Designing For Online Courses

Overview

"Conservation 101" is designed as a digital certificate course for mid-career professionals requiring continuing education and annual learning hours. The course blends essential theory and real-world application, supporting learners' professional growth in conservation and sustainability fields.

Who (Audience)

• Target: Environmental professionals, resource managers, and educators seeking convenient, impactful continuing education.

• Needs Identified via Research: Time-efficient learning, practical content, support for multiple device types, and accessibility for diverse users.

What (Design & Process)

Research & Needs Analysis

• Conducted surveys and interviews to understand learner motivations, technology preferences, and scheduling needs.

• Benchmarked top industry training for engaging elements and accessibility standards.

Learning Objectives

• Developed clear, outcome-focused objectives aligning with certification requirements and conservation skill gaps.

• Objectives mapped to real-world scenarios to ensure industry relevance.

Storyboarding & Instructional Mapping

• Created visual storyboards charting the step-by-step learner experience.

• Planned modules featuring case studies, scenario-based learning, and interactive assessments.

UX/UI Design and Prototyping

• Designed wireframes with intuitive navigation, concise content blocks, and tooltips for annual tracking.

• Integrated accessibility features (high contrast, text resizing, screen reader compatibility) and mobile-friendly layouts for on-the-go learners.

• Developed interactive elements (quizzes, real-world project templates, peer feedback forums) to drive engagement.

User Testing & Iteration

• Facilitated usability testing with a representative group of mid-career professionals.

• Collected feedback on course clarity, interface ease, and relevance of learning activities.

• Iteratively refined design, improving the organization and flow to reduce learner friction.

Training Facilitators & Final Pilot

• Delivered onboarding workshops for instructors and support staff to ensure proper course facilitation.

• Piloted the course with a live cohort, monitoring learner completion rates and certification achievement.

• Adjusted modules based on usage analytics and learner/stakeholder feedback.

Why (Goals & Outcomes)

• Justification: Supports professional and regulatory needs while advancing conservation practice awareness.

• Impact: Learners report improved knowledge retention and practical skill adoption; certification rates and annual renewal completion increased.

• Continuous Improvement: Ongoing evaluation feeds back into future course iterations to maintain industry alignment.