore
A collection of example scenarios from multiple sources, built in multiple tools. Cathy describes each scenario and asks questions to help you reflect about the design.
Yo Scenario | The branching scenario builder
A browser-based branching scenario builder. Free for 5 scenarios to try it out. Paid plans start at £20/ month.
Products - Kognito
This vendor has a library of scenario-based courses using virtual coaches. One interesting note is how each decision has two parts. First, you choose which strategy to use. Second, you choose which sentence within that strategy to try in the conversation. You can ask for help from the virtual coach or undo your last action. While the 3D virtual characters are great, you could use that two-part technique in simulations built in other tools as well. Watch the trailers to get an idea of how the interactions work.
13 eLearning Scenario Tips that 60 Experts Agree On – eLearningArt
Bryan Jones asked 60 people for their #1 tip for creating scenarios. He noted the top trends and collected these tips all in a single post. My tip is #23 about aligning the scenario to the objectives.
<p>these are the 13 most important elements:</p>
<ol>
<li><a href="#real">Keep it real</a></li>
<li><a href="#relevant">Make it relevant</a></li>
<li><a href="#structure">Follow a structured approach</a></li>
<li><a href="#plan">Plan and analyze before you build</a></li>
<li><a href="#objectives">Keep the learning objectives and outcomes in mind</a></li>
<li><a href="#story">Tell a story</a></li>
<li><a href="#context">Provide accurate context</a></li>
<li><a href="#nuance">Find nuance in the scenario</a></li>
<li><a href="#choice">Consider scenario choices carefully</a></li>
<li><a href="#sme">Collaborate with your subject matter experts</a></li>
<li><a href="#learner">Collaborate with your actual learners</a></li>
<li><a href="#challenge">Challenge your learners</a></li>
<li><a href="#consequences">Let learners experience consequences</a></li></ol>
<h3>Use your objectives to drive the action in your scenarios</h3>
<blockquote><p>Align your scenario with your objectives. An engaging scenario that doesn’t help learners practice relevant decisions tied to your objectives is a waste of time and resources. Use scenarios to provide learners with a realistic context where they can make choices. In a scenario, the main character’s goal often reflects achieving or demonstrating the learning objective. Use your objectives to drive the action in your scenarios.</p></blockquote>
<p>— <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.syniadlearning.com/">Christy Tucker</a></span></p>
Branching Scenario (beta) | H5P
H5P has a tool for branching scenarios now. The sample is a well-done interactive video scenario for home visitors.
ONE level of exaggeration - Learnlets
Exaggerate a little in scenarios for learning to increase the stakes of decisions without fundamentally changing the decisions themselves. A little exaggeration keeps it exciting, but too much makes it unbelievable.