About Work Process Skills Contact Resume

Portfolio · 2026

LearningArchitecturefor DurablePerformance

Most training delivers information. I design systems where behavior actually changes — and you can measure the difference.

What separates this work
Systems, not one-offs Every deliverable is designed to outlast the project it was built for — governed, maintainable, and built to scale.
Transfer is the target Completion rates are a vanity metric. Every activity I build is designed around what happens on the job, not inside the module.
AI sharpens judgment, not just speed I build AI tools that improve design decisions — triage systems, synthetic learner panels, evaluation agents — not tools that just generate content faster.

About Me

Transfer by Design.
Performance by Intention.

I'm Hannah Shambley, an Instructional Designer and Learning Experience Designer focused on the gap between what people learn in training and what they actually do on the job. That gap is a design problem. I treat it like one.

My work spans curriculum architecture, LMS-based modules, assessment strategy, and AI tools built to sharpen design judgment — not to produce content faster. I build systems that triage training requests before a single slide is made, stress-test designs against synthetic learner profiles, and measure whether behavior actually changed after deployment. I approach every project from the same starting point: what does the learner need to be able to do, and what's currently getting in the way?

Whether I'm designing a branching scenario, auditing legacy content, or building a certification module from scratch, the measure of success is the same: observable behavior change, not completion rates.

01.

Start With the Performance Gap, Not the Content

A needs analysis isn't a formality. It's how I find out whether training is actually the right solution. Objectives come from what the job demands, not what the SME wants to cover.

02.

Design for Retrieval, Not Just Exposure

Recognition isn't recall. Every activity I build is designed to make the learner do something with the knowledge, because retrieval practice is what moves information into long-term memory.

03.

Scaffold Complexity Intentionally

Working memory is limited. I sequence new concepts by managing extraneous load first, so learners have the cognitive bandwidth to build meaningful schema, not just absorb a content dump.

04.

Make Transfer the Target, Not an Afterthought

Training that doesn't transfer is expensive decoration. I design for near and far transfer explicitly, using context-rich scenarios, spaced practice, and feedback loops tied to real performance conditions.

05.

Use AI to Sharpen Judgment, Not Just Accelerate Output

The interesting AI use case in L&D isn't generating quiz questions or writing scripts faster. It's building tools that improve the quality of decisions: systems that triage training requests before a slide is made, stress-test designs against realistic learner profiles, and monitor whether learning actually changed behavior.

950+ Learners Reached
Annually
K–12 & Corporate
25+ LMS Modules Built
& Governed
Canvas / SCORM
$16.7K Grant-Funded Initiative
Managed
Multimedia learning systems
18% Completion Rate
Improvement
Via structured feedback protocols

Design in Practice

Before & After

A snapshot of how content gets rebuilt. Same objectives, stripped of what doesn't serve the learner.

BeforeDense, passive, unbranded — legacy training content from 2019
SOLARA YOGA  |  PEOPLE & CULTURE  |  ASSOCIATE TRAINING SERIES
Module 4.2: Solara Yoga All-Access Membership Features and Benefits Overview
[ CLIP ART ]
yoga_studio_v2.png

The Solara Yoga All-Access Membership provides members with access to a comprehensive range of classes and studio amenities. Membership benefits include: unlimited access to all class formats including vinyasa, yin, restorative, hot yoga, and aerial yoga, access to all Solara studio locations, on-demand video library through the Solara mobile app, live stream class access, monthly workshop priority registration with 20% discount, complimentary mat and towel service, locker room access with showers, 15% retail discount on all studio merchandise, two guest passes per month, membership freeze options for up to 60 days per year, and a complimentary new member orientation session.

redesigned
AfterRedesigned for clarity, brand alignment, and learner relevance
S O L A R A   Y O G A
What New Members Ask First

Know these three. The rest unfolds.

Unlimited Classes, All Formats
Vinyasa, yin, hot yoga + aerial  ·  All levels  ·  Every location
In-Studio + On Demand
All studio locations  ·  Live stream  ·  Full app library
Perks Worth Mentioning
Guest passes  ·  Workshop discounts  ·  Pause anytime
Design Rationale
1
Rewrote the title

From catalog label to learner question.

2
Cut 11 features to 3

Kept what matters. Removed cognitive overload.

3
Paragraph to 3 groups

Scannable structure supports in-the-moment recall.

4
Passive to direct voice

Rewrote in 2nd-person. Speaks to the associate.

5
Removed 2019 footer

Outdated rev. date undermines trust.

Portfolio

Featured Work

01
Product Knowledge · Rise 360Lumina Aesthetics: HydraFacial ProtocolDesigned to close a protocol compliance gap in frontline staff. Built in Rise 360 with worked examples, hotspot activities, and decision-based scenarios, sequenced to build procedural accuracy before transferring responsibility to the learner.
View Module →
02
Onboarding · Competency CertificationVerdant Coffee Co.: Barista CertificationA certification module where every activity type serves a specific cognitive purpose: retrieval via drag-and-drop, schema building via click-to-reveal, and application via a branching service-recovery scenario. Pass threshold tied to job-readiness, not effort.
View Module →
03
Interpersonal Skills · Scenario-Based LearningHandling Difficult Customer ConversationsSoft skills don't transfer from a slide deck. This module uses realistic branching scenarios to let learners practice de-escalation and empathic response in a low-stakes environment, with feedback designed to surface the reasoning behind each consequence.
View Module →
04
Compliance · Cybersecurity AwarenessWorkplace Cybersecurity EssentialsA compliance-focused eLearning module covering phishing recognition, password hygiene, and data handling policies. Built around realistic scenario-based triggers rather than policy recitation, with a scored assessment tied to annual certification requirements.
View Module →
05
Performance Support · Job AidCustomer De-escalation Quick Reference GuideA point-of-need job aid for retail associates handling frustrated customers. Features the L.E.A.D. framework, scenario response table, and an escalation ladder, designed to be scanned under pressure, not studied in advance.
View Job Aid →
06
Leadership Development · Scenario-BasedNew Manager Essentials: Giving Constructive FeedbackAn interactive module teaching the SBI framework through concept exploration, a two-part branching scenario with cascading consequences, and a 4-question knowledge check. Designed for managers, not frontline staff.
View Module →
07
Onboarding · Learning ArchitectureRetail New Hire 90-Day Learning JourneyA visual onboarding map showing a phased 90-day blended learning curriculum, from buddy-supported orientation through independent certification. Demonstrates architecture across VILT, self-paced, OJT, assessment, and spaced reinforcement modalities.
View Learning Map →
08
Facilitator Guide · VILTBurnout Prevention for Frontline TeamsA complete 90-minute VILT facilitator guide with timing, scripted instructions, embedded tips, breakout activities, and a Kirkpatrick-aligned evaluation plan. Demonstrates design for live, facilitator-led delivery, not just self-paced modules.
View Guide (DOCX) →
09
ADDIE · End-to-End Case StudyWellness Onboarding Program RedesignA full ADDIE case study documenting every phase, from stakeholder interviews and task analysis through objectives, program architecture, deliverable development, implementation planning, and Kirkpatrick evaluation design.
View Case Study (DOCX) →
10
Learning Science · Visual ExplainerThe Science of Spaced RepetitionAn infographic-style explainer covering the forgetting curve, retrieval practice, desirable difficulty, and practical design strategies for building spacing into learning programs. Demonstrates the science behind every other piece in this portfolio.
View Infographic →
11
Corporate L&D · Storyline 360Inclusive Hiring Practices for ManagersA Storyline 360 module built for corporate L&D audiences. Uses click-to-reveal interaction, a branching scenario with consequence-driven feedback, and a scored knowledge check to teach managers how to recognize and interrupt unconscious bias across the hiring process.
View Module →
12
Cannabis Industry · Regulated Retail TrainingCannabis L&D — Three-Piece PortfolioA password-protected section containing three cannabis-specific pieces: a product knowledge module for budtender onboarding, a regulatory compliance module for annual recertification (Virginia CCA framework), and a customer-facing first-visit education guide. Available on request.
View Portfolio →
13
AI System · L&D AnalysisTraining Request TriagerAn AI tool that takes "we need training" emails, applies decision-tree logic derived from performance consulting principles, and routes each request into one of three outcomes: training needed, non-training intervention required, or insufficient evidence to proceed. Demonstrates AI used to sharpen judgment before a single slide is created, not to generate content faster.
Available on Request
14
AI System · Learning DesignSynthetic Learner PanelAn AI tool that takes a draft learning design, generates three realistic learner profiles — resistant, overwhelmed, and time-pressed — and walks each one through the design to surface where it breaks before development begins. A stress-testing tool that replaces the "looks good to me" sign-off with evidence-based design critique.
Available on Request

How I Work

From Performance Gap to Measurable Outcome

A

Analyze

I start with the performance gap, not the content list. Stakeholder interviews, task analysis, and learner context research determine whether training is the right intervention.

Deliverables

Needs analysis · Task inventory · Learner profile

D

Design

Objectives are written in behavioral terms. Assessments are designed before activities. Storyboards map every decision before development begins.

Deliverables

Behavioral objectives · Assessment blueprint · Storyboard

D

Develop

Activities are built with a specific cognitive purpose. Each interaction is chosen because it serves retrieval, schema building, or transfer — not because it looks interesting.

Deliverables

eLearning modules · Job aids · Facilitator guides

I

Implement

Content is deployed with SCORM or xAPI tracking configured to capture meaningful learner data. Facilitator guides are built in when the performance context requires it.

Deliverables

LMS deployment · SCORM/xAPI setup · Rollout plan

E

Evaluate

Evaluation is scoped at Levels 1 through 4 based on what's measurable and meaningful. Learner data informs iteration. Did behavior actually change?

Deliverables

Kirkpatrick evaluation plan · Analytics report · Revision cycle

Expertise

Skills & Tools

01.

Instructional Design

ADDIESAMBackward DesignBloom's TaxonomyNeeds AnalysisTask Analysis

02.

E-Learning Development

Articulate Rise 360Storyline 360HTML / CSS / JSCanvaAdobe InDesign

03.

Scenario-Based Learning

Branching ScenariosDecision TreesRole-Play DesignCase StudiesConsequence Feedback

04.

Assessment & Evaluation

Kirkpatrick ModelFormative ChecksPerformance RubricsxAPI / SCORMLearning Analytics

05.

Learning Technologies

Canvas LMSLMS AdministrationSCORMxAPIQ-StreamContent Governance

06.

Visual & UX Design

Accessibility (WCAG)Visual HierarchyCognitive Load TheoryPrototypingMiro

07.

AI-Augmented Learning Design Actively building

Not using AI to produce content faster — using it to build better tools. Each phase of ADDIE gets its own AI leverage point: judgment, not automation.

A — Analysis

Training request triager: routes "we need training" emails into training needed / non-training intervention / insufficient evidence.

D — Design

Synthetic learner panel: generates 3 realistic learner profiles, walks each through the design, and surfaces where it breaks before development begins.

D — Development

Objective writer with built-in rubric: follows your design standards, checks its own work, writes in your style guide — shareable across the team.

E — Evaluation

LMS evaluation agent: pulls data weekly, analyzes engagement and performance trends, and drops a stakeholder summary without manual effort.

Claude APIGPT-4AI Prompt EngineeringAI Workflow AutomationContent Pipeline DesignRapid Prototyping with AIScenario Generation at ScaleQuality Rubric Systems

Let's Connect

Got a Performance Problem That Needs Solving?

Available for new projects & collaborations

I'm open to new projects, collaborations, and conversations about learning design — especially work where the goal is durable capability, not just a course that gets checked off.

Start a Conversation

Tell me about the performance gap you're trying to close. I'll tell you whether and how a learning design solution could actually address it.

eLearning builds or redesigns in Rise 360 or Storyline 360
Curriculum architecture for onboarding or compliance programs
Content audits and legacy material rebuilds
AI-augmented learning workflow consulting
Send a Message →