Ask about performance, not just information
A common SME interview mistake is asking “what should we teach?” first. A better opening question is “what must learners be able to do after training?”
From there, identify the decisions learners must make, the mistakes beginners make, and the consequences of those mistakes.
Capture authentic details
Useful scenarios need setting, role, constraints, available information, competing priorities, and realistic distractors.
The SME can provide the details that make a scenario feel real: customer pressure, missing information, time constraints, safety risks, regulatory boundaries, or system limitations.
Build decision points
Turn the scenario into moments where the learner has to choose, diagnose, sequence steps, interpret information, or respond to a situation.
Each decision should connect directly to the learning objective. Do not add scenario branches just to make the course feel interactive.
Write feedback that teaches expert reasoning
Feedback should explain why the best choice works, why tempting alternatives fail, and what principle the learner should apply later.
That is how the course transfers SME judgment instead of merely transferring SME facts.