I lead multiple webinars on scenario-based learning each year for Training Mag Network, TLDC, and other organizations. While I often share those recordings on my blog as they happen, this is a more comprehensive list. All of these recordings are free, although some require registration. Many of the links within this post are to my blog posts about the webinars and presentations rather than directly to the recordings. I often include links to resources or further information in my posts.
Engagement and relevance through scenarios
Set the Stage: Make Elearning Relevant and Authentic with Scenarios
Set the Stage: Make Elearning Relevant and Authentic with Scenarios (Free webinar through Training Mag Network, October 2025)
Set the Stage: Make Elearning Relevant and Authentic with Scenarios (Free webinar through the Learning Guild, January 2023)
In this session, you’ll learn how to create relevant and authentic scenarios to enhance your eLearning and improve performance. First, you’ll learn tips for creating characters that learners can identify with and recognize from their workplace. Next, you’ll see different techniques to “set the scene” and create an authentic context for the scenario through both language and media. You’ll learn how crafting realistic challenges and conflicts helps engage learners and drive the scenario forward. Finally, you’ll see how giving learners opportunities to make decisions with consequences in authentic scenarios helps eLearning feel immediately relevant. You’ll leave this session with an approach to weaving different aspects of scenarios together to bring your eLearning to life.
Go Beyond Boring: Creating Scenario-Based Learning That Engages Participants
Go Beyond Boring: Creating Scenario-based Learning That Engages Participants
Watch an updated version of this webinar from March 2025.
Using scenarios can make your elearning more engaging and relevant. You can use scenarios to “hook” your learners and draw them into the story right from the start. Scenario-based learning can affect emotions to make participants care about the content and keep them engaged. You can use scenarios to practice relevant decision-making skills in situations similar to real life. Decision-making scenarios increase engagement, improve skill transfer, and accelerate expertise. While branching scenarios are one effective strategy, a range of options beyond branching are available for incorporating storytelling and scenarios in elearning. Many of these strategies can be used regardless of what development tool you use.
Gathering SME Stories to Craft Relevant and Engaging Scenarios
Gathering SME Stories to Craft Relevant and Engaging Scenarios
This session will focus on a common sticking point in creating scenario-based learning. In it, you’ll learn how to ask focused questions and techniques to probe SMEs for additional details such as mistakes and consequences. You’ll learn ways for getting “unstuck” while working with SMEs, and why it’s better to interview SMEs rather than have them write scenarios themselves. You’ll leave this session with tactics to help you get the concrete examples and stories you need from SMEs.
Better Feedback for Scenario-Based eLearning
Better Feedback for Scenario-Based eLearning
When you create a scenario, you work hard to make it realistic and relevant for your learners. Unfortunately, even otherwise engaging scenarios sometimes include abstract feedback like “Incorrect. Please try again.” Simply saying the choice is right or wrong can make learners lose interest and focus, and it doesn’t help them learn from their mistakes.
You will learn how to show learners the consequences of their decisions rather than telling them they’re right or wrong in scenario-based eLearning. This is the difference between “intrinsic feedback” and “instructional feedback.” We will explore several different options for intrinsic feedback, such as progress meters, character responses, and environmental changes. You’ll learn guidelines for when to use immediate feedback and when to delay the feedback in scenarios. We’ll discuss how to design feedback to meet the needs of both novice and expert learners. You’ll also learn when direct instructional feedback is beneficial for learning.
Branching Scenarios
Livestream Branching Scenario Build
Watch the livestream recording on YouTube.
Ever wished you could peek over my shoulder while I create a branching scenario? This is your chance! This is the recording of a 1-hour livestream where I built the beginning of a short branching scenario. The audience picked a topic live from a list of options. I showed how I plan and map out a branching scenario, explaining my thought process and decisions. Then, I demonstrated how I create challenges and choices. This video shows my process for managing the branching structure without letting it get out of control.
Streamlining Branching Scenario Planning and Design
Streamlining Branching Scenario Planning and Design
Watch an updated version of Streamlining Branching Scenario Planning and Design through Training Mag Network (registration required).
In this session, you’ll learn how to streamline your processes for branching scenarios, from initial planning through writing and creating a functional prototype. You’ll start from the beginning, by analyzing the problem you’re trying to solve and identifying your objectives. You’ll learn what questions to ask SMEs and other sources to get stories and examples to incorporate in your branching scenario. I’ll share tips for planning the flow of your scenario, including comparing different branching structures of varied complexity. You’ll see how the free, open-source tool Twine can streamline the process of planning, writing, and prototyping branching scenarios. You’ll learn the advantages of writing one complete path in the branching scenario from start to finish before fleshing out the alternative paths.
To Branch or Not to Branch: When and How to Use Branching Scenarios and Alternative Approaches
To Branch or Not to Branch: When and How to Use Branching Scenarios and Alternative Approaches (Free registration with Training Mag Network required)
This is an updated version of Choosing Branching Scenarios When They Matter Most.
In this webinar, you’ll learn how to evaluate training problems to decide when to use a branching scenario or another approach. You’ll review criteria for deciding when branching scenarios provide enough benefit to justify the effort required to create them. This will help you use branching scenarios when they matter most, saving you time and effort while creating quality learning experiences. During this webinar, you’ll also explore alternatives to branching scenarios such as constrained branching and one-question mini-scenarios. These alternatives use some elements of branching scenarios but are simpler to design and develop. We’ll review several examples of different approaches to scenario-based learning. You’ll leave this session with criteria to decide which scenario-based approach to use and ideas on how to apply them.
Branching Scenario Planning, Design, and Feedback Clips
Branching Scenario Planning & Design Playlist
Training Pros has created a playlist of 20+ video clips and shorts from the two webinars I have done with them. The first webinar was about branching scenario planning and design; the second was about feedback.
Characters and dialogue
Writing Scenarios: Compelling Characters and Distinctive Dialogue
Writing Scenarios: Compelling Characters and Distinctive Dialogue
How to create compelling characters and write engaging dialogue for scenarios. Includes hands-on writing practice activities.
Level Up Your Elearning: Character Creation for Scenario-Based Learning
Level Up Your Elearning: Character Creation for Scenario-Based Learning
Explore character creation in D&D and how it applies to scenario-based learning. Learn to create engaging training characters.
Intros to scenario-based learning
Scenario-Based Learning (General Overview)
Scenario-Based Learning: Why & How
Are you looking for ways to make your training more relevant and engaging? Have you ever thought that adding scenarios might improve your courses, but you weren’t sure where to start? Do you want to use scenarios, but you’re not sure how with limited time and resources? This presentation introduces the why and how of scenario-based learning to help you get started.
Scenario-Based Learning in Higher Ed
Scenario-Based Learning in Higher Ed: Webinar Recording
This was a customized version of my general overview of scenario-based learning for Leeds Beckett University, who has graciously allowed me to share the recording.
Design for Humans: Storytelling and Scenarios
Design for Humans: Storytelling and Scenarios with Garima Gupta and Rance Greene
In a world full of distractions, how do you make training stick? The answer lies in connecting with people on a human level. Join learning design experts Christy Tucker, Garima Gupta and Rance Greene as they explore how to leverage the power of storytelling and scenarios to create memorable and impactful learning experiences.
Twine
Creative Branching Scenario Solutions with Twine
Creative Branching Scenario Solutions with Twine
In this webinar, you’ll learn how to build branching scenarios with Twine. Twine is a free, open-source tool designed specifically for creating interactive stories and games. You can use Twine for planning and writing a scenario, creating functional prototypes, or for more polished final products. We’ll start with a live demo of building a simple branching scenario prototype from scratch so you can see how quickly you can publish a functional learning experience. Next, you’ll see several options to enhance scenarios with additional features like scoring and conditional feedback. I’ll also share examples of how Twine can be used for different types of scenarios, such as chat simulations and games.
Build Chatbots in Hours, not Days, with Twine
Build Chatbots in Hours, not Days, with Twine
What if you could build a quick chatbot in an afternoon? With Twine, you can! Twine is a free, open source program designed for creating interactive fiction and games. That means it’s built to make nonlinear, interactive stories, making it perfect for planning and writing chatbots and chat simulations. Rule-based chatbots (where users pick from available options rather than entering open-ended text) are similar to branching scenarios or decision trees, where each choice leads to the next. With Twine and a special story format called Trialogue, you can focus mostly on creating those decisions, options, and responses, spending just a little time on the look and feel.
Podcasts
In addition to these presentations on scenario-based learning, I have been interviewed on a number of podcasts. If you’re looking for more, check out my collection of podcast interviews.
Presentations on ID careers and other topics
I’ve also given several webinars and presentations on ID careers, freelancing, and other topics.
