Scenario Questions- Non-technical

I created the 3C scenario model years ago to help my novice instructional designers step away from content dumping.

Challenge: what does the learner know; how can you challenge their understanding?

Choices: it's a course so you need to create an environment where they can make decisions, thus you need to present some choices

Consequences: what happens when they make a decision? 

I think the essence of a scenario is to simulate the types of decisions/actions you want the learner to make and to use that as a means to assess their level of understanding. And at that point you can direct them to the appropriate types of feedback. Perhaps the feedback is literal corrective feedback or it could be that it pushes them into a consequence where they need to make additional decisions as the result of the previous decision.

There's no rule on how complicated it needs to be. I think the rule is how well it challenges the learner's understanding and lets them demonstrate what they know. They can be a simple scenario like yours or you can make it much more complex.

I agree with Tom that it doesn't always have to be complicated. I do a lot of one-question mini-scenarios in my work. That's enough to give a little context for a problem without having to build a whole branching scenario with multiple endings for everything.

For the scenario example you provided, I think the starting point is fine. But then, you get to a point of basically doing a content dump as you provide feedback to Jill.

If your objective is to teach people how to run meetings better, I think observing a meeting with mistakes is a fine start. After the meeting, say you ask to speak with Jill. Then, have the learners make choices about what feedback to provide (the 2nd C in Tom's model). Make them identify the missed opportunity to discuss a challenging client etc.

If you want to see an example, check out the "Remote Mentoring with FIRST" training here: https://www.firstinspires.org/ways-to-help/volunteer

That's still fairly simple, literal content being trained, with a lot of explanation via feedback. But, it's also lots of decisions in a simulation. Plus, since it's about running meetings remotely, you may be able to get a few ideas (like how the question of setting an agenda is posed).

Thanks, Tom! I appreciate a simple approach to thinking through the design. I think it is the content dumping that read as "boring" to me. I have to fangirl for a moment- I follow your blog and was stoked to see your response. Appreciate the suggestions!

Christy- thank you for your response! I like the suggestion to have the learner choose the feedback. I often get caught in the "telling" of a scenario, rather than focusing on learner choice. I am also a fan of your blog and reference it often! Super cool to hear from both you and Tom!