Dream Homes: Property Inspection Training
Project Overview
Dream Homes serves as a critical bridge between homeowners selling their properties and mortgage banks requiring appraisals. However, independent contractor inspectors, who play a key role in this process, frequently struggle with correctly scheduling inspections—a crucial step in ensuring smooth transactions.
Although Dream Homes provides a 20-page guideline to support inspectors, scheduling errors persist, highlighting a significant skill gap. Complicating matters, legal constraints prevent Dream Homes from mandating training without compensation, making traditional training approaches ineffective.
To address this challenge, I designed a scenario-based eLearning module that transforms training into an engaging and practical experience. This interactive solution empowers inspectors with real-world decision-making practice, ensuring they master the scheduling process while increasing compliance and efficiency.
Category:
New Hire Orientation, Refresher Training, Scenario-Based eLearning, Onboarding
Role:
Learning Experience Designer, eLearning Developer, Graphic Designer
Tools Used:
Storyline 360 – eLearning Development
Lucid Chart – Branching Scenario Mapping
Descript – Audio Editing & Voiceover
Interactivity Features:
Dynamic Layers for adaptive learning experiences
Text Variables to personalize learner interactions
Conditional Logic for tailored scenario paths
My Development Process and Design Decisions
My development process for this module was particularly rapid. To ensure effectiveness, I used the 4Cs of Scenarios as a guiding framework:
My development process for this module was particularly rapid. To ensure effectiveness, I used the 4Cs of Scenarios as a guiding framework:
Characters – Designing relatable inspectors to mirror real-life challenges.
Context – Creating authentic scenarios that reflect the scheduling issues inspectors face.
Challenge – Presenting decision-making opportunities that test learners' ability to apply knowledge.
Consequences – Providing immediate feedback to reinforce correct choices and illustrate the impact of mistakes.
By focusing on these core elements, I crafted an engaging and practical learning experience that enhances skill retention and application.
Branching Scenario
The Characters
The Characters
Diversity was a key consideration in my character selection. I intentionally designed inspectors with varied genders, races, and ages to create an inclusive and relatable learning experience.
Diversity was a key consideration in my character selection. I intentionally designed inspectors with varied genders, races, and ages to create an inclusive and relatable learning experience.
To enhance engagement and learner autonomy, I incorporated choice-based interactivity, allowing learners to select one of three inspectors to work with throughout the lesson. This approach fosters a sense of agency while reinforcing the real-world applicability of decision-making in diverse professional settings.
The Context
Instead of using a traditional introduction page, I designed the module so that the chosen inspector provides the context. This design decision was intentional, as I wanted to immediately engage and motivate learners—especially since they were completing the training on their own time without compensation.
Instead of using a traditional introduction page, I designed the module so that the chosen inspector provides the context. This design decision was intentional, as I wanted to immediately engage and motivate learners—especially since they were completing the training on their own time without compensation.
By having the inspectors directly address the learners and ask for their help, the experience feels more personal and interactive. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and investment, making the learning process more engaging and meaningful.
The introduction
One of the Four Challenges
The Challenges
I designed four challenges, each highlighting a common mistake that could occur when interacting with a homeowner while scheduling an inspection. These challenges provide realistic scenarios that reinforce proper scheduling procedures, helping learners identify and correct errors in a safe, low-risk environment.
I designed four challenges, each highlighting a common mistake that could occur when interacting with a homeowner while scheduling an inspection. These challenges provide realistic scenarios that reinforce proper scheduling procedures, helping learners identify and correct errors in a safe, low-risk environment.
By presenting these challenges within a scenario-based framework, learners gain hands-on experience in decision-making, improving their ability to handle real-world situations effectively.
The Consequences
Each challenge included three decision points:
Each challenge included three decision points:
A clear incorrect choice
A realistic distractor
The correct choice
Instead of simply labeling responses as right or wrong, I designed the module to provide instructional feedback and natural consequences based on the learner’s choices. This approach reinforces learning by allowing learners to see the impact of their decisions in a realistic context, encouraging critical thinking and deeper engagement.
Conclusion
The client was highly satisfied with the module and appreciated that I went beyond the initial activity requirements to provide comprehensive coverage of the content.
The client was highly satisfied with the module and appreciated that I went beyond the initial activity requirements to provide comprehensive coverage of the content.
Reflection
This property inspection module for Dream Homes is an example of training that could have been delivered through a simple one-page job aid. While scenario-based training is undeniably more engaging, developing eLearning for this knowledge gap may not always be cost-effective. In similar cases, using a template-based approach could streamline development while maintaining instructional effectiveness.
This property inspection module for Dream Homes is an example of training that could have been delivered through a simple one-page job aid. While scenario-based training is undeniably more engaging, developing eLearning for this knowledge gap may not always be cost-effective. In similar cases, using a template-based approach could streamline development while maintaining instructional effectiveness.