Learning Designer |
Accessibility-First Learning Design| AI-Supported Workflows
Skye’s Instructional Design Portfolio
Digital Storytelling for Empowerment
This project is an accessible, humanized Canvas lesson designed to help learners create meaningful digital stories based on personal experiences, identity, and reflection.
The lesson emphasizes storytelling as a tool for connection, empowerment, and self-expression, while providing flexible options for how learners create and share their work.
View Digital Storytelling Website: https://sites.google.com/view/digitalstorytellinginmotion/home
Tools Used
Canvas LMS | Canva (Video + Design) | Google Docs | WAVE (Accessibility Testing) | AI-Supported Workflows (alt text, transcripts, clarity refinement)
Category
Accessible Learning Design
My Role
Learning Designer | Curriculum Developer | Instructor
I designed and developed the full lesson experience, including:
• Instructional flow and content structure
• Multimedia storytelling components
• Accessibility integration
• Learner-centered activities and assessments
Testimonials & Feedback
Testimonials include feedback from clients, instructors, and peers across both professional and academic projects.
“Your objectives are clear, specific, and measurable, with strong alignment between materials, activities, and assessments. It is evident that your design is thoughtfully centered around the needs of your learners.”
- Laura McAllister, Lecturer, School of Education & Human Development, CU Denver
The Challenge
Digital storytelling assignments can unintentionally exclude learners when:
• Tools are too complex or rigid
• Accessibility is not built into media requirements
• Learners feel pressure to “perform” rather than express
The challenge was to design a learning experience that was:
✔ Flexible
✔ Accessible
✔ Emotionally safe
✔ Supportive of diverse identities
Evidence of Impact
• Empowered learners to express personal narratives using accessible, low-cost digital tools
• Increased learner agency by supporting multiple formats (visual, audio, written storytelling)
• Designed with UDL principles to ensure accessibility across different abilities and learning preferences
• Integrated AI as a creative support tool while maintaining learner voice and authenticity
Design Approach
I designed this lesson using a humanized, UDL-informed framework that prioritizes:
• Learner choice in tools and formats (video, audio, slides, etc.)
• Humanized Learning Final Project
• Structured, step-by-step scaffolding
• Reflection-based learning and storytelling prompts
• A balance between guidance and creative freedom
The lesson is organized into a clear progression:
Reflection → Planning → Creation → Sharing → Feedback → Self-Assessment
Storytelling is not about perfection; it’s about access to expression.
This project was designed to remove barriers so every learner can share their voice.
Accessibility in Practice
Accessibility was embedded across all components of the lesson.
Key practices included:
• Applying UDL principles (multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression)
• Humanized Learning Final Project
• Providing captions, transcripts, and alt text for all media
• Structuring content with clear headings and chunked sections
• Offering multiple tool options to reduce barriers
• Designing mobile-friendly and screen-reader compatible materials
The lesson was also designed with a hard-of-hearing learner persona (Elijah) in mind to ensure inclusivity across different needs
AI as a Design Partner
AI was used to support accessibility and creative flexibility in storytelling.
AI-supported strategies included:
• Supporting caption and transcript generation
• Enabling AI voice narration for learners who prefer not to record their voice
• Assisting with drafting and refining instructional clarity
• Exploring alternative formats for storytelling
All AI use was guided by accessibility goals and reviewed for accuracy and inclusivity.
Key Features
• Fully structured Canvas lesson with guided modules
• Humanized Learning Final Project
• Flexible storytelling formats (video, audio, slides, storyboard)
• Humanized Learning Final Project
• Scaffolded activities (brainstorming worksheet, tutorials, checklist)
• Humanized Learning Final Project
• Peer feedback discussion with accessible options (text or video)
• Humanized Learning Final Project
• Emphasis on accessibility in both instruction AND student-created work
Outcome
The final product is a humanized, accessibility-centered learning experience that:
• Empowers learners to share personal narratives
• Supports multiple ways of creating and expressing meaning
• Models inclusive and accessible digital design practices
• Encourages reflection, empathy, and connection
Reflection
This project reinforced that accessibility is deeply connected to identity, voice, and representation.
Designing this lesson highlighted the importance of:
• Giving learners different choices
• Reducing technical barriers
• Creating emotionally safe learning environments
AI-supported tools expanded accessibility options, but intentional design decisions remained essential to ensure the experience was meaningful and inclusive.
