Focus on better writing, not the bells and whistles

Scenario-based design of information technology addresses five technical challenges: scenarios evoke reflection in the content of design work, helping developers coordinate design action and reflection. Scenarios are at once concrete and flexible, helping developers manage the fluidity of design situations. Scenarios afford multiple views of an interaction, diverse kinds and amounts of detailing, helping developers manage the many consequences entailed by any given design move. Scenarios can also be abstracted and categorized, helping designers to recognize, capture and reuse generalizations and to address the challenge that technical knowledge often lags the needs of technical design. Finally, scenarios promote work-oriented communication among stakeholders, helping to make design activities more accessible to the great variety of expertise that can contribute to design, and addressing the challenge that external constraints designers and clients face often distract attention from the needs and concerns of the people who will use the technology.

What is Scenario-Based e-Learning?

<em>A. The learner assumes the role of an actor responding to a job realistic situation.</em>&nbsp;

<em>B. The learning environment is preplanned</em>.&nbsp;

<em>C. Learning is inductive rather than instructive.</em>&nbsp;

<em>D. The instruction is guided</em>.&nbsp;

<em>E. Scenario lessons incorporate instructional resources.</em>&nbsp;

<em>F. The goal is to accelerate workplace expertise.</em>&nbsp;

As you consider incorporating scenario-based e-Learning into your instructional mix, consider whether the acceleration of expertise will give you a return on investment.&nbsp; For example, interviews with subject matter experts indicated that automotive technicians must complete about 100 work orders to reach a reasonable competency level in any given troubleshooting domain.&nbsp; Comparing delivery alternatives, OJT would require around 200+ hours, instructor-led training would require around 100 hours, and scenario-based e-Learning simulations require approximately 33–66 hours.

Finally, many learners find scenario-based e-Learning more motivating than traditional instructional formats.&nbsp; Solving a work-related problem makes the instruction immediately relevant.

<p>There is no linear path into what they are subjected. The situations are complex. They often fail and they learn by reflection, becoming much better at the judgements they make next time, even though next time the environment and the scenarios presented are different.</p> <p>After completing a few exercises, they build their own view of the patterns that are evident and are able to move into a new scenario with confidence even if the environment and scenario is radically different.</p>

<p>Learning on reflection before plunging into the next scenario helps to build the patterns in the participants’ minds that are the evidence that they have learnt.</p> <p>Quizzes based on scenarios with a, “What would you do next?”, question builds quick and fun repetition into the training programme, helping transfer from short term memory to long term memory.</p>

Instead of only typical multiple choice questions, try mini-scenarios. Write a few sentences to set a scenario with a problem. A customer voices an objection, software displays an error message, or an employee asks a manager for help. Next, ask learners which action or response they would choose. Now you have a one-question decision-making scenario rather than just an abstract comprehension question. You can do this with any tool, and it creates a more interesting practice or assessment to engage learners.

Twine (and similar systems) allow paths to merge, reducing the number of possibilities, but at the cost of making the scenario more like a narration and less like a game.&nbsp;

<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&nbsp;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>