Branching scenario

Use it when the point is what a decision leads to rather than a single right answer: lab safety, a conflict in class, a historical or ethical dilemma, a procedure where a step can go wrong.

A risky choice does not have to end the exercise. You can explain why it was risky and send the student to a new decision, so they learn from the mistake instead of just being marked down for it.

1. In a worksheet, use the + between two items and choose Branching scenario. Click the pencil and the scenario map opens straight away.

2. Write the title at the top. Add the parts you need with Add choice step, Add content step and Add end screen; each one appears as a box on the map.

3. Click a choice step and fill in its Step heading and Question. Under Content you can add a text, image or video that sets the scene. Every choice step has at least two choices; Add choice adds more.

4. Click a choice to edit it: the Choice text, the Feedback shown after it is chosen, and Continue to, the step or end screen it leads to. A choice with no Continue to finishes the scenario. You can also drag connections between boxes on the map.

5. Click Start on the map to choose the First step and the Scoring, and whether to show a start screen and end screen or allow backwards navigation.

6. Click Close. Changes are saved as you work; Edit scenario map opens the map again.

If a route is broken, Scenario needs attention appears beside the map and says what to fix.

Students start the scenario and see the first step. When they choose an option, they move straight on, or, if you wrote feedback for that choice, they read it first and click Continue. They keep going until a choice finishes the scenario.

The end screen shows its title and text, their score if scoring is on, and Your path: every step with the choice they made there. Restart lets them go through it again, and Previous appears if backwards navigation is allowed.

Progress and choices are saved automatically, so students have nothing to submit. The scenario is not marked right or wrong. Open Results to see one row per student with the choice they made at each step, their score if scoring is on, and whether they Completed the scenario. That shows you at a glance who took the risky route before finding the safe one.

Scoring is set on Start: End-screen score gives points for the ending reached, Choice scores adds up points you give each choice, and No score leaves points out.

• Write feedback on risky choices that explains the consequence, then route the student to a new decision rather than ending straight away.

• Make sure every route reaches an end screen.

• Two or three decisions are enough for one lesson. Each extra one multiplies the routes you have to check.