How to Create Engaging Elearning Scenarios

35 minutes. That’s all it took to build a fully‑interactive, scenario‑based training video during my 45‑minute session at ATD’s AI Intensive. Here’s the play‑by‑play so you can replicate (or improve) the workflow: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗚𝗣𝗧 One prompt generated: ▪️A realistic customer‑service scenario (5 scenes) ▪️Two Midjourney image prompts (frustrated customer & empathetic agent) ▪️Matching action lines + voice‑over script for Google Veo‑3 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 ▪️Ran both image prompts → got studio‑quality stills in <90 s. ▪️Selected finals, no upscales needed. 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲‑𝘁𝗼‑𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗼‑3  ▪️Dropped each image + script → Veo auto‑generated 5 video clips with native voice‑over. ▪️Zero mic time, zero stock footage. 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗮 ▪️Trimmed tops/tails → final MP4 in 4 min. ▪️Export preset for 720p, 30 fps—ready for any LMS or social feed. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 ▪️Embedded MP4 in a lightweight HTML5 player. ▪️Injected JavaScript triggers to pop a reflective question at the end of each scene—no authoring tool required. 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙇&𝘿 ▪️Speed to learning: same‑day turnaround for tailored, story‑driven content. ▪️Cost slash: AI handled voice, visuals, and pacing—no talent fees, no b‑roll licensing. ▪️Engagement: scenario + mid‑scene questions = active learner, not passive viewer. ▪️Scalability: swap the prompt, rerun the pipeline, and you’ve got a new module in minutes. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙮 𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩 ▪️Branching: feed ChatGPT your quiz logic and let it auto‑write alternate endings. ▪️Localization: swap scripts into Google Veo‑3’s language variants—voices auto‑match. ▪️Data hooks: connect Vibe events to your xAPI/LRS for real‑time performance analytics. Download the prompts below in the comments, and give this workflow a try. Enjoy!

Most corporate training is forgettable. Let’s be real—how many times have you clicked through an eLearning module, answered the quiz, and instantly forgotten everything? That’s because information alone doesn’t drive learning. Stories do. We’re wired to remember narratives, not PowerPoint slides. A compelling story taps into emotion, creates context, and makes learning stick. So, how do you bring storytelling into eLearning? Here are three ways: 1️⃣ Start with a relatable character – Give your learners someone to connect with. Instead of generic scenarios, create personas facing real workplace challenges. 2️⃣ Create a problem worth solving – Don’t just dump information. Frame it as a challenge, mystery, or dilemma learners must navigate. 3️⃣ Use narrative-driven feedback – Instead of “Correct” or “Incorrect,” give responses that advance the story. Let learners see the consequences of their choices in a meaningful way. The best eLearning doesn’t just teach—it immerses. It makes learners feel something, and that’s what leads to real behavior change. Have you seen a great example of storytelling in training? Drop it in the comments! Let’s swap ideas. ⬇️

What if learners could practice tough conversations and get a realistic response back from a video? I’m exploring a DIY concept using Colossyan avatars, OpenAI, and n8n to create responsive roleplay scenarios. The idea is a learner watches a video prompt, responds in writing (voice or camera would be ideal but starting here), and then gets a new avatar reply, generated based on their input. It’s a lightweight flow, but the potential is big for soft skills practice. Like, performance reviews, compensation convos, feedback, stakeholder alignment. These moments are high-impact and hard to rehearse in traditional formats. There are tools that do pieces of this. But by building it yourself, you get full control of the experience, from how realistic the responses feel to how feedback is delivered. You’re not limited by someone else’s UX or roadmap. Of course, this isn’t meant to replace coaching or live training. But it could fill the gap between content and real-world practice, especially when time, access, or psychological safety are challenges. Right now, this is just an experiment. Curious to hear, where do you think something like this could work well? #InstructionalDesign #LearningDesign #eLearning #WorkingOutLoud #EdTech #DigitalLearning #AIInLearning

GAMIFICATION UNLEASHED: When most people think of gamification in eLearning, they picture points, badges, and leaderboards. But the true power of gamification lies in meaningful choices and real consequences? Instead of just adding a game-like layer to an eLearning course, we should think about how we can use gamification to create immersive, decision-driven experiences. Branching scenarios are a prime example. They allow learners to make choices that affect the actual outcome of the scenario—providing a more engaging and personalized learning journey. It’s not just about making learning fun—it’s about creating a realistic simulation where every choice matters. This approach helps learners experience the impact of their decisions in a safe environment, which translates to better understanding and retention. In a recent project, I designed a branching scenario where learners navigated complex decision paths in a simulated environment. Each decision led to different consequences, mirroring real-life outcomes. This not only made the learning process more engaging but also deepened learners' understanding of the material. By focusing on the real-world application of decisions, gamification became a powerful tool for meaningful learning rather than just a decorative element. #Gamification #eLearning #BranchingScenarios

“We need to break up the content.” “I threw in a drag-and-drop to keep it engaging.” “It’s just something to click.” Sound familiar? Here’s the thing - interactivity shouldn’t be decoration. It should be purposeful. The biggest mistake I see in eLearning? 👉 Adding interactions that don’t do anything for the learner. True interactivity should make them think. It should deepen understanding, simulate a decision, or reinforce recall. 🎯 Here’s how to shift from fluff to function: ✅ Replace “click to reveal” with a mini-scenario ✅ Use branching to explore real consequences of choices ✅ Add drag-and-drop only when it mirrors a real process or sequence ✅ Always ask: “What does this interaction help them learn or practice?” 💡 Remember: interaction isn’t engagement if it’s empty. Let’s design learning that’s active and meaningful. What’s your favorite example of an interactive element that actually improved learning? #InstructionalDesign #LearningExperienceDesign #eLearning #IDOLAcademy #EngagementWithPurpose #LXD