Embedded Files
Overview
As part of the core instructional design team for UCLAxOnline, I collaborated closely with colleagues, faculty, and administrators to support a large-scale initiative aimed at elevating UCLA Extension’s online certificate programs to meet national quality standards. My work contributed to strategic enhancements that improved course quality, optimized learner outcomes, and expanded UCLA Extension’s reach across local, national, and global audiences.
Over the course of 1.5 years, we collectively updated 86 courses across 18 certificate programs, providing instructional design support to 80+ instructors. Through these efforts, the programs consistently achieved an average course quality score of 97%, reflecting our shared commitment to creating high-quality, student-centered online learning experiences.
18 Fully Online Certificates
My Role as a Senior Instructional Designer
In this initiative, my role primarily focused on collaboration, design consultation, and implementation support rather than direct project leadership. I worked closely with the lead instructional designer and other team members to refine the overall instructional design approach, ensuring it aligned with UCLA Extension’s academic standards and institutional goals.
My contributions spanned several key areas:
Instructional Design Collaboration
I supported the creation and refinement of course design frameworks and templates that emphasized a student-centered learning experience. In partnership with colleagues, I contributed to the design of engaging, pedagogically sound online learning experiences tailored to the needs of UCLA Extension students. This involved:
Applying evidence-based practices in curriculum development, assessment design, and online instructional effectiveness.
Reviewing and providing feedback on course outlines, learning objectives, and assessment strategies to ensure alignment with national quality standards.
Collaborating with faculty to enhance course interactivity and integrate multimedia elements that enriched the online learning environment.
Quality Scorecard Development
I contributed to the design and implementation of UCLA Extension’s first Course Quality Scorecard, which evaluated courses across six key dimensions aligned with national benchmarks. My role included:
Assisting in refining the interactive features of the scorecard, which automatically calculated quality scores and time-on-task for revisions.
Collaborating on the development of Action Plan Checklists that translated evaluation data into actionable course improvement tasks for stakeholders.
Supporting the documentation and sharing of this tool, which gained recognition beyond UCLA and was later presented at the 2021 UC Tech Conference and adapted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to evaluate more than 400 courses.
Scalable Course Templates
As part of the design team, I helped build and refine scalable course templates that standardized the online learning experience across certificate programs while allowing for course-specific customizations. My contributions included:
Assisting in the customization of global CSS and JavaScript within the Canvas LMS to prevent code breaks and maintain design consistency across multiple courses.
Supporting the creation of Master Course models, which allowed for scalable enhancements and streamlined future course updates.
Providing feedback on template usability, ensuring they were intuitive for both instructors and learners.
Cross-Department Collaboration
I actively participated in cross-departmental meetings and strategy sessions that brought together academic directors, continuing educators, faculty, instructional designers, and technology support teams. My contributions focused on:
Reviewing and discussing instructional strategies, course models, and design frameworks to ensure alignment with institutional goals.
Supporting the ongoing adoption and instructor training for the new Canvas Course Development training modules.
Helping bridge communication across departments to encourage collaboration and break down traditional silos in the course development process.
Accessible Design
UCLAxOnline Canvas Module Page Design
I contributed to UCLA Extension’s first coordinated effort to enhance course accessibility and ADA compliance, working collaboratively with the campus Disabilities team. My involvement included:
Supporting the creation of accessibility criteria and reviewing courses to ensure compliance with established standards.
Helping to develop interactive guides and templates that instructors could use to create accessible course materials.
Applying Universal Instructional Design (UID) principles during course reviews to improve usability and inclusivity for all students.
Data-Driven Improvements
I collaborated with the team to introduce data-informed decision-making into the course development and revision process. My role included:
Supporting the collection and analysis of production data to refine workflows and optimize course templates for greater efficiency.
Reviewing quality metrics to evaluate course improvements before and after the UCLAxOnline initiative.
Analyzing student feedback and LMS engagement data to assess changes in learner satisfaction and outcomes, contributing insights for iterative improvements.
UCLAxOnline Canvas FrontPage Design
Project Approach
As a team, we grounded our work in a learner-centered approach, defining “quality” from both the student and institutional perspectives. Our shared goal was to prioritize active learning, enhance meaningful student-instructor interactions, and create opportunities for applied, project-based learning in the online environment.
We organized the project into three iterative phases:
Phase 1: Foundation and Frameworks
I collaborated in developing the initial institutional quality scorecard, scalable templates, and project workflows. Using an agile approach, we continuously refined these tools through feedback and iteration to ensure they met institutional needs.Phase 2: Course Revisions & Enhancements
During this phase, I worked alongside colleagues to guide each certificate program through structured evaluation, redesign, and implementation processes. A waterfall approach with clear milestones ensured quality benchmarks were consistently met.Phase 3: Data & Continuous Improvement
After courses went live, I supported the analysis of student surveys, LMS engagement data, and time-on-task metrics. These insights informed real-time adjustments and iterative improvements that kept the learning experience aligned with student needs and institutional goals.
Reflection on My Contribution
As a senior instructional designer and project collaborator, I played a key supporting role in the successful implementation of this large-scale initiative. While I was not the primary lead, my contributions in instructional design, accessibility, multimedia integration, cross-departmental collaboration, and data-driven refinement helped ensure the project’s success. Through this collaborative effort, we collectively raised the quality and consistency of UCLA Extension’s online programs while creating a scalable framework for future growth.
Google Sites
Report abuse