Branching Scenarios
In Branching Scenarios, our Instructional Designer will demonstrate how to incorporate scenario-based learning in your courses. Understanding what are branching scenarios and the types of branching scenarios will empower you to use the provided templates, linked resources and step-by-step guidance to create branching scenarios for your courses.
Why was this Resource Developed?
Did you ever read choose your own adventure books when you were a kid? Those are examples of elaborate branching scenarios. Before you wonder if you really need to write a novel, rest assured that branching scenarios are usually much shorter.
Branching scenarios are both engaging for learners and a great learning tool. A win-win! Learners are placed in a decision-making role, navigating through a series of inter-connected, multiple-choice questions that are often based on a simple story. The nature of a branching scenario is interactive, so it’s a great choice for learner engagement. As humans, we naturally learn through experience. Branching scenarios mimic this natural learning process by presenting us with challenges, choices and consequences.
Who is this Resource for?
This course provides an introduction to Branching Scenarios, a tool used by course creators with intermediate experience in Brightspace. This course is a wonderful stepping stone into developing skills for branching scenarios!
New to Brightspace? Check out our Brightspace Guided Training.
Want gain a foundational step before diving into this course? Check out our Learning Through Story course.
Need to Know
Community’s Branching Scenarios course was created by a D2L Instructional Designer who also created the popular Community course Learning through Story. Amanda Darling starts with the basics of branching scenarios, including a branching scenario about branching scenarios. You’ll be able to assess your own progress through accomplishing “Try this!” tasks and answering optional auto-graded review questions. A series of short videos by the course creator will supplement written content.
Nice to Know
If you don’t know anything about branching scenarios, have no fear! This course has been created for those with more enthusiasm than experience. With Brightspace’s learner-friendly platform, curated links downloadable job-aids and templates, and efficient yet engaging content, you’ll have everything you need to start creating your own branching scenarios.
Peek Inside!
If you are curious about branching scenarios, this course is for you! If you like cute animal pictures, this course is for you too! This course provides an introduction to branching scenarios that builds on a course creator’s knowledge of basic Brightspace tools.
The information following comes from one of the course content pages.
Types of branching scenarios
There are basically two types of branching scenarios: those that are trying to guide learners to one (or more) acceptable conclusion(s) and those that are completely preference-based.
Acceptable-conclusion(s) branching scenarios include medical diagnosis, customer service, leadership principles, procedure-based content, technical skills with dangerous equipment, etc.
Preference-based branching scenarios include interior design options, career/college major counseling, new recipes/menu items to try, which marketing strategy is right for a certain product, which Star Trek character are you, etc.
The same basic subject can be suitable for both acceptable-conclusion(s) and preference-based branching scenarios. For example, consider the topic of investment banking. An orientation course for investment bankers could include a branching scenario where learners need to select appropriate stocks for company investment (acceptable conclusion). A customer profile could include a branching scenario where users answer questions to determine their comfortable level of risk (preference based).
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Languages Available: English
Related Resources
Learning Through Story
Brightspace Guided Training
Complete Directory of Learning Center Resources
