Skip to main content
Intro to SimGate Studio, Advanced Features
Updated over 3 weeks ago

Leveling Up with Branching, Personalization, and AI

This module provides hands-on practice with advanced features to integrate personalized learning components into your projects.

Expected Time to Complete: Approximately ~60 mins*

*Your time investment depends on your engagement with resources (videos, examples, articles) and hands-on exploration of the tool.

Purpose

  • Review a sample experiential learning project to see personalization in action.

  • Explore adaptive branching, feedback reports, AI Avatars, how to show or hide content, and how to inject personal elements to enhance engagement, retention, and real-world application.

  • Gain hands-on practice with advanced features to create personalized learning in SimGate Studio.

  • Learn how to implement these features in your own designs through guided exploration.


Step 1: Unlock the Power of Personalization 📚

Before We Get Hands-On…

Let’s take a moment to explore why personalization matters in learning design and how SimGate’s advanced features help you create dynamic experiences. With no coding required, you can adapt content to learner decisions, provide real-time feedback, and mirror real-world scenarios—keeping learners engaged, motivated, and focused. Let’s dive in! 🚀

Why It Matters

👨‍💻 For instructional designers and developers, SimGate makes it easy to create adaptive, responsive, and interactive learning environments.

🙇‍♀️ For learners, this means more meaningful, relevant, and impactful experiences that adjust to their needs in real time.

👀 See Personalization in Action

Let’s take a quick tour of a real-world project to see personalization in action!!

🌟 FYI - You'll be working with the Not-For-Profit Industry Simulation as your sample project throughout the hands-on portion of this module.


How SimGate Helps Create Personalized Learning Experiences

Adaptive Learning Paths: Let Learners Drive Their Own Journey

SimGate’s built-in adaptive branching lets you create nonlinear learning paths that respond to each learner’s decisions, scores, or progress.

Increase engagement by providing customized experiences based on learner choices, making training feel more relevant and immersive.
Go beyond simple branching to build complex, decision-driven scenarios that mimic real-world challenges.

Optimize learning time by allowing learners to skip ahead, revisit key content, or receive targeted remediation.

Dynamic Feedback & Personalized Insights

Give learners real-time, data-driven feedback that helps them understand the impact of their decisions and encourages self-reflection.

Customized Reports—Provide learners with tailored scores, insights, competitive data, recommendations, and reflection prompts.
Round-by-Round & Cumulative Feedback—Help learners track progress over time, just like in real-world decision making.
Decision Impact Visualization—Make learning stick by showing learners how their choices shape outcomes.

AI-Driven Personalization: Custom Greetings, Avatars & Content

Leverage SimGate’s AI Avatars and dynamic text to make learning feel more personal and immersive.


Capture learners' attention with dynamic AI Avatars—whether welcoming them into a scenario, guiding them through a case, providing feedback, or relaying key information.
Greet learners by name and inject real-time data (like individual/team names, scores, or previous choices) to create a personalized, cohesive learning journey.
Show or hide content dynamically based on learner actions to provide a unique experience for each participant.

Hyper-Customized Scoring & Performance Tracking

SimGate’s flexible scoring model adapts to your learning objectives, helping learners understand their performance in meaningful, actionable ways.


Instant feedback based on pre-defined scoring criteria keeps learners engaged and motivated.
Gamified performance tracking can encourage competition, goal setting, and deeper learning.
Custom score displays can be used to reinforce key behaviors and provide learners with clear next steps.

With SimGate’s personalization tools, you’re not just delivering content—you’re creating immersive, adaptive, and data-driven learning experiences that empower every learner to succeed on their own path.

Ready to take your training to the next level? 🚀


Step 2: Hands-On Activity: Find It, Review It, Make It Yours!

In this activity, you will:

🎯 Explore Personalization in Action – Tour a real-world Not-For-Profit simulation and see advanced features at work.

🔍 Go Behind the Scenes – Peek into SimGate Studio to uncover the mechanics of a 3-round, scenario-based learning experience.

🎥 Learn from the Pros – Check out video guides and Help Center resources to master key processes.

🛠 Get Hands-On – Edit and enhance the sim structure, experimenting with adaptive branching, scoring, feedback reports, and AI Avatars.

🔥 Level Up – Apply what you’ve learned to create more engaging, personalized, and high-impact learning experiences!

🚀 Let's Dive In!


First, Duplicate and Open the Sample Project!

🪄 This step (find, duplicate, & open) follows the same process you completed in the "Intro to SimGate Studio: Basics" module. Need a refresher? Expand the blue section below for a step-by-step guide and direct links!

  • Location: Within your Enterprise folder named SimGate Training Modules

  • Project name: SimGate Studio Advanced: Getting Started with Development_ MUST DUPLICATE BEFORE USING!!

DIY Steps to Find and Duplicate the Project

Follow these directions to:

  • Locate the project in your Enterprise folder

  • Duplicate the project into your personal My Projects folder

  • Rename it (💡 To avoid confusion, always rename duplicated projects immediately!)

  • Open your duplicated project in SimGate Studio

🎬 VIDEO: How to

(from Intro to SimGate Studio, Basics)

Log in to Portal:

  • In a Chrome or Edge browser, login with your username and password to access SimGate Portal via your unique enterprise URL.

  • Once logged in, follow the steps below to duplicate the Module Sample project that you will use to complete the module.

Find the Project:

  1. Navigate to your Enterprise folder

    • The project is located in your Enterprise folder in the left navigation panel.

      1. FYI - Your organization's name will be next to the building icon under "Projects"!

💡 Enterprise Projects folder = All access for all team members

2. Open the folder named SimGate Training Modules

3. Find the project named SimGate Studio Advanced: Getting Started with Development_ MUST DUPLICATE BEFORE USING!!

Duplicate the Project:

  1. Find the project you want to duplicate and make your own.

  2. Click the three-dot menu in the upper right corner.

  3. Select "Duplicate" from the dropdown menu.

  4. Choose "My Projects" (or your preferred folder) as the save location.

  5. Go to "My Projects," locate your copy, and RENAME it to avoid confusion! (NOTE: The title is limited to 100 characters or it could cause duplication errors.)

Navigate to your NEW Project:

  1. In Portal, via the left-hand navigation pane, click on the folder named My projects.

2. Find the project that you duplicated and renamed.

  • Note: It was originally named SimGate Studio Advanced: Getting Started with Development_ MUST DUPLICATE BEFORE USING!!

Open your Project in Studio:

3. You can open your project two different ways:

  • Click on the PICTURE to open your project details, then find the Quick Links menu on the right, and click Studio.
    OR

  • Click on the project TITLE to open your project directly into Studio.

4. This opens your duplicated project in a new window in SimGate Studio!


Click the arrow to EXPAND this section for detailed DIY instructions to:

  • Locate the project in your Enterprise folder

  • Duplicate the project into your personal My Projects folder

  • Rename it (💡 To avoid confusion, always rename duplicated projects immediately!)

  • Open your duplicated project in SimGate Studio


⚠️ Friendly Warning!

Don't skip the duplication step! Please do not work directly in the original project within your enterprise folder—that’s the master copy for all training participants.

Any changes made to the master version could impact your colleagues' ability to complete the module successfully. Make your own copy first!


Find It, Review It, Make It Yours!

🖥️ Use these "cheat sheet charts" to spot personalization in action, learn how to implement it, and practice applying these features in the NFP simulation!

  1. FIND: Via the wireflow in Studio, find the "evidence of personalization" in the example states.

    • Evidence is listed in the cheat sheets below by state # under the column “Evidence – Where is it in the Sim?"

      • E.g.. “Where? R1 - 3.1”= Round 1, State 3.1

      • FYI there are SO many examples of personalization in this course, we are only providing examples from Round 1!

  2. REVIEW: Visit the “How to” links to discover how to set up these features yourself.

  3. MAKE IT YOURS: Follow the prompts in “Now you!” and make your own edits and changes!

🚨 BEFORE MOVING ON!! 🚨 Make sure you're in your newly duplicated project, located in your personal My Projects folder!

1. Personalization - Variable Injector

SimGate Feature

Level Up the Personalization!

Evidence

Where is it in the Sim?

Now You

Steps to Make it Yours!

Variable Injector

Create a cohesive, personalized learning journey by injecting real-time data (like individual/team names, scores, or previous choices).

Name Injection

Where?

R1 - 1.1

R1 - 3.1

R1 - 11.1

In R1, state 12.1, follow the steps in the How-to video to:

  • Change the title from “End of Round 1” to “Congratulations, XXX you’ve reached the end of Round 1!”

  • Use the Variable Injector to insert the “User first name” in place of the XXX, and preview your change!

2. Personalization - Show/Hide

SimGate Feature

Level Up the Personalization!

Evidence

Where is it in the Sim?

Now You

Steps to Make it Yours!

Show / Hide

Show or hide content dynamically based on learner actions to provide a unique experience for each participant.

Conversation choice

reveals add-ons

Where?

R1 - 8.1

In R3, state 7.1, follow the steps in the How-to video, use-case #1 to:

  • Add one add-on builder.

  • Add one AI video (you can edit this later).

  • In Settings, set up the show/hide logic to reveal the add-on when Option 1 is selected.

  • Preview the activity to confirm it’s set up!

3. Branching

SimGate Feature

Level Up the Personalization!

Evidence

Where is it in the Sim?

Now You

Steps to Make it Yours!

Branching

Create custom learning paths based on user decisions, actions, or performance.

Branching with if/then logic in the wireflow based on the choice made in the add-on

Where?

R1 - 6.1 to R1 - 7.1/2/3

In R2, state 6.1, follow the steps in the How-to video, use-case #1 to:

  • Add a new branched state (7.2) and use if/then logic to go to this state IF Option 2 is selected in the scenario (6.1).

  • Rename the new State (7.2) to “Option 2 Branch” and quick-add any activity template to this new state.

  • Do these steps again to create another branched state (7.3) IF Option 3 is selected in the scenario (6.1).

  • By Default, Option 1 will move to the next state (7.1) and now, Option 2 will branch to state 7.2 and Option 3 will branch to state 7.3!

💡 HINT! Check this out: How to: Using Logic for Branching

4. AI Avatars

SimGate Feature

Level Up the Personalization!

Evidence

Where is it in the Sim?

Now You

Steps to Make it Yours!

AI Avatars

Capture learners' attention with dynamic AI Avatars—whether welcoming them into a scenario, guiding them through a case, providing feedback, or relaying key information.

Avatars provide feedback

Where?

R1 - 3.1

R1 - 11.1

R1 - 12.1

In R2, state 2.1, follow the steps in the How-to video to:

  • Start by adding a new AI video under Bridgette’s pic.

  • Click the edit pencil to open the Edit panel of your Avatar.

  • Choose “Bridgette” from the dropdown, configure her any way you want, and change her script to say your favorite short joke.

  • Click Save to start generating!

💡 HINT! Check this out: How to: Add and Edit AI Avatars

📢 Two sets of Avatars !

💡 To find Bridgette...

"AI Avatar Collection 1" are Synthesia's avatars.

"AI Avatar Collection 2" are Colossyan's avatars.

You will need to add her from the set "AI Avatar Collection 1"

5. Scoring

SimGate Feature

Level Up the Personalization!

Evidence

Where is it in the Sim?

Now You

Steps to Make it Yours!

Scoring

Create a scoring model that meets your learning objectives and provides the feedback your learners need.

Each activity is scored across multiple Metrics

Where?

R1 - 4.1

R1 - 6.1

R1 - 7.1/2/3

R1 - 8.1

First, in the scoring model, take a moment to see how the NFP sim is scored—notice the multiple Metrics and Roll-Pp Metrics.

Follow the steps in the How-to video to:

  • Add two new Metrics named “Awareness” & “Influence”.

  • Create a Roll-Up Metric named: “Leadership Effectiveness” and add these two new Metrics to this Roll-Up Metric.

  • In a few Round 1 Activities, practice adding positive values to each answer option for each of your two new Metrics (for speed, choose random numbers!).

⚠️ Heads up! Scoring and reporting require additional training!

This module covers core skills, but some advanced features like scoring and reporting are highly use-case specific. Check out the "Want More" section below for resources to spark your interest and explore what’s possible. When you have a project and are ready to dive deeper, be sure to reach out to us for advanced training! 😊

📊 Curious about scoring model basics?

Quick Info to get you started....

METRICS = WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO MEASURE?

  • You must define your scoring criteria. These criteria are most often, but not limited to, skills, behaviors, frameworks, KPIs (key performance areas), mindset shifts, and/or stakeholder impacts. Within the scoring model, we call these "Metrics".

  • Metric = Individual Scored Category

    • Skills, Behaviors, KPIs

  • Rollup Metric = Top-Level Category that combines the scores of individual Metrics (sum, average, weighted sum, etc.)

    • Win Metric or Aggregate Round Score - 80 pts

    • Round over round, cumulative


ASSIGNING VALUES = WHAT IS THE SCORE OR DEGREE OF IMPACT?

-> Overall Project Level – How do you plan to measure learner decisions?

Each activity answer choice or action gets an assigned value that directly links your pre-defined scoring Metric, and its score, or degree of impact, on participant decisions.

  • Aggregate Scoring = Additive, Right/Wrong, Win, Pass/Fail

    • E.g., 1+1+1 = 3, 7/10 = 70%, Pass

  • Impact Scores = Degree of impact across multiple Metrics

    • E.g., If the positive impact is high, they get a 5, and if the impact is still positive but minor/medium, maybe 1, 2, or 3.

  • Keep scoring numbers simple! You’ll thank yourself later 😉​


CALCULATING METRIC SCORES: CUMULATIVE vs. ISOLATED SCORES?

-> For each Metric – How do you plan to calculate learner decisions?

  • Cumulative scores are the total points accumulated across multiple tasks, assessments, or activities over time.

    • E.g., Round 1 + Round 2 + Round 3

  • Isolated scores refer to the individual scores or points earned for a specific task, assessment, activity, or round of activities without considering or combining them with other scores.

    • E.g., Round 1, CPE Assessment Score

Click the arrow to EXPAND this section


💡 TIP: It is SO important to think about scoring from the very beginning when creating your course – it’s not an afterthought!

Doing this will help you plan your scenario options, the metrics you will score, the type of feedback, the style of reports - and so much more!

Find links to more scoring info in "Want more" below.

6. Feedback

SimGate Feature

Level Up the Personalization!

Evidence

Where is it in the Sim?

Now You

Steps to Make it Yours!

Feedback

Give learners real-time, data-driven feedback that helps them understand the impact of their decisions and encourages self-reflection.

Feedback Reports: Ratings, Gauges, What good looks like, and Self-Reflection prompts

Where?

R1 - 10.1

R1 - 11.1

In R1, state 10.1, follow the steps in the How-to video to:

  • Start by adding a new gauge under the “star rating” in the first slide of the slideshow. See how to add new components here!

  • Click the edit pencil to open the Edit panel of your gauge.

  • Review the edit options and play around to get familiar with what they each do (see the gauge change accordingly!).

  • Under Variable, choose Global -> Scoring Model -> Round 1 “Leadership Effectiveness” Metric Round 1 (this is your Roll-Up Metric that is an average of your two new Metrics!), and click Save!


Preview Your Changes

👩‍💻 PREVIEW the changes you just made for all 6 sections.

🌟 BONUS: Explore a fully built example & level up your learning!

While you're in Preview Mode, take advantage of this opportunity to explore a complete, high-quality, scenario-based course in action! This NFP simulation is a prime example of how immersive, personalized learning can look and feel.

  • See Personalization in Action – Experience adaptive branching, AI Avatars, customized feedback, and more.

  • Navigate Freely – Use the dropdowns to explore all three rounds at your own pace.

  • Find Inspiration – Discover features and design choices you might want to incorporate into your own projects.

  • No Pressure! – You don’t need to complete the activities—just explore, observe, and get inspired! 🚀


🎉 Congratulations – You’ve completed the fundamentals of personalization with SimGate!

Feel free to move on to complete your course OR explore the "Want More?" section below.


Want More?

📃 Take a peek and bookmark these pages!

Studio’s advanced features go beyond what’s practiced here! For increased awareness of what's possible, new creators find it super helpful to poke around the following pages (Trust us...you'll want to know we have these!):



Did this answer your question?