Make it stand out

Turning Complex Content into Engaging

Client Facing Learning Experiences

Case Study 1

Transforming Complex Public Funding Resources Into Engaging Learning for Social Impact Leaders

Articulate Rise Storyline Instructional Design SME Collaboration

Project Overview

Social impact organizations rely on leaders and coordinators who must navigate complex public funding policy—yet most policy guidance is delivered in dense documents, spreadsheets, or conversations with subject matter experts. This creates inconsistent understanding and slows implementation.

I partnered with policy Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to translate highly technical public funding concepts into an engaging, accessible learning experience for leaders working across various social impact organizations (youth programs, afterschool initiatives, early childhood, and community-based services).

Goal

Create a short, interactive learning module that makes complex funding rules, cost-modeling concepts, and compliance expectations easy to understand, easy to apply, and easy to teach.

The Problem

SMEs/Content Experts had deep expertise, but:

  • Explanations lived in long PDFs or presentations that were reliant on heavy text
  • Concepts were highly abstract (cost modeling, funding streams, allocation rules)
  • Learners struggled to understand how the policy applied to their real programs
  • Staff were overwhelmed by calculations, reporting rules, and workflows
  • Onboarding new team members required extensive 1:1 SME support

The Challenge

How do you simplify complex funding policy so leaders can quickly understand it, visualize it, and confidently apply it to their everyday decisions?

My Process

Step 1 — SME Interviews & Analysis

I conducted structured interviews with policy analysts, content experts, and program advisors to extract the true “must know” vs. “nice to know,” high-confusion areas, common misinterpretations, policy sequences, and examples of real funding challenges.

Step 2 — Translate Expert Language

I rewrote complex content into clear, plain-language learning components: simplified definitions, practical examples, visual diagrams, checkpoints and reflection prompts, and story-based scenarios.

Step 3 — Visualize Workflows

I mapped a fictional (but realistic) public funding decision tree showing eligibility, allowable uses, cost-model components, and compliance checkpoints.

Step 4 — Prototype in Rise & Storyline

I built a 5–7 minute interaction with tabs, accordions, knowledge checks, scenario-based practice, and simple branching to mirror real decisions.

Step 5 — SME & User Testing

SMEs validated accuracy; learners validated clarity and usefulness. I refined tone, sequence, and visuals based on feedback.

The Solution

I designed a learner-centered e-learning course that blended:

Data from SMEs

Interviews, policy drafts, and real-life examples from funding and cost-modeling work.

Simplified Complex Concepts

Visual workflows, interactive examples, scenario-based decision-making, and a clear “tell–show–do” structure.

Engaging eLearning

Key words with hover-over style definitions, choose-your-own-scenario mistakes, interactive scenarios, and guided cost-model tables.

Narrative-Based Scenarios

A fictional program director navigates funding questions—learners help them avoid common mistakes and practice better decisions.

Tools Used

Articulate Rise 360 Articulate Storyline 360 Miro Canva Google Workspace ChatGPT

Results

4.8 / 5

Learner rating for clarity and usefulness of the module.

↓ 40%

Reduction in SME time spent re-explaining funding concepts to new staff.

  • Policy concepts became more intuitive for staff across teams.
  • Program leaders reported greater confidence applying funding rules.
  • Onboarding time decreased due to consistent, reusable microlearning.
This case study demonstrates my instructional design expertise in eLearning development, SME collaboration, and systems-level thinking for social impact organizations.

Portfolio Showcase

To protect client data, all assets are recreated using fictional but realistic content. This portfolio sample includes:

✔ Articulate Rise/Storyline Course Sample

Taking the complex content from the Subject Matter Expert and turning it into an engaging learner experiences by embedding features like accordions, hover-over definitions, and clickable icons to enhance engagement and retention.

Articulate Video Example - Click Here or Watch ↓

✔ Storyboard PDF

A written storyboard that illustrates my approach to sequencing, scripting, and instructional design decisions.

Storyboard Example For Articulate - Click Here or Watch ↓