THE AUDIENCE
Tourism staff completing reef monitoring certification at the Reef Observation & Monitoring Alliance
MY RESPONSIBILITIES
Instructional Design, eLearning Development, Visual Design, Videography, Action Mapping, Storyboarding, Authoring
TOOLS I USED
Articulate Storyline 360, Adobe Illustrator, Premiere Pro,
ChatGPT, Freepik AI Suite, Mindmeister, Google Docs
THE PROBLEM
The Reef Observation & Monitoring Alliance is a conceptual organization dedicated to protecting reef ecosystems through consistent monitoring and data-driven conservation efforts. The organization relies on tourism staff to collect the observational data that informs critical conservation decisions. While foundational training is in place, there’s no current way to assess how accurately that data is being recorded. To maintain the integrity of long-term monitoring, the organization must ensure that all contributing staff meet a high standard of data accuracy.
This fictional organization is inspired by the work of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which faces a similar challenge in bridging the gap between training and field assessment.
THE SOLUTION
After reviewing the organization’s existing learning materials, it became clear that the foundational training was strong. What was missing was a way to evaluate how well learners could apply that knowledge in practice. To fill this gap, I designed a scenario-based eLearning assessment that simulates the real-world work of reef surveyors. By immersing learners in a story-driven reef monitoring simulation, the experience provides realistic practice and meaningful feedback, allowing the organization to assess data accuracy before staff contribute to live conservation efforts.
MY PROCESS
Guided by the ADDIE model of instructional design, I managed every aspect of the project from defining the problem to designing, developing, and testing the final solution.
1
Action Map
I worked with an experienced marine biologist, who completes this survey weekly, as my subject matter expert. Together, we defined a business goal and mapped out the key actions tourism staff must take to successfully complete the reef survey. This action map became a foundational tool as I moved into storyboarding, helping me design realistic decision points that reflect the choices surveyors make in the field.
Using an action map, I identified the critical real-world behaviors tourism staff must demonstrate to accurately complete the reef survey.
Sketched & Text-Based Storyboards
2
To begin visualizing the experience, I first sketched out wireframes to map the simulation’s structure, core interactions, and overall narrative flow. Once the general plan was in place, I created a detailed text-based storyboard that outlined exactly how the simulation would function. This included all on-screen copy, visual cues, and programming notes to guide development.
To ground the experience in sound learning theory, I aligned each part of the simulation with Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction. The introductory video and field coordinator briefing were designed to gain attention and present objectives, while the Practice Room offered guided instruction and low-stakes practice. During the survey, learners apply their knowledge in realistic conditions and receive immediate feedback through the Success Meter.
Early wireframe sketches helped me visualize the structure, flow, and key interactions before diving into detailed planning.
The full storyboard includes all on-screen text, visual descriptions, and programming notes to guide development.
3
Visual Design & Mockups
To give the simulation a realistic and cohesive look and feel, I created a concept organization, The Reef Observation & Monitoring Alliance (ROMA), and designed all visual elements to reflect their brand.
I developed a full visual style guide, including the logo, color palette, fonts, buttons, and custom assets, all built in Adobe Illustrator. I also used Illustrator to create wireframes, finalizing the layout and structure of each screen before moving into development.
Style guide for the concept organization, including custom logo, colors, fonts, UI elements, and success meter design.
Wireframes created in Adobe Illustrator to lock in the visual layout and user flow before development.
4
Content Development
To bring the simulation to life, I visited the reef with my subject matter expert to capture custom footage for the project. We planned a detailed shot list and worked together to record both the reef environments and his character narration. Thankfully, the marine life were all ready to play their part!
My SME & I went scuba diving to capture custom footage to bring the reef survey simulation to life.
Back at my desk, I edited all the video content in Premiere Pro, designed supporting visuals, and used AI tools to generate immersive sound effects that complemented the underwater environment. Every piece of content in the simulation was created specifically for this experience.
5
Full Development
I built the full simulation in Articulate Storyline 360 using variables, triggers, and states to drive functionality and real-time feedback. The scoring system was designed to evaluate user input with precision, accounting for partial accuracy, overcounts, and cumulative tallies across slides.
Using Articulate Storyline 360, I developed the simulation using variables, states, motion paths, and triggers.
Throughout development, I applied Mayer’s Multimedia Principles to enhance clarity and learner engagement. The Signaling Principle guided the Practice Room design, using visual cues and structured guidance to draw attention to key interface elements. The Segmenting Principle was applied by allowing users to control the pace at which they completed the simulation, promoting better processing of information. I followed the Personalization Principle in the copywriting to create a more immersive and conversational tone, helping learners feel part of the scenario. And by using the Coherence Principle, I intentionally excluded any visuals or content that did not directly support the learning objectives.
The Practice Room was designed using Mayer’s Multimedia Principles to guide attention, reduce cognitive load, and immerse learners in a focused, self-paced environment.
6
User Testing & Feedback
Before calling the project complete, I needed to ensure it was both usable and effective in the field. I shared the simulation with a group of marine biologists, some of whom conduct this type of survey regularly, and gathered feedback through a structured post-simulation survey.
Grounded in the first level of Kirkpatrick’s Evaluation Model, the survey focused on learner reaction and perceived effectiveness. I also used Levels 2 and 3 (learning and behavior) to guide the questions, aiming to evaluate how well the simulation reflected real-world decision-making, even though direct application in the field wasn’t possible for this concept project. This feedback helped me evaluate the experience from the learners’ perspective and identify improvements, validate realism, and ensure the simulation supports performance-focused outcomes.
RESULTS & TAKEAWAYS
This project taught me a lot about balancing creative vision with technical performance, especially in a video-heavy simulation. After testers reported lagging during playback, I learned how to properly compress and optimize videos using Adobe Premiere Pro, which significantly improved the experience. I also discovered a more scalable solution for future projects: hosting videos externally (e.g., on AWS S3) and embedding them using JavaScript and Storyline’s web object feature. This is something I’m actively learning and plan to apply in upcoming builds.
Another key insight from user feedback was the importance of providing targeted feedback. While the success meter offers a meaningful overview of performance, it doesn’t break down which specific observations the learner got right or wrong. In a full-length version of this simulation, I would incorporate detailed feedback after each survey segment to help learners identify gaps and reinforce correct identification skills.
Finally, building the scoring system was one of the most technically demanding challenges I’ve faced, but also the most rewarding! It pushed me to explore the advanced use of variables, triggers, and motion paths to build a scoring system that accounted for partial accuracy, overcounts, and cumulative tallies while reflecting real-world expectations for survey precision. The success meter is a feature I’m especially proud of, and it represents the level of thoughtful, performance-focused design I aim to bring to every project.
