New ThingLink Scenario Builder Updates are in!

Kyla Ball May 16, 2022

Adding time pressure to create realistic scenario based learning and two other great features

We’ve just added three key updates to the ThingLink Scenario Builder. Now you can:

1. Improve accessibility via an extended Microsoft Immersive Reader integration 
2. Reflect the pressure of real life time critical situations with new Timer functionality
3. Allow end users to track and celebrate success with the ability to customize a results summary and congratulations screen.

At the end of 2021 ThingLink launched their new solution for creating branching scenario based learning. This easy to use builder allows you to create branching scenarios with all the immersive elements and interactivity ThingLink provides. It’s a ground-breaking new way to create scenario based learning that also has data metrics built in. These allow course creators to see the journey that each participant took through the course. 

A quick recap – the ThingLink Scenario Builder  

The ThingLink Scenario Builder is a tool to create scenario based learning (SBL) experiences with all of the immersive and interactive multimedia elements that ThingLink provides. Your series of connected ‘scenes’ are simply your ThingLink content arranged with strategically placed multiple choice blocks, enabling you to plan multiple branching paths. Compulsory questions with correct answers and discrete feedback can be added for all important knowledge or compliance checks. Read more information here 

The ThingLink Scenario Builder has 4 ‘blocks’ which enable you to connect your ThingLink scenes however you choose.

1. Accessibility By Design and Default – Immersive Reader in Branching, Condition and Text Blocks

New! Now any text in your scenario can be read aloud or translated using Microsoft’s Immersive Reader. Simply click the book and speaker icon where you see it:

2. Adding Pressure with New Timer Functionality

Have you thought about adding in a realistic time pressure to your challenge questions? This is a great feature for gamified experiences or Escape rooms. YOu can add timer functionality to the whole scenario, or to individual blocks.

To add a timer to individual blocks: Click on any content block that you have created in your scenario, and you will see an additional options menu. This now gives you the opportunity to add a timer. Add the desired time and the clock will start when the participant clicks on the block. Once the timer runs out, the user will not be able to interact with the block and will be prompted to move to the next block. If the time runs out on a branching block, the viewer will proceed to the first choice of the options by default.

To add a timer to the whole scenario: Click the Settings (cog) icon in the top bar to open scenario settings, select the Timer tab, and enter the time limit in minutes.

3. End Screen and Results Summary!

We recognize that ends are as important as beginnings! So we’ve now provided a way for you to celebrate with the participants as they successfully complete your course or module. 

The end screen settings panel allows you to customize what is shown once the learner completes the scenario. To change these settings, choose the Settings (cog) icon in the top bar to open scenario settings, select the ‘End screen’ tab.

• Show results screen: if enabled, the learner will be shown a special screen at the end of the scenario that will state how many points they’ve received, how many goals they’ve reached, what % of the scenario they’ve viewed, and a summary of all answers they provided in ‘Question’ blocks. This setting is off by default.
• Show ‘Restart scenario’ button: if enabled, the learner will see the option to restart the scenario once they reach the end. This setting is off by default.
• Heading field allows you to customize the heading of the message displayed at the end of the scenario. By default, the heading will say ‘Congratulations!’.

At the end of the course module the learner will see a screen with the summary. The screen also includes the Immersive Reader functionality, so any text can be translated.

Explore the ThingLink Scenario Builder Course Module as part of the new ThingLink Certified Creator Course: more details here.

We would also recommend joining the ThingLink community on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn – they are great places to chat about tips, tricks and share great examples in action.