Building Empathy – From Passive Course to Interactive SCORM Experience

Introduction

This project started with a simple request: transform a static text into an e-learning course in SCORM format.
My goal was not just to “transfer content” but to make it engaging, interactive, and applicable for financial advisors.

For this prototype, I developed the first sections of the course up to the chapter Trovare punti in comune.

Instructional Design approach

  • Storytelling

    Storytelling makes abstract skills concrete. A single, recurring character (Marco) gives learners a stable reference point across activities and encourages emotional investment, essential when the learning goal is empathy.

  • Scenario-based learning

    Michael Allen CCAF model:
    - Context
    - Challenge
    - Activity
    - Feedback

    Scenarios are structured so that every interaction is realistic, goal-driven and immediately instructive.

  • Andragogy (Knowles)

    Adults need to know “why,” bring experience, prefer self-direction, and want immediate applicability. The course design explicitly honors these needs.

  • Merrill’s First Principles

    Merrill’s model ensures learning is anchored in solving real problems and moves learners from demonstration to independent application.

  • Varied interactions in Rise + integrations

    Mixing interaction types keeps cognitive load optimal and reaches multiple learning channels (visual, auditory, kinesthetic).

Outcome

The outcome is a course that shifts from passive to active: no longer just reading text, but an experience where learners reflect, choose, experiment, and apply.
Even in this partial version, the SCORM course is not simply a container, but a real experiential learning environment.

The Course:

What I Learned

I strengthened my ability to translate complex concepts into engaging learning experiences, balance theoretical input with hands-on practice, and integrate reflective and interactive strategies that drive both awareness and learner engagement.

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