I try not to commercialize this blog. It doesn’t cost, you can get ad free updates in your email, and of course it’s really for me ;). Still, once in a while there’s something I do want to draw your attention to. And, of course, you can stop here. However, I’ll suggest you at least give this a look. What I’m talking about are the whys and whats of an upcoming mini-scenario workshop I’ll be running on 9/11 from 11-3:30 ET. (Yes, I know, that date, but really, we don’t want to let them win, right?) So, I’m announcing my mini-scenario workshop.
First, why? Well, I argue that there are strong reasons to lift our practice game. Retrieval practice is, I believe, the most important thing we can do help our learning actually develop skills. Such practice is really integral to, for instance, the Serious eLearning Manifesto. And it’s more than just better-written multiple choice questions (MCQs). Patti Shank has told us how to do that, and what I am talking about is a bit of that, but more focused. And we can go beyond, to branching scenarios. For that, you should pay attention to Christy Tucker. Instead, I’m talking the sweet spot in between. The one that’s well within our reach, but not our grasp.
Short of branching scenarios, but beyond good MCQs, are what I call mini-scenarios. They’re MCQs, but specifically written to be retrieval practice. What we’re doing is using the base capability of our authoring tools, but taking them to the best place they can be. And, previous experience tells me that you can get the idea, but you really need feedback to fine-tune your understanding. Not a surprise, really, it’s learning after all! Still, a strong argument.
And, being immodest, I have really sweated the details about how to make this workshop, well, work. First, a quick refresh on ‘why’. Then, we take apart the idea into the constituent parts, and talk about the essential criteria for each. We reinforce this by identifying bad examples. Then, we work through two different ways of doing these. In groups, you’ll work with the ideal: given good objectives. But we’ll also work through the likely real: working from knowledge questions. In addition, I’ve created a job aid: a checklist that uses the structure to help make sure you’re developing a useful mini-scenario. We’ll use it in the exercises.
While this is the first live run, I’ve iterated on it numerous times. I’ve even developed a follow-on just to refine the design (tho’ we may have it as an extra-value no-extra-cost option)! So, if you want to get serious about writing questions that will scaffold your learners to developing real new abilities, not just knowledge, this is the place to come. So that’s why I’m announcing my mini-scenario workshop. I hope to see you there!
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