As the nature of the work environment continues to change, all eyes are on workplace learning and finding the best ways to use virtual training, microlearning, and other learning tools to continue the learning journey for remote employees. For two decades, web-based training has been an important training modality in the toolkit of L&D teams, for the scale and training effectiveness it provides to a distributed workforce. Since 2000, the eLearning industry grew 900 percent and it is expected to nearly triple in size within the next five years. It offers a variety of immersive learning options, infusing elements like microlearning, scenario-based learning, gamification, spaced learning, video role-play, adaptive learning, and social learning. These learning modalities are aimed to make an impact on the knowledge transfer and knowledge retention of the learners.
While L&D teams refresh and build new microlearning programs, one of the most important applications that reinforce learning through real-life scenarios. Scenario-based learning teaches skills in a training environment that uses real-life experiences and situations. It can be used in training to demonstrate a wide range of learning topics from safety practices when operating machinery to sensitive soft skills for workplace communications.
3 Benefits of Scenario-Based Learning
Here are three reasons to consider real-world experiences using scenario-based learning.
1) Creates an authentic experience
The use of graphics and interactivity creates a real-life experience that tells a story with emotions, people, and decision-making applications. The learner is immediately immersed in a realistic situation and the contextual application of it delivers a meaningful training experience. An effective scenario is directly relevant to an individual’s job and aligns to business goals and strategies. This can be done through well thought-out instructional design of scenario-based questions and answers for real-time feedback and explanations to help recall the information. It’s important to incorporate images, videos and other media into your scenario-based learning to enhance the learning experience by making it more interactive. This makes the learner have a visually appealing and engaging learning experience.
2) Get to learn in a safe training environment
Scenario-based learning offers learners the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a simulated, yet safe training environment. If you’re like most learners, we learn by doing (especially when we make mistakes). It can be used to test the learner’s basic comprehension of the training material or to validate their decision-making process in the context of a real-life setting.
3) Apply what they have learned with confidence
Scenario-based learning walks a learner through the ins and outs of a process, product, or situation. The scenarios are designed to be challenging for learners, giving them the ability to practice what they learned, make decisions, get feedback, and learn from their responses. Practicing on-the-job skills builds confidence and gives the learner the ability to easily transfer the knowledge to real life work. According to a Training Industry blog, the key to good decision-making lies not only in the knowledge of the information but how confident you are in that knowledge.
Corporate learning teams continue to infuse this instructional design strategy into their learning because it amplifies a real-life situation and helps the learner achieve higher proficiency by using relatable situations, provides a decision-making process for understanding the impact or consequences of actions, and engages the learning into a problem-solving environment.
Real-life Scenarios for Learner Retention
Scenario-based learning offers the interactivity and engagement modern learners expect from microlearning. By combining a realistic engagement with the hands-on approach to learning, you get powerful training that prepares employees for their real-world job responsibilities. As a learner, you get to jump right in and apply what you’ve learned in a realistic setting. As a learning leader, you gain access to real-time data on engagement, proficiency and competency for each individual learner. Granular data on your team’s ability to perform helps managers focus their time on targeted coaching support and indicates specific topics for future training investments.
Are you ready to build your microlearning program? If you’re looking for pre-qualified L&D talent to help, TTA has the experienced on-demand experts to make your project successful.
About TTA
TTA is the award-winning leader for learning and development talent and solutions. Organizations of all sizes, including Fortune 500 companies, partner with TTA to support their learning initiatives of any size or scope in all locations, virtual or in person. Our dedicated global workforce of L&D talent has deep experience working with companies in all industries to support their unique needs from learning strategy, design and development, training delivery and full-time placement.
From one class to a large-scale training rollout, TTA has the unmatched talent and agility to quickly scale to meet our clients’ requirements. With over 25 years of experience, in-house team of experts, and proprietary systems, TTA has a proven process to efficiently provide the highest caliber of training professionals on-time and within budget.
High-quality instructional design and a microlearning application to engage, reinforce, and analyze learning programs is the winning combination for a result-driven learning strategy. See a live demo of Qstream here.
