1. Story-Writing for Branching
Scenarios

2. Story Writing for Branching Scenarios
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The What, Why and When of Branching Scenarios
How to Write a Branching Scenario

3. What are Branching Scenarios?
● Form of Adaptive Learning
● Adaptive Learning: delivery of custom learning
experiences that address the unique needs of individuals
through just-in-time feedback, pathways, resources
● Lesson Module: designed to be adaptive and to use a
student’s choices to create a self directed lesson
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4. What are Branching Scenarios?
● Interactive form of learning
● Present a situational challenge to the learner
● Learner makes a decision
● Results in a consequence
● Each consequence produces new challenges and more
choices
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6. The Three C’s of Branching Scenarios
1. Challenge
2. Choice(s)
3. Consequence(s)
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<<Repeat>>

7. Why Branching Scenarios?
● “Choose your own adventure”
● Interactive, engaging, fun
● Helps people practice skills in a safe way
Scenarios are one of my favorite ways to immerse learners and give
them a safe space to practice applying a new process, or to explore
the nuances of performing their jobs.
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8. Why Branching Scenarios?
● Recognizing and challenging their own assumptions
● Recovering from mistakes in a long or complex process
● Navigating extended, ambiguous situations
● Explore the nuances of performing their jobs
● Low risk failure; freedom to fail
● Learn to self-correct
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10. Is a Branching Scenario the Right Choice?
Considerations:
● Shades of Gray
● Strategic
● Multiple Decisions
● Risky Situations
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11. How to Write a
Branching Scenario

12. How to Write a Branching Scenario
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Getting Started
Suggested Writing Process
Writing Tips

13. Getting Started: Pre-Writing
1. Scenario concept
2. Summary
3. Identify the processes
4. List of mistakes
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14. Scenario Concept
● List scenarios that you want to teach
● Situations must be relatable
● Use real-world examples
● Talk to SMEs
● Select scenarios that are suitable for branching
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15. Summary
● Write a short summary of the situation
● Know the ideal outcome
● Use the 5 Ws
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● Note the points of
decision-making

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● List all the
potential ‘mistakes’

18. Writing Process:
Structure

19. The Three C’s of Branching Scenarios
1. Challenge
2. Choice(s)
3. Consequence(s)
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<<Repeat>>

20. The 3 Cs
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21. Branching Scenarios
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draw.io

23. The Three C’s of Branching Scenarios
1. Challenge
2. Choice(s)
3. Consequence(s)
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<<Repeat>>

24. Writing Process:
Process

25. Writing Process
1. Start with the Ideal Path
2. Note decision points
3. Fill in the best choices
4. Create placeholders for problematic choices
5. Complete second alternative path to its conclusion
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draw.io

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draw.io
Ideal Path

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draw.io
Alternate Path #1

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draw.io
Alternate Path #2

30. One step forward, two steps back
● Decisions are in shades of gray: Good, Bad, OK
● You can have paths cross
● Create several ways to get to the same ending
● Reusing choices or endings helps to reduce the
complexity
● Let learners go back a step or back to a milestone
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31. Writing Process:
Tools & Tips

32. Brainstorming: Mind Maps
● Paper, White Board
● MindMup
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‘Exploding’

34. Exploding
● Exercise in idea excavation
● Free-writing: no editing, no filters, keep writing
● Start with a topic: (Great / Bad) Customer Support
● Write for 3-6 minutes, nonstop
● Pick three things that stand out
● Write on each of those for 3-6 minutes each
● <<Repeat>>
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35. Tools
● White board
● Flip chart paper
● Flow-charts
○ draw.io
● MindMup
● Twine
● Post-it notes
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36. In your LMS
● Lesson Activity
○ Why Your Learners Need Adaptive Learning
● H5P Branching Scenario
○ Creating Adaptive Learning Lessons with H5P Branching
Scenarios
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37. Resources
● Experiencing eLearning blog by Christy Tucker
○ Series of Blogs on writing Branching Scenarios
● H5P Branching Scenarios
○ Skills Practice: A Home Visit
● Deloitte: Gamified interactive recruitment experience
○ Will You Fit into Deloitte
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38. Upcoming Webinars
● Analyzing Lesson Activity Data to Build Better eLearning
○ Tuesday August 20, 10am PT / 1pm ET
● Creating Adaptive Learning Lessons with H5P Branching
Scenarios
○ Tuesday August 27, 10am PT / 1pm ET
● Keys for Ongoing LMS Success: Making LMS
Administration Sexy
○ Tuesday September 10, 10am PT / 1pm ET
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