Scenario-Based Learning Q&A with Devlin Peck

Listen to the recording of my scenario-based learning Q&A with Devlin Peck. We discussed when to use scenarios, working with SMEs and more.

I had the pleasure of doing a Q&A session on scenario-based learning with Devlin Peck recently. Devlin was a great host, and the community asked a number of thoughtful questions for me to answer.

Watch the recording

If the video isn’t embedded above, you can watch the recording on YouTube or on Crowdcast.

Questions answered

The attendees asked some great questions. These are the questions I answered during our conversation. (The order listed here is slightly different from the actual order; I grouped similar questions together.) If you want to jump directly to a specific question, that’s easiest on the Crowdcast recording via the Ask a Question panel.

When to use scenarios

  • Are there certain topics or learning objectives that scenario-based learning would not be good for?
  • How do you decide if you should use a branching scenario or a regular, non-branching scenario?
  • In which situations does it make the most sense to use scenario-based learning?
  • What’s a bad scenario or is there an instance where you’ve implement a scenario but in hindsight think that it was not the best option?

Working with SMEs and stakeholders

  • What’s your strategy for gathering content for scenarios from SMEs and stakeholders? Do you find that SMEs give you enough information to create realistic scenarios, or do you also have to do additional research to fill in gaps?
  • If your stakeholder gives you a 100 slide deck and wants you to turn it into a virtual slide deck with quizzes, how do you maneuver them into the idea of scenario based learning?

Planning and designing branching scenarios

  • How do you plan (and manage the complexity of) branching scenarios?
  • How do you know if you have too many branches, and risk cognitive overload for the learner? Some situations we teach about are inherently quite complex. What would you do in a situation where the material is very complex? For example: > break it up into smaller courses? > put it into a process flow document? > other?

Tools and resources

  • Do you have/recommend a certain scenario template you use when designing your scenarios?
  • What resources can you recommend to help trainers further develop this skill?
  • Any particular tool of choice to develop branching courses?
  • Is there a checklist that you follow for creating and implementing a scenario-based learning course from beginning to end?

Branching scenario tips

During the Q&A, I mentioned a new branching scenario resource I created. This is a free, 19-page PDF guide with tips and tactics for streamlining branching scenario planning and design. You can get a copy of this guide here.

Cover of the guide to Streamlining Branching Scenario Planning and Design

You can also find any of the specific blog posts mentioned during the Q&A on my Storytelling and Scenarios page.

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