Education · Learning design

Learning Design

Curricula, lesson plans, training programs and LMS-housed courses for higher education, workforce development and arts education, grounded in evidence-based learning design.

Sample curriculaCase studies

“Effective learning design begins with the learner: their prior knowledge, their goals, and the barriers that stand between them and mastery.”

From my design philosophy

Frameworks and tools

Frameworks

  • Backwards Design
  • Universal Design for Learning
  • Bloom's Taxonomy
  • Mastery Learning
  • NACE Competencies
  • ABCD Objectives
  • Competency-Based Education
  • Project-Based Learning

LMS & delivery

  • Canvas LMS
  • Stukent / MimicPro
  • LinkedIn Learning
  • GoToMeeting
  • Google Workspace

Active learning & assessment

  • Mentimeter
  • Nearpod
  • EdPuzzle
  • Padlet
  • Kahoot
  • HubSpot Academy
  • Canva

Approach

How I design learning

Every project starts with one question: what do learners need to be able to do, and what stands between them and doing it? The design works backwards from there.

  1. 01

    Analyze

    Who the learners are, what they already know, the barriers they face and what the setting demands.

  2. 02

    Define

    Measurable objectives in ABCD form, aligned to NACE, NJ standards or organizational goals.

  3. 03

    Design

    Assessment before content: formative checkpoints, revision cycles, peer review and summative tasks that measure mastery.

  4. 04

    Develop

    Multi-modal content (video, readings, simulations, case studies, discussion) delivered through the LMS.

  5. 05

    Evaluate

    Learner feedback and outcome data drive the next iteration of content and pacing.

Project portfolio

Case studies

Workforce development · Mylestones Workforce Academy · Instructional Designer & Instructor · 2023–now

Digital Marketing Certification Program

An 8-week hybrid certification for workforce learners: daily asynchronous modules in Canvas with weekly live sessions, ending in an industry-recognized proctored certification exam.

Design decisions
  • Full Canvas architecture: eight weeks of daily modules with readings, video lectures, slides, quizzes and discussion.
  • Simulation-based learning in MimicPro (Stukent), with scaffolded walkthroughs for learners who need more support.
  • Case-study projects: a website audit, an email marketing campaign and social media content creation.
  • HubSpot Social Media Marketing and Canva Essentials certifications embedded as assessed components.
  • Retakeable quizzes (highest score kept), reflecting a mastery-learning approach, and a career-readiness capstone week.

Workforce training · Ferrell Studios · Program Designer & Facilitator · Summer 2025

10-Week Intern Professional Development Program

A blended training program for undergraduate interns built around the eight NACE Career Readiness Competencies, producing SMART goals, resume bullets and a facilitated presentation for each intern's portfolio.

Design decisions
  • Each week aligned to one NACE competency, with objectives, structured activities and reflection prompts.
  • Choice-based asynchronous equity and inclusion module (LinkedIn Learning courses or curated HowlRound readings).
  • Peer teaching from week 5: interns design and facilitate their own 25-minute competency sessions.
  • Mid-point and final evaluations on NACE competency rubrics, submitted through Canvas.
  • A parallel onboarding program for teaching artists joining Ferrell Studios.

Higher education · Rutgers University · Course Instructor & Designer

Peer Instructor Education (01:090:320)

A 3-credit course that works as an instructional design practicum: future peer instructors write four complete lesson plans through cycles of design, feedback, revision and practice teaching.

Design decisions
  • Iterative lesson-plan cycle: draft, detailed written feedback, revision and resubmission.
  • ABCD objectives taught and applied directly to students' own seminar designs.
  • Live demo-teaching practicums with structured peer and instructor feedback.
  • UDL modeled in every session and required in every lesson plan.
  • Lesson plans assessed against NJ standards and FIGS program competencies.

Higher education work

K–12 curriculum · Ferrell Studios · Lead Curriculum Developer · 2022–now

Introduction to Theatre Arts, 9-week virtual course (ages 13–18)

A fully asynchronous, self-paced introduction to theatre arts aligned to the New Jersey Visual and Performing Arts standards, built with a team of virtual instructors and undergraduate education students.

Design decisions
  • Explicit NJ VPA standards citations in each week's objectives, differentiated for HSI through HSIII.
  • Choice-based assessments: a written paragraph or a 3-minute video response.
  • EdPuzzle video lectures with embedded comprehension checks.
  • A cumulative final: an original analysis of a play or musical of the student's choice.

Curriculum samples

Academic coaching · Rutgers Learning Centers · Academic Coach & Workshop Designer · 2024–now

Academic Coaching & Workshop Design

One-on-one coaching that starts with a needs assessment and produces a time-bound plan for time management, study skills, metacognition and goal-setting, plus group workshops on academic success.

Design decisions
  • Individualized learning plans instead of generic skills workshops.
  • Metacognitive frameworks so students learn how to learn: self-monitoring, self-evaluation and strategic adaptation.
  • A separate coaching track for international undergraduates.

Sample work

Curricula and lesson plans

Lesson plans, activities and full curricula I've written for Rutgers University seminars, international student transition courses and secondary theatre classrooms.

Higher education

Rutgers University

Secondary education

Theatre arts, grades 6–12

Ages 13–18 · 9 weeks

Introduction to Theatre Arts

A self-paced, standards-aligned introduction covering theatre history, genres, acting, directing, playwriting, design and musical theatre, developed with a team of virtual theatre instructors and undergraduate education students.

All documents open in a new tab.

Work together

Let's talk about your learning goals.

Get in touch Education overview Higher education work