Sample eLearning Courses
Project Title: Strengthening Student Resiliency – Bureau of Indian Education
Overview:
An eLearning course designed for the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) to support educators, school staff, and community members working with American Indian/Alaska Native students who have experienced trauma. The course features interactive scenarios, accessible design, and a unique comic book-style aesthetic to drive engagement and retention.
Challenge:
American Indian/Alaska Native youth experience a disproportionately high rate of traumatic events, which can hinder academic performance and emotional well-being. BIE needed a culturally sensitive and engaging training to equip educators with trauma-informed strategies that support student resiliency and learning.
My Role:
As the sole Instructional Designer and Project Manager, I partnered with BIE subject matter experts to translate sensitive subject matter into a practical, engaging, and visually compelling eLearning experience. I also led visual direction, proposing and implementing a comic book-style theme to reflect the tone and ensure representation.
Approach:
I used an ADDIE/SAM hybrid methodology, ensuring iterative design and stakeholder feedback throughout. All content adhered to WCAG accessibility standards and followed plain language principles to ensure inclusivity and clarity. Because high-quality imagery representing Native students was limited, the comic book design allowed for custom, respectful character creation and storytelling.
Impact:
The course received outstanding feedback from learners, with 98% reporting high satisfaction and perceived value. It has since become a core component of BIE’s educator training offerings and is available to BIE-funded school staff, parents, school boards, and students.
Project Title: Welcome to the Department of the Interior
Overview:
A foundational eLearning course created to welcome new employees to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). Designed for a diverse audience of over 70,000 federal employees across multiple bureaus and job types, the course introduces learners to DOI’s mission, values, and organizational structure in an accessible, engaging format.
Challenge:
Prior to this course, DOI lacked a unified onboarding experience. Each bureau handled orientation differently, leading to inconsistent messaging and knowledge gaps. The agency needed a single, inclusive course to ensure all new hires—regardless of their location, role, or bureau—receive a consistent and welcoming introduction to the Department.
My Role:
As the sole Instructional Designer and Project Manager, I collaborated with stakeholders across all DOI bureaus and offices to develop content that reflected the organization’s breadth and diversity. I also wrote the script and handled editing for a featured welcome video from the Secretary of the Interior, coordinating approvals across multiple leadership teams.
Approach:
Using an ADDIE/SAM hybrid model, I led iterative content development with regular stakeholder review cycles. I ensured WCAG/Section 508 compliance and followed federal plain language guidelines to make the course accessible and easy to understand for all learners, including those with disabilities.
Impact:
The course received a 95% approval rating from participants and has been completed by over 5,000 new employees. It is now a core part of the Department’s onboarding process, helping to streamline orientation and build a stronger, more connected workforce from day one.