Chapter 3: Development and Sharing of Branching Scenarios
3.4 Integrating Media: Images, Audio, and Video
Multimedia elements like images, audio, and video can make a branching scenario more immersive, engaging, and realistic. A well-written narrative is usually the most important element and the foundation of a good scenario. However, integrating thoughtfully chosen media can enhance the immersion by providing contextual cues, emotional impact, and realism. This section explores considerations for integrating media in branching scenarios.
Screenshot from Interactive Cases In Veterinary Medicine by Dr. Jen Loewen (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
3.4.1 Choosing the Right Media for Your Scenario
When integrating media into your branching scenario, keep the following tips in mind:
- Prioritize relevance and authenticity: Media should support the story, reinforce learning outcomes, and enhance decision-making. Using realistic images and sounds that align with the setting helps to build relevance and authenticity for learners.
- Be consistent: Maintain a consistent media style throughout the scenario to avoid distracting learners. For example, do not switch between animated characters and photorealistic style.
- Media is a supplement to text (and sometimes, less is more): Do not jam-pack scenarios with media. A modest amount of carefully chosen media can be more effective than too many. To reiterate an earlier point – a well-written text narrative is usually the most important element, and media serves as a supplement to that foundation.
3.4.2 Media Formats: Best Practices for Using Media in Branching Scenarios
When deciding what media format(s) to use, consider the following best applications for each type:
- Images: Use images to set the scene/setting, show changes in the narrative, provide important visual cues or test results, or show character expressions. Well-chosen imagery can add to the emotional impact of a scenario. Avoid overloading pages with too many images that do not add meaning (i.e., “eye candy”).
- Audio: Adding voiceovers can enhance immersion, while background sounds (e.g., office noise, nature sounds) can create atmosphere. Keep voice narration clear and professional.
- Video: Short, to-the-point video clips (30–90 seconds) work well between decision points and can be an efficient way to demonstrate a process or show more complex steps. Consider role-play scenarios or actors, animations, or interview-style videos to reinforce choices and consequences.
3.4.3 Creating Your Own Media
A simple way to add authenticity to your scenario is by capturing your own photos and videos with a “do it yourself” or DIY approach. You don’t need professional-grade equipment – your smartphone camera is often good enough!
A small bit of pre-planning or staging can help you capture exactly the media you need to flesh out an immersive scenario. For example, if your scenario is set in a veterinary clinic, take a few simple photos of things like tools, equipment, or (anonymized) test results to make your scenario feel more grounded. You can also add realism by showing learners the same equipment and interfaces they will expect to find in professional or workplace settings, or by asking them to interpret mock lab results or computer readouts. Including a quick video of you or a colleague demonstrating a process (e.g., washing hands, administering medication, fixing equipment) can be more effective than trying to hunt down fitting stock media.
You might also be able to enlist friends or colleagues to help you capture the media you need – for example, by having them pose as characters in your scenario. Again, you don’t need a professional level of quality for this type of DIY media to be effective – the goal is to enhance the experience, not to create a Hollywood-level production.
3.4.4 Where to Find Royalty-Free & Creative Commons Media
There are many sources of royalty-free and open or Creative Commons (CC)-licensed media that you can legally use in your projects while keeping costs down. Always check the specific licensing terms before use (in some instances, attribution may be required).
Here are a few sites you can explore:
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Media Type |
Site |
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Images |
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Audio |
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Video |
3.4.5 Final Considerations
Lastly, before adding media to your branching scenario:
- Optimize file sizes to prevent slow loading times.
- Check the licenses carefully for any borrowed media and always credit creators when required.
- Ensure media is accessible by including alt text for images, captions for videos, and transcripts for audio.
