There are a million ways to present courses and learning content to your employees, and it’s especially important to choose media that drives home learning outcomes. Enter scenario-based learning: a powerful tool for reinforcing learning by challenging learners to think through real world scenarios. While powerful on its own, scenario-based learning multiplies its impact when paired with video.
What is scenario-based learning?
You can probably infer that it involves using scenarios as the driving force to teach concepts and skills to learners. What we know from adult learning theory is that adults draw from lived experiences; this makes scenario-based learning a particularly effective way to solidify concepts and skills with your team in their day-to-day roles. Because learners also thrive when interacting with others, scenario-based learning can help make relational connections that would normally be present during in-person training.
Benefits of scenario-based learning
In addition to grounding learning content in reality, scenario learning also allows for trial and error in a low-stakes environment. Instead of allowing sales reps to test their knowledge of customer service in real time through trial and error, why not offer them a realistic scenario-based learning that allows them to apply sales concepts in a way that is low-risk. This is a great way to boost confidence in learners so that when they’re faced with a real challenge, they’re able to tackle it head on with minimal potential damage to the customer relationship.
Another name used for scenario learning is problem-based learning, because it’s based on real world problems that learners face on the job. And because this style of learning is focused on problem solving and not just understanding a concept, it can be really effective at improving knowledge retention. All of this is great for companies looking to address and improve team performance.
What really boosts the effectiveness of scenario-based learning, however, is video.
How video enhances scenario-based learning
It’s one thing to offer text and voiceover in a course, but what happens when you take relatively static learning content and add something dynamic like video?
1. Video establishes expertise and authority
Most companies want to be respected as a leader in their field, and the benefit of a well-produced, custom video for scenario learning is that it positions you as a source of knowledge, an innovator, and with a level of credibility and context that isn’t possible with off-the-shelf content.
2. Video improves the production value of your learning
If you were faced with completing a training that came as a pdf or a video, which one would you choose? When a company values their learners enough to invest in video learning, it not only looks amazing, it also communicates its value to your learners. Video is inherently visual and interactive, making it easier to capture and keep learner engagement.
When making a custom video, you also have the opportunity to brand and contextualize everything to your learners’ everyday experiences, leading to better learning outcomes.
3. Video humanizes the choices made in scenario learning
When scenario-based learning is a series of multiple choice screens and voiceovers, it can be easy for learners to disconnect from the results of their choices. That’s harder to do when a video plays after a selection is made, visualizing the fallout of learner mistakes or rewards of a decision. When scenario learning uses video effectively, it invites learners to emotionally invest in the story at hand.
Enhance scenario-based learning with video roleplay
You can take problem-based learning scenarios one step further in a learning experience platform (LXP). Some LXPs (like Loop) have a video roleplay feature that allows users to upload recordings in response to course content.
Video roleplay can be used in response to multiple kinds of learning, but it’s great for scenario-based learning. Rather than having a sales rep submit a written response to a given scenario, video roleplay requires them to record themselves as if they were responding to a sales issue in real time, allowing them to put their skills to the test. Once submitted, managers can view each learner’s response and offer personal and specific feedback to help them improve.
Learners might have an easy time making the right choice when presented with two choices on a screen, but video roleplay challenges them to put themselves in the scenario to create a solution that is completely their own, applying everything they’ve learned about the problem and how their job role should respond to it. This reinforcement builds learner confidence and allows more time for practice without costing the company real dollars.
Use video to supercharge scenario-based learning today
Adults are hard-wired to learn through experience, and it’s time for companies to provide high-quality, interactive training using the power of video. If you’re looking for an intuitive, organized space for your digital training to live that’s also perfectly suited for this style of video learning, try Loop LXP. With Loop, you’ll get access to video roleplay, collections, and learning paths with improved visibility to see and measure your team’s performance.
