Saturday, November 13, 2010

Scenarios

Scenarios can be utilized in e-learning similarly to the way facilitators use them in instructor-led classes to improve the transfer from learning to real-world performance. Scenarios provide a learner with a story that is similar to their real world environment in which they must make decisions about how to respond. The decision leads to an impact, which may lead to another decision, and so forth. (This type of scenario is called "branched.") The neat thing about using scenarios in e-learning is that the designer can include a "redo" option so the learner may start over and make different decisions to see how the scenario would play out if different choices were made along the way.


Scenarios offer learners an opportuntiy to test hypotheses and practice problem solving in a private setting. Feedback may be provided along the way to coach the learner. Many times, a professional in a learning situation feels more comfortable being coached by a computer than a real person. The professional can mess up without anyone knowing! Scenarios also provide the professional with an opportunity to try to do things a little differently than their habitual patterns, which may lead to learning to do things more effectively.

Your turn:

  • In what ways have you seen or used scenarios for e-learning?
  • Do you have tips for the readers regarding creating scenarios?

References:

Clark, R., & Mayer, R. (2008). e-Learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Pfeiffer.


Shank, P. (2010). Getting started in e-learning: Simulations and games. The eLearning Guild. Retrieved from http://www.elearningguild.com/research/archives/index.cfm?id=144&action=viewonly. (2010, August 2).


Slotte, V., & Herbert, A. (2008). Engaging workers in simulation-based e-learning [Electronic version]. Journal of Workplace Learning, 20(3), 165-180.

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