The Learning Hub
When the goal of training is changing employee behavior — teaching them to conduct themselves or perform a process in a particular way — scenario-based training is an extremely effective approach.
Creating realistic scenarios that learners can use to formulate, study, and “try on” a variety of responses to situations they could face on the job sharpens their performance and increases their skill.
Training that uses scenarios ranges from multiple-choice questions that include a mini-scenario to fully immersive branching scenarios set in a virtual environment that allows learners to viscerally experience the situation and the outcome of their choices. And includes everything in between:
Two- to three-sentence scenarios set up a situation and ask learners to choose a response. These can be used in quiz questions and knowledge-check activities.
Brief exercises that take 10 minutes or less and pose a situation, along with multiple response options, short simulations are relatively quick and easy to create and use.
Whether presented as text-based content, PowerPoint slides, or interactive video, branching scenarios can be complex and detailed. They might feature one or more “characters” who represent employees in roles similar to the learners’ and present situations that the learners have also faced. Learners generally can explore each of the possible solutions or responses and learn what could happen as a result of each choice.
Short or long, simple or complex, scenarios can be integrated into a conventional eLearning course or stand on their own as interactive digital learning.
Creating immersive scenario-based learning within a VR environment is especially effective, as learners feel as if they have actually experienced the situation.
A learning game might feature a series of scenarios, where the learner’s responses affect the choices they face farther along. In these complex scenario-based learning games, there may be more than one response that is plausible or acceptable. Playing the game over and over and making different choices can provide learners with a wealth of information and feedback on potential solutions to realistic problems.
Providing a safe way for learners to practice confronting difficult or dangerous situations or performing complex procedures is a clear benefit of scenario-based learning. In addition, the scenarios are engaging — so much so that learners often return to them and complete them again and again. This provides spaced repetition, which reinforces knowledge and builds retention.
By providing immediate feedback for each choice, a scenario shows cause and effect in a way that fact-based learning does not. Scenario-based learning also hones learners’ skills and helps them respond more effectively when they do encounter a similar situation on the job. It can even sharpen related skills, like clear communication or critical thinking.
Games
Simple games layered on top of content
Scenario-based games that use the content
Leaderboards, competition
Fan excessive competition among employees or teams by offering large prizes for top performers and/or shaming those with lower scores
Challenge employees to beat their own past performance, or design a leaderboard that shows each employee only the four scorers above and below them
Points, rewards, badges
Award points or levels for completing sections of training or playing for a set number of minutes
Award levels, badges or points for recalling or applying content correctly, demonstrating mastery
As Neovation's Manitoba Territory Manager, I'm continually reminded of the resiliency, innovation, and initiative of Manitoba’s business community. Seeing these budding entrepreneurs develop and present their business plans reinforces that Manitoba is a great place to do business.
– Gord Holmes
Take the next step and meet with one of our eLearning advisors to start planning your scenario-based training content today!
Custom eLearning Development
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Introduction to Online Training
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Building Your eLearning Team
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Subscribe to our mailing list for all of the latest eLearning articles and Neovation news, delivered right to your inbox.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Evaluation Tip
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.