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PORTfOLIO

Project: A Non-Linear E-Learning Intervention Grounded in Andragogy and Connectivism for Adult Hobbyists

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The Challenge
Adult hobby crafters are motivated, resourceful, and self-directed, yet their learning is largely unstructured, reactive, and dependent on unvetted social media content. While crafters can easily replicate a step-by-step tutorial on a specific surface, they often lack the foundational mental model required to diagnose project failures or independently transfer skills to unfamiliar surfaces and materials.
 
As part of my Master of Education capstone research at Western Governors University, I addressed this knowledge and skill gap by investigating two core questions: 1. How do learners describe their experience using TikTok as a microlearning-based exposure model for learning new decoupage techniques? 2. How does short-form video exposure impact an adult learner's ability to transfer techniques to new surfaces independently?
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The Strategy
To transition learners from procedural repetition to adaptive expertise, I developed a "Scroll and Stumble" instructional model grounded in Andragogy, Connectivism, and Loewenstein’s Information Gap Theory.
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  • Serendipitous Discovery: Learners begin with a structured exploration phase on TikTok, transforming passive social media browsing into an intentional discovery tool that exposes them to new possibilities and sparks intrinsic motivation.
 
  • Autonomous Branching Pathways: To honor adult learners' autonomy, the experience features five self-contained pathways: Napkin Decoupage, Image Transfer, Tissue Paper, Rice Paper, and Fabric.
 
  • Automated Feedback at Scale: Custom AI evaluation agents built in MindStudio were integrated to analyze learner-submitted project photos and written reflections, delivering immediate, personalized feedback without requiring manual grading by instructors.

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The Solution
I designed and deployed a responsive, web-hosted e-learning module that pairs multi-modal instruction with real-world practice and reflection.
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Instructional Design: Each pathway contains curated YouTube video demonstrations, detailed material reaction guides, "Watch Out" proactive troubleshooting tips, and interactive scenario-based checks for understanding.
 
Research Results & Transfer: 80% of study participants successfully demonstrated independent skill transfer across flat surfaces (such as ceramic tiles, wooden slabs, and canvas boards). Additionally, 75% of active users shifted their mindset to view TikTok as a legitimate tool for intentional skill acquisition, while 60% moved from passively viewing finished crafts to actively seeking out process-based instructions.
 
Iterative Design Insights: The study revealed critical insights for future design iterations, including embedding curated media libraries directly into LMS interfaces to eliminate external platform friction and building specialized scaffolding for complex, 3D, and organic surfaces (such as oyster shells and curved ceramics).


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Project: A 1-Hour E-Learning Solution to an Instructional Problem

A project screenshot that shows a content page displying a video, text, and a "return to main screen" button.
A screenshot of a project's storyboard and a screenshot of the project's prototype. Text at the top of the images reads, "from storyboard to high-fidelity prototype."
The Challenge
Sixth-grade students at Golden Maple Middle School were struggling with foundational literacy skills-specifically summarizing and identifying main ideas. Working within my M.Ed. program, I collaborated with school administration to design a one-hour e-learning solution to bridge this comprehension gap across subjects.
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The Strategy
Using a Human-Centered Design approach, I developed empathy maps and personas to ensure the solution resonated with 11-year-old learners. The curriculum was scaffolded using Bloom’s Taxonomy and UDL principles, moving students from simple recall to active application.
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The Solution
I designed an interactive e-learning experience grounded in Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction. To increase engagement, I replaced standard multiple-choice questions with a creative "Illustration Hook," where students visually map out supporting details. This turned an abstract literacy skill into a concrete, hands-on creative exercise.
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View Live Sample
A project screenshot that shows a quiz, and navigational buttons displaying "back," "home," and "next."
An image of 3 coworkers in a conference room looking at a posted presentation onscreen of an empathy map. The title above the image reads, "Learner Empathy Map."

Project: An Educational AI Agent for Special Education Teachers 

An open laptop computer on an ofice desk with an image of a workflow on screen. The workflow shows 4 squares. Text above the image reads, "The Workflow."
An open laptop computer on a desk in a minimalist monochromatic off-white office. The screen shows text that reads, "The IEP Goal" with an input box, and text that reads, "Baseline Data" with a user input box. The title of the image reads, "The Input."
An open laptop computer on a desk in a minimalist monochromatic off-white office. The screen shows text that reads, "Target Level" with choices, and text that reads, "What type of resource do you need" with options. The title of the image reads, "The Input."
Three screenshots of a worksheet. The title of the image reads, "The output."
The Problem

Special Education teachers spend an average of 5–10 hours a week manually creating differentiated materials. Existing "one-size-fits-all" worksheets often fail to meet specific IEP (Individualized Education Program) goals or lack the precise data-tracking tables required for legal compliance.

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The Solution

I built ScaffoldSync, an AI-driven agent that transforms raw IEP goals and student baseline data into three distinct, ready-to-print instructional assets.

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Key Engineering Features

  • Context Engineering: Utilized XML-tagged system prompts to ensure the LLM (Claude 4.5 Sonnet) strictly adheres to student complexity levels without "hallucinating" inappropriate content.

  • Conditional Logic: Implemented a multi-modal "Resource Type" selector that reconfigures the AI’s output-switching from repetitive independent practice to interactive small-group activities based on user needs.

  • Adaptive Data Architecture: Created a custom "Data Tracking Logic" layer that analyzes the IEP goal type (Accuracy, Frequency, or Duration) to automatically generate the correct legal tracking table on the final document.

  • Automated Asset Pipeline: Engineered a workflow that bypasses manual formatting by passing raw AI Markdown into a Generate Asset block, producing pixel-perfect, branded PDFs.

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The Impact

ScaffoldSync transforms a 45-minute manual design process into a 30-second automated workflow. By solving the "administrative tax" of special education, it ensures every student receives legally compliant, highly scaffolded materials while returning hours of instructional time back to the teacher.​​

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Demo

Project: Educational Explainer Video for Mixed-Level Special Education Class

The Challenge

In a mixed-level special education setting, students required a consistent, repeatable method for solving addition problems. The goal was to bridge the gap between abstract numbers and concrete procedures while meeting specific Individualized Education Program (IEP) objectives and state math standards.

The Solution I designed and produced a targeted instructional video using Canva, focusing on a step-by-step visual breakdown of the addition process. By removing the complexity of regrouping, I created a "success-first" learning tool that built student confidence and procedural fluency.

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The Strategy

  • Standards-Aligned: Mapping content directly to state standards and individual student IEP goals.

  • Cognitive Load Management: Using clear, high-contrast visuals and simplified audio cues to support diverse neurodivergent learners.

  • Multi-Modal Learning: Combining text, voiceover, and visual movement to reinforce the mathematical process.

 

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Project: K-12 E-Learning Professional Development — Challenges & Evidence-Based Solutions

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The Challenge
K-12 educators are increasingly expected to design and deliver online learning — but most receive little to no training on what actually makes e-learning work for young students. Without a shared framework, teachers default to translating in-person instruction directly to the screen, leaving the five core challenges of online learning — isolation, stress, accessibility barriers, supervision gaps, and motivation loss — largely unaddressed.
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The Strategy
Drawing on peer-reviewed research in collaborative learning, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and student-centered pedagogy, I designed a complete, facilitated professional development experience for administrators, teachers, and instructional staff. The session moves participants from problem-awareness to evidence-based solutions to immediate action — in 60 to 90 minutes.
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The Deliverables
Slide Deck — A 13-slide presentation that maps five documented e-learning challenges to three evidence-based solution frameworks, culminating in a concrete action-planning activity participants complete before leaving the room.
Facilitator Guide — A full session guide built for any facilitator to pick up and deliver with confidence. Includes slide-by-slide talking points, suggested timing, discussion prompts, facilitation tips, optional extension activities, and time-adjustment strategies for shorter or longer sessions.
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Participant Handout — A designed, print-ready reference document participants keep after the session. Features challenge summaries, solution frameworks, a challenge-to-solution mapping table, a structured action plan with write-in spaces, a key terms glossary, and a notes section. 
 
The Impact
This package gives schools and districts a ready-to-deploy, research-backed PD experience — no instructional design expertise required to facilitate. Every component is designed to work together: the slides drive the learning, the facilitator guide supports consistent delivery, and the handout ensures participants leave with both the knowledge and a specific plan to act on it.
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View PD Slides
​View Facilitator Guide 
View Participant Handout
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© 2026 By Akaya McElveen

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