Word Detectives
“Word Detectives” — an adaptive, UDL-aligned e-learning module that meets struggling 6th-grade readers where they are and rebuilds foundational literacy skill by skill.
The challenge
Sixth-graders who are still missing foundational literacy skills face a curriculum that assumes those skills are already in place. The module had to close that gap without singling students out or lowering the bar.
My approach
I ran the full instructional-design lifecycle — from divergent ideation through storyboarding, high-fidelity mockups, and a usability test plan — with adaptivity and Universal Design for Learning built in from the start.
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Mapped gaps to backward design — ideation connected English Language Arts performance gaps to multi-modal assessments, drawing on behaviorism, constructivism, and connectivism.
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Storyboarded 14 screens — I defined the sequence, navigation logic, and interaction patterns across 14 screens using Gagné’s Nine Events and Mayer’s multimedia principles.
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Designed for access and usability — high color contrast, clear typography, UDL, Nielsen’s heuristics, and CRAP principles shaped an accessible, WCAG-minded build validated by a think-aloud usability plan.
The outcome
Target success rate for onboarding in the usability test plan.
Target completion rate for the core lessons.
Distinct learning screens storyboarded with Gagné’s Nine Events and Mayer’s principles.