Designing
learning experiences
digital tools
systems
narratives
that work.
I'm an instructional designer, organizer of ideas, and generally curious person.
My approach to human-centered learning design draws from my many years of teaching music to adults and children, my experience in interactive media development, and my passion for technology.
Selected Work
Self-Directed Music Composition Course
I designed this course in Canvas as part of my Learning Design coursework at Harvard. The course is designed for adult hobbyist composers with some musical background who want to develop personalized skills to compose music in their chosen style. I chose to make this course entirely self-directed to accommodate the irregular learning schedules of my audience, and to allow them freedom to choose where they focus their time, according to their own interests.
Using the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework, I defined the 2-3 year transfer goals as: 1) Learners will be able to analyze music in ways that lead to insights applicable to their own compositional practice; 2) Learners will be able to apply compositional craft (e.g. developing material from small musical ideas, creating structure and transitions); and 3) Learners will be able to reflect on and refine their own creative process. To this end, each module culminates in a flexible project that allows the learner to apply new skills and self-evaluate their learning progress.
Tools and Technologies Used:
- Canvas LMS
- Adobe Creative Suite
- MuseScore
- Verovio (JavaScript library for music notation)
- GitHub Pages
Interactive Programming Lesson
I created this interactive lesson in Articulate Storyline to introduce programming logic to learners with little to no prior coding experience. The primary design challenge was to overcome the common misconception that programming means learning an entirely different "language", and to help learners connect programming concepts to their pre-existing understanding of basic logic.
To address this challenge, I combine computer-language conditional operators (IF, ELSE) and logical operators (AND, OR, EQUALS) with natural-language actions. For instance, "IF the weather EQUALS sunny, go on a walk." I also created line-by-line walkthrough interactions that provide scaffolding by explaining each line of code. These interactions are optional, allowing learners to only use as much guidance as they need.
Because this is meant to be introductory, the assessments are formative, and learners can attempt activities multiple times, with the feedback serving as part of the learning process instead of graded evaluation. These assessments progress from simple recall and understanding to deeper analysis and problem-solving, culminating in an open-ended programming task in which the learner writes a simple program from scratch.
Tools and Technologies Used:
- Articulate Storyline 360
- Adobe Creative Suite
Branching Scenario
I designed this scenario in Articulate Storyline 360 to help sound designers develop collaborative and organizational skills they need to work in game development. The module immerses the learner in a simulated project so they can practice solving tough problems that arise all the time in real game development. Design decisions were informed by my own experience working as a sound designer with small development teams.
The primary design challenge was to present the learner realistically tough choices with meaningful consequences without feeling overwhelming or punishing. Because the target learner is familiar with games and interactive media, I used a narrative, game-like design to engage them while supporting the desired learning outcomes. The scenario challenges are personified with an illustrated character who chats with the learner in a casual tone. Audio and animation cues draw focus to key concepts and help learners intuitively navigate the interface. The experience is also scaffolded with notes that add context and suggest possible outcomes, so that the learner doesn't feel completely unassisted in their decision-making.
The scenario ends by giving feedback on each of the choices the learner made and how it affected their performance. This encourages self-evaluation and reflection on their process, critical skills in real-world projects.
Tools and Technologies Used:
- Articulate Storyline 360
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Logic Pro X (audio)
Webinar Revision
This is a short assignment I completed as part of my Instructional Design coursework at Harvard. Rather than creating my own content from scratch, I was asked to revise slides from an existing webinar using Mayer's Multimedia Principles.
The original slides contained too much information and lacked coherent visual cues, making it very easy for the audience to become overwhelmed. I assessed cognitive barriers and iterated through multiple versions to improve clarity and learner comprehension.
Unlike other projects in my portfolio, this is a small-scale, analysis-focused exercise in which I apply learning science to existing content rather than building courses or interactive experiences from scratch.
Tools and Technologies Used:
- Google Slides
About Me
I'm an instructional designer, educator, and project coordinator. I love taking messy brainstorms and turning them into engaging learning experiences and well-organized initiatives. I have more than a decade of combined experience designing and delivering meaningful experiences in music education, interactive media development, and nonprofit program management. I am a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, and recently earned a Graduate Certificate in Learning Design and Technology from Harvard University's Division of Continuing Education.
I am currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Portland Lindy Society as Initiative Coordinator, supporting the organization through project management and tracking progress toward organizational goals. I am seeking new opportunities in instructional design, content development, and project management.
Get in Touch
If you’d like to collaborate or talk learning design, feel free to reach out.
carrollaugustin@gmail.com