1. SOAR Scenario Development
Sharon Gander: performancepi.gander@gmail.com
In preparation for writing a scenario activity or building scenario-based assessment questions, define the
elements that are important to one or more related situations. Providing several related scenarios will
help you choose the elements that are most valuable to you.
Scenario
Elements
Description Scenario 1 Description Scenario 2
Situation
Obstacle(s)
Actions
Results
Write a short scenario using one or two sentences to set up the situation and obstacles.
Describe the desired action required in order to get the expected results.

2. SOAR Scenario Development
Sharon Gander: performancepi.gander@gmail.com
In preparation for writing a scenario activity or building scenario-based assessment questions, define the
elements that are important to one or more related situations. Providing several related scenarios will
help you choose the elements that are most valuable to you.
Example
Scenario
Elements
Description Scenario 1 Description Scenario 2
Situation SME’s knowledge of Adult learning
theory is limited to Knowles that says
that adults need:
 To know the reason for learning
something
 Experience (including error) as a
foundation to learning
SME’s knowledge of Adult learning theory
is limited to Knowles that says that adults
need:
 To be responsible and involved
 Seek relevance in their learning
Obstacle(s)  E-learning seldom explains why the
learning is doing the activity
 SME’s focus on terminology rather
than experience
 E-learning assume that the learner will
make the content relevant to their
work
 E-learning often prevents learners from
taking responsibility for their learning
Actions SMEs must write introductions to step-
by-step learning such that the
introductions motivate their adult
learners
SME’s must write step-by-step instructions
that include relevance and responsibility
Results Brief introductions guide learners into
the content more quickly
SME’s create action-orient learning that
demonstrates relevance and responsibility
Write a short scenario using one or two sentences to set up the situation and obstacles.
As the content expert in healthcare and you are working on an e-learning project, you are asked
to write a brief introduction to module on transporting fluids. Your first task is to create a
purpose for learners to work through this module. The introduction you write is:
Manny works as a Phlebotomist collecting specimens in a large hospital. You are visiting
the Phlebotomy lab today to shadow Manny as he collects fluids.
Describe the desired action required in order to get the expected results.
A nurse stops Manny in the hall to give him a tube of CSF. Which of the following steps
would expect Manny to take in order to protect CSF?