My Approach to Instructional Design

Throughout my career, I have focused on expanding access to learning—bringing complex ideas to broader audiences and designing experiences that invite learners in rather than filtering them out. I emphasize the power of play and storytelling, building human connections, and making unfamiliar material approachable without oversimplifying it.

Storytelling shapes my work as a teacher, writer, and learning designer. Narrative helps learners explore possibilities, understand complex ideas, and connect emotionally with unfamiliar concepts. I often incorporate story, play, and scenario-based learning when appropriate, allowing learners to test decisions in a safe space, see consequences, and refine their thinking through feedback and reflection.

My approach to design centers on the learner’s needs and viewpoint, with particular attention to the barriers that may prevent full engagement. I draw on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to create flexible environments that support a wide range of learners, and I use data-informed personas and iterative development to keep decisions grounded in real learner experiences.

I have worked with subject matter experts across a range of disciplines, including faculty. I focus on translating complex, specialized knowledge into effective learning experiences while maintaining strong, respectful partnerships and preserving disciplinary rigor.

Across roles—as a scholar, writer, teacher, and learning designer—I have consistently focused on translating complex ideas into forms that are clear, engaging, and usable for new audiences. In teaching literature, for example, I was especially drawn to introductory courses, where the work involved helping learners enter unfamiliar conversations and build confidence with new material. My online course design continues this focus, supporting both experts in communicating their ideas clearly and learners in accessing and applying those ideas in meaningful ways.

I hope to bring this approach to learning design to a community college or higher learning institution. I would enjoy helping experts in different fields bring their understanding of their subject matter to audiences new to the material. I would also enjoy building courses for museums, libraries, and other institutions that bring knowledge into the public sphere.