Registration

We’re excited to invite you to our special webinar, unveiling the new ThingLink Certified Trainers Program. Louise from ThingLink and L. Michelle Salvant, CEO of LMichelleMedia (a long-standing ThingLink Partner), will guide you through an overview of our Certified Trainer program.

Expect an insightful session on immersive learning projects, a detailed look at the application process, the rewarding benefits of becoming a Certified Trainer, and the very interesting future of immersive learning development in the AI era.

As always, we’ll ensure there’s plenty of room for participation, alongside a vibrant Q&A session!

Webinar Outcomes:

Program Overview: Gain insights into the ThingLink Certified Trainer Program. We’ll cover the ethos, the benefits and opportunities. 

Application Guidance: Understand the steps to become a certified trainer, from submission to re-certification.

We’d Love You to Join Us! 

If you are unable to attend don’t worry, sign up anyway and we’ll send you the action replay!

Andreas Fischer pursued his Master’s in Pedagogy and Teaching for Sustainability at the University of Eastern Finland, where he first learned about ThingLink. The platform was used to conclude a research module in an interactive format. Captivated by the engaging interface, he quickly began creating pedagogical content and course assignments with his classmates to discuss various sustainability-related topics, such as the environmental impacts of EV-vehicle production.

As part of a traineeship at the university’s escape room facilities (Sm4rt LOC), Andreas further expanded his skillset with the platform by enhancing course infographics designed on Canva through the integration of vibrant icons and pop-up windows using ThingLink. Together with his supervisor, he also held a workshop about escape room pedagogy and the value this technique entails to education at the Sustainable Science Days (SSD) conference in Helsinki last year. ThingLink was the ideal platform to transfer the physically introduced escape room version into a digital use case while enhancing the learning experience and interface as well as storing the activity for future sessions.

Context Immersion

Digital tools have distinguished potential to support students in growing a profound understanding of different contexts through immersive experiences that represent real-world scenarios. One key objective of sustainability education is to promote a vast set of competences touching upon aspects, such as global understanding, systems thinking and collaborative action. With ThingLink, educators can facilitate the growth of numerous competences in learners and widen their worldview by generating virtual 360° environments using panorama images designed to illustrate sustainability challenges people face around the globe. Within those digital worlds, students have the possibility to freely explore and discuss impressions.

Widen Perspectives

One glove doesn’t fit everyone! With teaching experience at multiple international schools, Andreas realized the need for educational tools to globally connect learners on accessible platforms and allow them to share their immediate knowledge from local settings. ThingLink helps to transfer real-world impressions into digital environments where learners and educators can effortlessly embed information to articulate experiences. This makes different sustainability challenges more graspable and facilitates a profound understanding of individual needs. Students build concrete knowledge around challenges to weigh feasible solutions and sympathize with locals through the immersion into digital environments simulating real-world examples. ThingLink, as a digital space, bridges the gap between learners on a global scale and helps showcase the complexity of sustainability matters and their root causes.

Systematic Thinking

Sustainability education encourages growing an understanding of factors that drive and impact the global system. In other words, knowing the extent of primary pillars, like the economy, and how these interact with each other positively or negatively. With Thinglink, educators can create digital scenarios to allow learners to enter various worlds (environment) and learn about local contexts (economy) while working with others (society) and benefiting from the exchange of perspectives (culture and heritage). This advances global consciousness and builds a comprehension of different circumstances which define sustainability matters. Additional applications, such as the AR-function, amplifies experiences further, merging digital and physical worlds.

Promote Sustainability Education Using Gamification 

Gamification is a pedagogical method that shows strong evidence in supporting learning holistically through engaging and vibrant material in fun-packed individual or social experiences. Learning processes are often not directly perceived by the students but become most evident in the reflection phase. A popular application of gamification in education is through escape rooms, with ThingLink being an excellent platform to create virtual versions and provide access to implement a broad range of riddles and digital tools. A gamified approach to complex topics, such as embodied in the sustainability concept, supports students’ process impressions suitable to their age and learning stage as well as fosters a seamless development of competences.

Valuable Opportunities Andreas Found with ThingLink

• Immersive and captivating learning experiences.
• Generate subject-oriented digital environments while accommodating learner specifics.
• Transfer and storage of physical activities (e.g., escape rooms) into digital versions.
• Create global connections and exchange perspectives.
• Project/material longevity and ease to modify.
• Embed multiple websites and online tools in one engaging environment.
• Amplify user experience through VR, XR and AR applications

Closing Thoughts

Sustainability comprises multiple aspects which challenge educators to tangibly compact and deliver the concept into a learning environment. In Andreas’s opinion, ThingLink offers a unique escape route to support this process with its versatile interface and possibility for context immersion. The platform provides worlds for students to connect, collaborate and sympathize to fight for a better future.

Breathe life into the ordinary with ThingLink’s brand new Augmented Reality Solution! Easily create an overlay of hotspots containing multimedia information on your images of real-world objects, then share as AR experiences to view via any mobile device. 

What is the ThingLink AR Solution?

ThingLink has always offered the easiest and fastest way to create interactive and immersive experiences for viewing on screens or in Virtual Reality. Now you can add Augmented Reality viewing to the list of easy-to-create interactive media.

The ThingLink AR Solution consists of the new AR Mode in the ThingLink suite (for creating), and the ThingLink AR Viewer App (for viewing).

How does the ThingLink AR Solution work?

Creation:

Using advanced AR technology, ThingLink allows you to upload any image of a real-life object, and then add hotspots to it via the super-simple and intuitive ThingLink interface. The interactive hotspots can contain any combination of multimedia content: images, videos, gifs, text, links, 3d models and much more! Add your hotspots, then add the content you would like to share with your viewers. After creating your AR resource or ‘Collection’ ThingLink generates a share code for you, which you can also convert to a QR code for sharing if you wish.

Viewing:

Your viewer then:

1. Downloads the AR Viewer App from the AppStore and opens it.
2. Enters the share code/scans the QR code.
3. Points their phone camera at the object. 
4. Interacts with the hotspots that appear on their screen!

Both the ThingLink creator interface and the AR Viewer App are very easy to navigate. Our intuitive interface ensures that everyone can enjoy a simple and seamless user experience, without any specific technical expertise.

You can read full instructions, account limitations and details at our Support Article here.

Video above shows the AR solution being used at Savonia University of Applied Sciences’ WaterLAB – a dedicated space for development and testing.

What are the benefits of ThingLink’s AR Solution?

For learning and training

More impactful training with Mixed Reality 

Instantly engage learners with your training by adding augmented reality experiences. From educational institutions to corporate training, the app provides an opportunity for experiential learning. Make complex topics, physical processes or even machinery easier to understand and more engaging through interactive, hands-on experiences that guide learners through processes step-by-step.

Increased accessibility

Providing accessible content is essential. ThingLink is designed to break down barriers and open up new opportunities for exploration for everyone. We’ve built an AR training solution that’s not just easy to use but also makes learning fun and inclusive. No matter their age, training needs or tech skill level, your viewers can dive right into augmented reality training on demand with the ThingLink Viewer App, on a device that’s familiar to them. 

Keep training costs down

Create interactive employee training experiences that don’t rely on expensive AR headsets or training software and can be instantly updated at no additional cost. Create a variety of different overlays for different event simulations and training scenarios. Reduce the training process from two steps (theory, then practical) to one, saving time and money.

For cultural venues:

Clear and accessible information for visitors

No more dealing with cluttered information signs or panels on each object. With the ThingLink AR Viewer App your viewers simply point their device at the image, tap on the hotspot, and access information seamlessly. A whole catalog of objects or artefacts can be accessed with one short code. Retain the original aesthetic integrity of your location, no need for ‘out of context’ information panels that disrupt the experience. Providing information via your visitors’ own devices rather than providing audio guides to visitors keeps your exhibition costs down.

Drive engagement 

Engagement is the key to a memorable experience, and the ThingLink AR Viewer App excels in this area. By adding interactivity to your exhibition or display, you’re not just looking at artefacts – you’re truly experiencing them. Dive deep into historical contexts, gain artistic insights, or even share personal stories attached to objects – the possibilities are endless.

For business:

Increase safety and efficiency and lower costs with optimized troubleshooting 

With the ThingLink AR Solution, you can be sure that whatever the problem, your operators and agents can deal with it swiftly, safely and efficiently. You can reduce potentially costly and hazardous errors with interactive AR product guides that demonstrate correct processes. 

How can you use the ThingLink AR Solution?

The AR Solution has multiple applications in learning, training, industry, marketing, retail, art and culture, tourism and more. In fact its applications are almost limitless!

Add multimedia tags to paintings, structures, products, machinery and technical equipment, production lines or in fact any workplace object, unlocking layers of information and insights in an instant. Here are some key use cases by sector.

1. Galleries and Exhibitions

Augmented reality can transform the traditional gallery and exhibition experience into a truly immersive one. This application can add an extra layer of interpretive content to artworks, bringing them to life with interactive, animations, audio descriptions, artist interviews, 3d objects or historical contexts. Visitors, equipped with the AR app on their smartphones or tablets, can point their devices at an artwork and watch as the static display evolves into an interactive multimedia experience. This not only boosts visitor engagement but also offers an exciting new way to delve deeper into the stories and ideas behind each piece.

In the example below, you can watch how the solution was used to create AR guides for an exhibition in Columbus, Ohio. You can read the full case study blog here.

2. Onboarding and Impactful Training

The use of augmented reality in onboarding and training programs can revolutionize the way companies educate their new hires or existing employees. By incorporating AR features into their training, companies can make complicated training materials interactive and engaging. For example, employees could scan a machine with their phone to see a step-by-step AR guide on how to operate it, minimizing risks and facilitating a faster learning curve. This hands-on learning approach helps improve the understanding and retention of information, making training more effective.

3. Troubleshooting, Maintenance and Product Guidance 

Provide detailed visual guides to instruments, machines and appliances for your field operators, agents and customers. Reduce costly errors and the time taken to resolve issues by providing clear and sequenced instructions in multimedia format, including videos to show processes and functionality in action. Increase accuracy and confidence, avoid potentially dangerous and/or expensive mistakes from incorrect use and procedures and reduce hazards to employees and customers. Step-by-step walkthroughs with videos, images and even 3D models can guide them independently through the correct actions when products and machinery display a fault. These AR applications work across a wide spectrum of industries – from those as diverse as manufacturing, utilities, healthcare and hospitality.

ThingLink’s AR solution is one of the best AR apps for use in environments where information or guidance needs to be regularly updated. Any changes that you make to your content in ThingLink are updated in real-time, meaning that whenever the viewer opens the app, their material will automatically be the most up-to-date version. In the example below, the AR solution is used to troubleshoot complex instruments in a water network.

4. Escape Rooms and Treasure Hunts

Augmented reality can bring an innovative twist to traditional escape rooms and breakout sessions. With AR technology, you can design thrilling scavenger hunts or gamified experiences in any location or space. For instance, clues or puzzles could be placed in real-world environments, but only visible through the AR app, making the challenge more immersive and engaging. You can also incorporate educational content in these AR games, turning any location or learning experience into an interactive adventure. This can be especially impactful in settings like museums, educational institutions, or corporate team-building exercises. Popular experiences such as Pokemon Go have made the concept of an AR treasure hunt familiar to everyone, and now with ThingLink AR solution, it’s incredibly easy to make your own! In the video below, educator Christoffer Dithmer has used the AR solution to add additional layers of information to a history book for his students.

5. Information Panels and Directions for City Guides and Trails

Augmented reality applications can provide interactive information or direction panels in a variety of spaces, from public parks to buildings and tourist attractions. Users can simply point their AR-enabled device at a location or object to view a layer of digital information – this could include historical facts, architectural details, or even directions to nearby points of interest. This provides an innovative way for visitors to interact with their surroundings, making navigation easier and experiences richer.

6. Historical Education and Tourism

Historical sites and museums can adopt augmented reality to provide immersive tours and educational experiences. Users can view re-enactments of historical events, see how historical figures looked, or visualize how ruins and buildings looked in their prime, all by downloading the augmented reality app. This application of AR makes history more accessible and engaging, and helps users develop a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage. 

Device and Platform Compatibility

ThingLink’s AR Viewer App is available as a mobile app for iOS (for iphone/ipad/other Apple devices) and for Android devices/operating systems.

Experience the ThingLink AR Solution 🌐💼: Transforming everyday tasks into seamless and efficient experiences!

Registration

Discover the new ThingLink Augmented Reality App! In this exclusive free webinar Louise from ThingLink is joined by Special Guests Patryk Wójtowicz, Savonia University of Applied Sciences and Sarah Dove from Ohio State University.

Together they explore how to create AR experiences with the new Augmented Reality app and just a handful of the uses of this versatile solution.

What is the new ThingLink Augmented Reality Solution?

Breathe life into the ordinary with ThingLink’s brand new Augmented Reality Solution! Easily create an overlay of hotspots containing multimedia information on your images of real-world objects, then share as AR experiences to view via mobile devices with the ThingLink AR Viewer app.

With our new solution, a phone or tablet can be a portal to a vibrant world brimming with multimedia information, offering immersive experiences like never before.

Watch our playlist with introduction from ThingLink Founder and CEO Ulla-Maaria Koivula and our expanding list of real world and live use cases

Six Key Takeaways! What You Will Gain:

1. In-depth Understanding: Grasp the fundamentals and advanced features of the ThingLink Augmented Reality App. Learn how it can breathe life into ordinary settings with hotspots of multimedia / multimodal information.
2. Hands-On Demos: Experience live demonstrations on creating and deploying AR experiences. See real-world applications that showcase the app’s versatility across various industries and education sectors.
3. Creative Inspiration: Spark your imagination with innovative use cases presented by our guest speakers. Discover how AR can transform learning, training, and customer engagement.
4. Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded professionals, educators, and AR enthusiasts. Share ideas, challenges, and solutions in an interactive Q&A session.
5. Future Trends: Hear from ThingLink’s Founder and CEO, Ulla-Maaria Koivula, about the vision behind the AR app and what the future holds for AR in education, training, and beyond.
6. Resource Access: Get exclusive access to resources that will help you get started with the ThingLink Augmented Reality App immediately after the webinar.

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is designed for everyone keen on exploring new dimensions of interactive and immersive experiences. It’s perfect for:

• Educators and trainers looking to enhance learning with AR.
• HR and development professionals interested in innovative onboarding and training solutions.
• Product managers and marketers seeking to create interactive product guides.
• Museum, exhibition, and visitor attraction managers aiming to offer engaging displays.
• Technology enthusiasts eager to explore the latest in AR innovations.

Catch the Replay!

Sign up to receive the action replay and all the resources shared during the event. Embrace the power of AR and transform any space or object into a dynamic, interactive canvas. See you there!

University Instructional Designer Sarah Dove proposed creating a virtual tour using ThingLink, to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of the exhibition. It would mean that those who were unable to access the center physically could take a tour of the objects within it. It would also provide an introduction to the building before visitors arrived, to give a sense of navigation around the space.

ThingLink provides not one but two solutions

At the time, ThingLink’s AR (Augmented Reality) app was in the final stages of development, and by good fortune was going to be ready to be deployed just when the exhibition was also in its final stage of preparation.

The dual approach could create multiple ways that people could experience the exhibition and engage with the artworks, whether in person, virtually, or a combination of the two. ThingLink was able to provide the solution to create and host both approaches – a Guided Tour and an AR experience. The two were developed in tandem, saving development time.

The virtual tour was launched in early October 2023, followed by the AR experience at the beginning of November 2023.

AR App – so easy to set up and use

Sarah reports that setting up the AR App was “incredibly easy.” Each artwork was photographed, the image uploaded to ThingLink AR App, and the interactive tags added in the same way as you would in the main editor. (Further instructions and link are provided at the bottom of this blog.)

Sarah created a poster for the exhibition which featured two QR codes: one to download the app, and one to visit the artwork collection.

In the video below, you can see that the tags appear instantly as an overlay when visitors scan the artwork with their mobile device. It was so straightforward that the center staff required no additional training on using, or supporting visitors to use the app – and to date, all visitors have enjoyed a smooth and straightforward experience. Just like in the Guided Tour, visitors are also able to purchase the available artworks via a link in the AR app.

How the Guided Tour was created and how it functions

The Guided Tour 360 images were created with a Go Pro camera, with more detailed images of groups of artworks provided within the tour. Visitors to the guided tour can click the tags on any artwork they would like to learn more about, or see in more detail. If the artwork is for sale, there is also a link to purchase via the Art Possible Ohio Shop site. Explore the full Guided Tour below!

It also contains an introduction video from Art Possible Director Megan Fitze which you can watch here:

You don’t necessarily require a 360 camera to create a similar tour. An instructor at OSU has created an example virtual gallery tour for her course students using the new solution Pano to 360 by ThingLink.

Feedback from creators, museum, artists and visitors

The ThingLink resources have been extremely well received both by the director of the Barnett Center – Scott A Jones, and the Director of Art Possible, Ohio – Megan Fitze.

“We work with artists all over the state, some of whom are homebound due to their disabilities. Having this virtual exhibition provided the artist and their loved ones the opportunity to see and share their work on view. The benefits can literally not be measured. Artists were simply excited to share the works with their friends and families and often left affirmative comments on our [social media] posting.”

Megan Fitze (Executive Director, Art Possible Ohio)

“The virtual tour and related supportive technologies added a rich and meaningful dimension to this art exhibition in the Barnett Center this semester. The initial conceptualization for the exhibition was strictly for an in-person audience. Through the thoughtful efforts of Instructional Designer Sarah Dove, the exhibition became available to viewers from around the world through the web-based nature of the technology. While this was my first interaction with such technology, I found the platform easy to navigate and enjoyable.”

Dr. Scott Jones (Director, Barnett Center for Integrated Arts and Enterprise)

On accessibility:

“The tool itself makes it so easy to include the things that need to be considered for accessibility. The added benefit of people being able to translate it straight into another language just adds even more inclusion.”

Jessica Henderson

“It’s a really nice marriage of UDL (universal design for learning) and accessibility.”

Sarah Dove

On ThingLink overall:

“We have been very impressed and encouraged by how quickly things are updating and how quickly new things are being added. Because ThingLink is very invested in accessibility already it makes integrating these new features so much easier for us.”

Sarah Dove

“You always have the flexibility to find creative solutions with ThingLink”. 

Jessica Henderson

Impact and legacy of the exhibition

Art Possible Ohio intend to keep the Guided Tour active indefinitely as an online fully asynchronous exhibition space. In this way it will also represent archival material – a catalogue of the exhibition and a learning artefact. They will also be sharing it in presentations with stakeholders and potential future partners.

How does the AR app work?

Creating interactive content for the AR app is very straightforward in ThingLink.

1. Take a picture of an object (e.g. a painting)
2. Upload the picture to ThingLink and add hotspots using ThingLink’s main media editor.
3. Go to the AR section in your ThingLink profile, add the scene to an AR collection, and then generate a share code for your collection

For detailed instructions, go to our easy-to-follow article on our support pages.

Should I choose a Virtual Tour or Guided Tour?

One aspect of inclusivity and accessibility which can often be overlooked is the fact that museums and galleries can be overwhelming, confusing or intimidating for some visitors. Feedback about a virtual tour of the Orton Museum on campus (explore below!) showed that most of the recent in-person visitors had explored the virtual tour first, suggesting that familiarity with the space encouraged a subsequent physical visit.

For this reason the team decided that Guided Tours would be even more useful in this regard than the free-form self-guided virtual tour alternative. The guided tour welcomes viewers to the Barnett Center virtually before coming to the physical exhibition, guiding them through a route that they would take from arrival to the exhibition – rather than relying on the visitor to navigate their own way around the spaces.

On the other hand, Virtual Tours work well when you have a lot of information that you would like to include on each object, such as in the Orton Museum tour above.

Thank you to Sarah Dove and Jessica Henderson for their help in putting this case study together.

Further case studies and blogs you may be interested in

Royal Ontario Museum’s New Virtual Tour

How Stuhr Museum’s Blizzard Scenario Brings History to Life

Highland Folk Museum’s Virtual Tours

Budapest’s Major Museums Create Virtual Tours for Schools

V&A Dundee Widens Access with ThingLink

How Museums and Technology are Collaborating

ROM’s Virtual Tours Solve Access Issues

Join the Conversation!

Get involved with our active groups and communities on social media and explore some inspiring examples of interactive content from our 10 million creators worldwide!

ThingLink LinkedIn Page 

LinkedIn Community

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X / Twitter Creative Learning Design Community

ThingLink Education Facebook Group

Or follow our YouTube channel for tutorials

In the world of elearning and corporate training, creating engaging and effective online courses that truly engage your trainees is every course creator’s goal. With the surge in demand for online training, educators and corporate trainers are constantly on the lookout for innovative tools and techniques that cater to the learning needs of their learners, but that are simple to use, build and update. Enter ThingLink’s Scenario Builder templates: a game-changer for elearning course creation.

Why Choose Scenario-Based Learning (SBL)?

Scenario-Based Learning (SBL) is an instructional design strategy that replicates real-world situations, placing learners in a decision-making role. It enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills by immersing learners in real-life situations that demand these competencies.

Benefits of Scenario-Based Learning:

1. Real-world Context: SBL offers a realistic scenario, allowing learners to connect their learning experiences with real-world applications. This bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
2. Active Learning: Instead of passive consumption, learners engage in active decision-making, promoting retention and deeper understanding.
3. Safe Environment: It offers a risk-free environment where mistakes become learning opportunities without real-life consequences.

Learn more about ThingLink’s Scenario Builder

Check out our dedicated YouTube playlist featuring short videos that demonstrate the simplicity of crafting interactive scenario-based learning with ThingLink. Listen to insights from ThingLink’s Founder and CEO, Ulla-Maaria Koivula, as she highlights the tool’s standout features. Plus, catch a webinar where we design a complete learning scenario from the ground up in less than 20 minutes.

Leveraging ThingLink’s Scenario Builder Templates

Creating a compelling storyline for your elearning course can be challenging. However, ThingLink’s templates make it easier, providing a foundation upon which you can build your learning scenarios.

1. Choose the Right Type of Scenario: Depending on your learning objectives and the complexity of the subject matter, you can opt for microlearning episodes that follow a linear path (or paths) – or more extended multi-branching scenarios. For instance, compliance training may need in-depth branching, while soft skills training can benefit from shorter, focused (but still highly interactive) linear scenarios.
2. Incorporate Real-life Elements: Use 360 images and videos, with added interactive elements, that replicate real-life situations to create a sense of authenticity. This boosts learner engagement and mirrors the challenges they might face in a real-world context.
3. Decision Points: Integrate decision points within your scenarios to test and enhance learners’ decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
4. Gamification: Adding elements of gamification, like scores or badges, as well as timers to increase the pressure, can make the learning experience even more engaging.

Integrating with Other Authoring Tools

While ThingLink is powerful on its own, integrating it with other authoring tools can amplify its capabilities. For instance, combining it with tools like Articulate Storyline can allow you to import PowerPoint slides, enhancing the interactivity and richness of your elearning course.

Learning Needs and SMEs (Subject Matter Experts)

Before diving into the design scenarios, it’s crucial to identify the learning needs of your target audience. Collaborating with SMEs can also ensure that your content is accurate and aligns with the desired learning outcomes.

The Perfect Tool to Create Microlearning Experiences

Microlearning refers to bite-sized learning modules, often spanning 5-10 minutes. This strategy aligns with the modern learner’s attention span and is perfect for teaching new skills. By utilizing ThingLink’s templates, creating effective microlearning modules becomes a breeze.

Scenario Templates and Corporate Training

The four different scenario builder template we have developed can be tailored and adapted for different aspects of corporate training. For example:

1. Soft Skills: Our Simulation Scenario template is ideal for this type of training. In the blog Create Branched Learning Scenarios with ThingLink’s New Simulation Template we show how this template has been used to build a scenario exploring Leadership Styles. Alternatively you could use the simple but effective Linear Template, which still allows plenty of scope for exploring interactive and immersive content incorporating 360 images and videos and rich multimedia annotation. You could also build your scenario using the Self-Exploratory template which allows the learner to follow the branch related to the subject of their choice.
2. Compliance Training: For this type of training, it’s best to use a template like our Escape Room model, where employees are faced with decision points and see the immediate consequence of these, ensuring they understand company policies and real-world implications. Below is an example of a short course we have built using the escape room template.

The Escape Room model

Get started with our free downloads and templates

• Dive deep into our four templates by accessing our detailed guidance document – it’s available for download and is a valuable resource to understand each template’s functionality and potential applications.
• If you’re inspired by the media used in our showcased information security course and wish to adapt it, feel free to modify our Canva template, which covers every individual scene.
• For sketching out your scenarios, our Canva Whiteboard template is at your service.
• Create your own immersive content: Enhance your course with interactive 360-degree images. Don’t have a 360 camera? No worries! Our Pano to 360 tool, which doesn’t even require a ThingLink account, is at your disposal. Just upload your panoramic photos from your phone, and they’ll be transformed into 360 images instantly, all set for free download.

Maximizing Learner Engagement

The success of any online course lies in its ability to engage its learners. By designing an interactive scenario using ThingLink’s Scenario Builder templates, educators and trainers can ensure that learners are not just passive recipients but active participants in their learning journey.

Elearning made easy!

Scenario builder templates by ThingLink have revolutionized the elearning landscape, offering an unparalleled level of interactivity and realism for the learners or trainees, combined with ease of build for the creators. Whether it’s for corporate training or broader online training programs, using these templates ensures that learners are equipped with not just knowledge, but the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed for real-world success. Incorporating gamification, microlearning, and other modern learning strategies, these easy-to-adapt templates are the future of effective learning in a digital age.

Join the conversation

Get inspired by some of the content shared by our creative communities!

• ThingLink LinkedIn Page 
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• X / Twitter Creative Learning Design Community 
• ThingLink Education Facebook Group. 

• ThingLink Facebook Page 
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In this blog we will showcase why the templates are such a useful tool to help you create your interactive scenario learning content – plus we show you the most straightforward of the template styles in action – the Linear model.

Crafting tailored scenarios for your learners’ specific training needs can be a daunting prospect. However help is at hand! ThingLink has unveiled an array of adaptable Scenario Builder templates, poised to be the ideal start to creating e-learning or corporate training material using branching scenarios.

When you start to design scenarios on ThingLink, you’ll be shown four distinct models ready to act as your blank canvas. You can then seamlessly swap out our placeholder content with your own text, questions, branching, and media, making customization easy. Of course – if you prefer to start your content from scratch, you still have the freedom to craft your unique scenario your way.

With the added power of the super-helpful new built-in AI content creation tools, the challenge to craft simple or intricate learning scenarios becomes much more manageable. These scenario builder templates are your secret weapon for developing diverse employee training experiences with interactivity built-in. Whether your primary objectives revolve around fostering new skills, amplifying existing ones, or elevating employee engagement and retention, these templates will become invaluable.

How do you use Scenario Builder?

For an introduction to Scenario Builder and why it’s the perfect tool for creating immersive learning experiences, watch this short video intro:

What exactly is Scenario based Learning (SBL)?

Explore the foundational principles behind Scenario-Based Learning in this informative introductory blog post: What is Scenario Based Learning? Learn why it is so popular as a method of instructional design, and why it’s ideal for compliance training, safety training, soft skills training and more.

You can also watch all of our Scenario Builder content on the dedicated playlist here, including our masterclass webinar, where we build a whole scenario from scratch!

Explore the simplest of our new Scenario Builder templates: Linear Scenario

The most basic of the scenario builder templates is the Linear Model. Here’s an example of what it might look like in action. We have created an online course in Understanding Bias which takes the learner through the types of bias. They then have an exercise to complete to identify what bias is being demonstrated in a series of true-to-life situations.

Want to replicate these images for your own course? Use our free Canva background template for the images we used in this above course on Understanding Bias.

However a linear template could be used to deliver any type of training! Our Certified Creator Course is a great example of the linear scenario model in action!

What else can you add to the linear template?

• Incorporate gamification principles into your learning journey with elements such as completion badges and points earned as learners progress.
• Make it more challenging by integrating formative assessments with questions at various stages. These questions challenge learners to provide the correct answers before advancing, employing a conditional transition. If an answer is incorrect, the feedback gently nudges learners to backtrack and review the material or reconsider their response. However, unlike the more complex escape room model which is another alternative template offered to creators, here, the wrong answer yields a uniform, generic message, without individual consequences. There are no decision points which can steer you down an alternate path or transport you to another scene or text.

• In all models, you can add as many media items as you want. Remember these can be any type of ThingLink! An interactive image, video, 360 image/video or 3D model. Your media can also be an entire virtual tour – or Guided Tour! Here is a guide to the 6 blocks that can be added to any scenario.
• Plan your scenario structure with our handy free Canva whiteboard template.
• Create a virtual learning environment: Use 360 tours of different rooms/areas/environments to introduce each in sequence. Great for onboarding!

What other types of scenario template can I choose?

There are three other types of scenario model for which we have created these handy templates. These are:

• Escape Room – as demonstrated in this linked blog.
• Simulation Scenario – take a look at this blog to see this in action!
• Self-Exploratory – which we explore in this blog post here.

For a full round-up of all four, see our new Scenario Templates PDF guide.

What are the benefits of Scenario Builder for training content creators and learners?

1. Tailored Training Solutions: With Scenario Builder, crafting and adapting training materials in-house is simple. This means you can effortlessly cater to the unique training needs of different departments or individual employees. Quickly address competencies and skill gaps by identifying knowledge deficiencies and updating your entirely customized scenario-based learning content within minutes.
2. Versatile Training Approaches: ThingLink enables the creation of online training courses and learning materials that can flexibly accommodate various training methods. You also have the flexibility to embed a wide array of apps and integrations, expanding the diversity of content you can offer.
3. Convenient Scheduling: Design a training schedule that harmonizes with employees’ other commitments. ThingLink’s online learning packages can be conveniently completed from the comfort of home or during daily commutes. Real-life situations and environments and real-world problem-solving can be recreated and explored safely – anywhere!
4. Comprehensive Learner Insights: Take advantage of built-in statistics features to assess and monitor each employee’s progress. This empowers you to closely track individual performance and milestones. Set training objectives, measure outcomes, and fine-tune the training process as needed. See how employees respond to decision-making in a challenging situation.

No matter the learning outcomes you have in mind, and the specifics of your employee learning objectives and needs, Scenario Builder is purpose-built to assist you in crafting immersive and captivating training resources – from bite-size micro-learning, all the way up to entire courses and training programs. Plus, with the introduction of our new templates, the process of creating impactful courses and modules has been further streamlined for your convenience.

Connect and engage with fellow creators

For more ideas, use cases and inspiration on content creation, join our communities on social media! Twitter / X ThingLink or ThingLink Education, LinkedIn Community and ThingLink Education Facebook Group. 

Why have we developed these templates?

Crafting the ideal scenario for your learners’ or organisation’s specific training requisites can sometimes present a challenge. So we’ve introduced a diverse range of scenario templates that offer the flexibility to duplicate, modify, and tailor them to your unique e-learning or training content.

As you embark on creating your scenario, you’ll encounter four distinct model options. Effortlessly substitute our placeholder content with your preferred text, queries, branching paths, and multimedia elements. But if you prefer to start from scratch, you can still fashion a completely customized scenario without our templates.

For a summary of the 4 new models: Linear, Escape Room, Simulation Scenario and Self-Exploratory, download this PDF of the new Scenario Templates which gives you full written guidance. Or why not catch up with our comprehensive webinar where we build a scenario from scratch! You’ll find it on our dedicated Scenario Builder playlist on YouTube.

When combined with ThingLink’s innovative built-in AI content creation tools, these scenario builder templates streamline the process of constructing either straightforward or multi-branching scenarios. These templates prove invaluable for crafting a spectrum of employee training materials, whether your primary training objectives involve acquiring new skills, refining existing ones, or boosting employee engagement and retention.

Why Use ThingLink’s Scenario Builder to create elearning and training?

To see why Scenario Builder is considered such a useful authoring tool for building immersive learning experiences, watch this short video intro:

Want to know more about Scenario based Learning (SBL)?

Read more on the fundamentals of Scenario-based instructional design in our introductory blog: What is Scenario Based Learning?

Focus on: The Simulation Scenario Model

This multi-branched template provides learners with a realistic depiction of the ultimate or collective outcome resulting from their decisions or choices – all within a safe environment. Perfect to reinforce compliance training or for real-life situations where safety is a concern.

For instance, when used in medical training, students engage in diagnosing virtual patients by assessing the symptoms presented. The patient’s condition dynamically evolves, either deteriorating or improving in response to the student’s decisions, thereby offering a true-to-life simulation of real-world medical practice.

The branching types of scenario all incorporate soft skills such as decision-making, problem-solving and critical thinking which replicate real-life situations. However in contrast to the Escape Room model, in this scenario template, learners continue to progress whatever choices they make. Unlike the escape room model, there are no categorically “wrong” answers that force learners to backtrack and try again for the correct answer during the intermediate phases. Instead, learners encounter choices, each with distinct consequences, steering them along diverse paths as they advance. It is the closest to the “choose your own adventure” concept from which Scenario Builder was conceived!

The examples are just a basic starting skeleton for all the different model types. 

• In all of the templates we have created for you, you can add as many media items as you want. Remember these can be any type of ThingLink! An interactive image, video, 360 image/video or 3D model. Your media can also be an entire virtual tour of an environment or place! Explore the media block and the 5 other Scenario Builder blocks in this handy ThingLink!
• Create a virtual learning environment: Use 360 tours of different rooms/areas/environments to introduce each in sequence. Great for onboarding! no 360 camera? No problem! Simply use our free tool Pano to 360 to instantly turn any panoramic image into an immersive photosphere.
• In the branching models, you can add as many or as few branching levels as you require.
• Need an extra helping hand with planning your scenario? Why not use our super useful free Canva whiteboard – here’s the link to the template!

See it in action!

To see the Simulation Scenario model in action, below you can explore an example we have built to demonstrate. This very short corporate training elearning course (sometimes called microlearning) demonstrates how a learner can find our what sort of leadership style they tend towards. In this example, they also have the choice to move back and see what different outcome they would have reached if they had made different choices.

If you would like to recreate the style of base media we have used in this course below, you can download the free Canva template to copy!

What other outcomes can you use in this model?

There are three primary variations that can be implemented with this model:

1. Range of Outcomes: In this variation, each final outcome presents a distinct scenario.
2. Binary Result: Alternatively, you can opt for a binary outcome, for example pass or fail, or the patient recovers or they do not – simplifying the end result.
3. Point Accumulation: Another approach involves assigning points to each choice made at every decision point. This adds an element of gamification for learners. The cumulative points can then determine the overall outcome. For instance, the points accrued may result in passing or failing, choosing between a refresher or repetition, or moving on to the next module. Interestingly, in this scenario, it’s possible for two learners taking different paths to accumulate the same number of points.

What other scenario templates can you use?

• Take a look at another of the templates: the Linear model at this blog.
• The Escape Room template – as demonstrated in this linked blog.
• The Self-Exploratory template – which we explore in this blog post here.

Why do training content creators use Scenario Builder to build courses?

1. Tailored Training Solutions: Scenario Builder offers a hassle-free way to tailor your training content. You can effortlessly tweak, duplicate, or refine it all in-house. This means you can cater to the unique training needs of each department or even individual employees by swiftly adapting to their competencies and skill gaps. Pinpoint those knowledge gaps and swiftly bridge them with fully customized scenario-based learning content that’s updatable in mere minutes.

2. Versatile Training Methods: ThingLink empowers you to craft online training courses and learning materials that accommodate a variety of training methods. Plus, you can seamlessly integrate a vast array of apps and tools into your ThingLink training content, instantly expanding the possibilities of content delivery.

3. Flexible Scheduling: With ThingLink, you have the flexibility to create training schedules that align with your employees’ other commitments. Our online learning packages can be completed from the comfort of home or during the daily commute to and from work.

4. Insights into Learner Progress: Harness the power of built-in analytics to monitor and assess individual learner engagement and progress. Keep a keen eye on their performance and milestones, enabling you to set training goals, measure outcomes, and fine-tune the training process as needed.

Your helping hand in training content creation

We wanted to design Scenario Builder to be the easiest method of crafting immersive and captivating training materials and online courses in a real-world context. And we developed our new templates to further streamlined the process, making it even more straightforward to develop highly effective employee training programs – whatever your training and learning outcomes!

Connect with and inspire your fellow creators!

For more ideas, use cases and inspiration on content creation, join our communities on social media! Twitter / X ThingLink or ThingLink Education, LinkedIn Community and ThingLink Education Facebook Group. 

Now On-Demand!

Watch anytime in comfort! Register to receive all the replay links.

Registration

We’re excited to extend an invitation to watch our special webinar that aims to bring new dimensions to interactive and immersive learning. Join us as ThingLink collaborates with Blockade Labs to introduce you to the transformative potential of Skybox AI technology.

Special Guests: 

– Marguerite deCourcelle, CEO of Blockade Labs

– Co-Hosts: Louise Jones, ThingLink & Dan Fitzpatrick, The AI Educator

Couldn’t Make It?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Sign up anyway for the action replay!

Webinar Outcomes

1. Immersive Learning: Discover how text-to-360-image generation can be used to craft interactive learning materials that transcend traditional teaching tools.
2. The Gamification Factor: Learn how to incorporate elements of gamified experiences or games design into your curriculum to boost student engagement and enhance learning.
3. Ease of Technology: Learn how this is all pretty uncomplicated! We’ve simplified the tech aspects so that educators of all tech skill levels can integrate these new tools into their teaching methods effortlessly.
4. Deep Dive into AI: We’ll be discussing the role of AI in educational technology and going through some compelling examples.

And! A Special Bonus: Stay tuned until the end for a chance to win in our exclusive giveaway!

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is tailored for educators, course creators, games-design enthusiasts and learning technologists interested in adopting new approaches to learning and teaching. Whether you’re new to tech tools or have years of experience, this session is for you!

Key Takeaways:

1. Create learning assets with 360° interactive images for immersive experiences
2. Unlock strategies for boosting student engagement through gamification.
3. Gain insights into integrating user-friendly technology into your classroom.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore new horizons in educational approaches.

We look forward to seeing you there!

In Action: Case Studies

• How to Create Extraordinary 360 Spaces With Blockade Labs’ Text to Image AI Tool
• How to Unlock the Awesome Power of AI in Education

Connect and Collaborate

For more ideas, use cases and inspiration on content creation, join our communities on social media! Twitter / X ThingLink Education and Blockade Labs Skybox AI LinkedIn Community and ThingLink Education Facebook Group. Discord Blockade Labs Community.

What is Skybox AI?

Skybox AI by Blockade Labs is a groundbreaking AI tool which empowers anyone to generate unique, high-quality and detailed 360 visuals from simple plain text prompts and a vast selection of styles. Creators can construct 360-degree immersive visuals ready for annotating in seconds, no coding required.

Why Choose Skybox AI and ThingLink? Benefits include:

1. Secure and Supported Learning: Introduce educators and students to the dynamic world of text-to-image generation in a secure and supported manner. ThingLink account management is all that is required, no additional Skybox accounts are created. The ability to craft prompts and continuously annotate creations not only adds depth to the learning experience but also serves as an invaluable step toward digital fluency.
2. User-Friendly Design: Creating interactive 360-degree worlds with ThingLink and Skybox is incredibly accessible, even for beginners. Kickstart your projects with  straightforward text prompts; no coding skills required.
3. Scalability: Whether you’re crafting a single immersive scene or constructing an expansive, interconnected world, ThingLink and Skybox offer infinite possibilities in terms of size and complexity.
4. Versatile Styling: Tailor the look and feel of your projects with a selection of styles—from “Whimsical World” and “Realistic,” to “Dreamlike,” and more.
5. Make use of VR Headsets: ThingLink has long been the go-to solution for creating content for VR Headsets such as ClassVR, as well as creating real-life contexts, this package enables educators and students to create VR ready experiences from worlds yet to be imagined.

Creating Powerful Moments of Insight – To Kill a Mocking Bird

Next Steps

Complete the form below! Schools, universities and businesses with a ThingLink organization account can purchase Skybox AI as an add-on service for all their users. The entry-level package, priced at $1,000, includes 15,000 image generations per year. If you are an individual Teacher or Professional Individual ThingLink account holder, please go direct to Blockade Labs for a free trial and account.

In Action: Case Studies of ThingLink and SkyBox AI Together

How to Create Extraordinary 360 Spaces With Blockade Labs’ Text to Image AI Tool

How to Unlock the Awesome Power of AI in Education

Connect and Collaborate

For more ideas, use cases and inspiration on content creation, join our communities on social media! Twitter / X ThingLink Education and Blockade Labs Skybox AI LinkedIn Community and ThingLink Education Facebook Group. Discord Blockade Labs Community.

Connect News and Stories

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