Example D2L Brightsoace Course
Certification Pathways
Audience: MSU Faculty/Instructors, Staff, and Teaching Assistants
Responsibility: Project management, D2L course design, user testing coordination, content development, communications strategy, and iterative improvement planning.
Tools Used: D2L Brightspace, Camtasia, MediaSpace, Snagit, Microsoft Office
Certification Pathways is a structured professional development program at Michigan State University that supports faculty in designing more effective, accessible, and engaging learning experiences. As project manager, I led coordination of user testing, communication strategy, and cross-team collaboration throughout the development process. The project was developed over several months with a team of four instructional designers and additional testers, and it continues to evolve with new interactive features and refined content.
Each pathway consists of asynchronous or synchronous workshops housed in D2L Brightspace, accompanied by quizzes that unlock digital badges and certificates. Pathways are organized around key themes in course design and teaching—such as accessibility, assessment, engagement, and technology integration. The goal is to situate educational technology tools within a strong pedagogical framework, helping instructors make intentional decisions that benefit both student learning and instructional efficiency. This initiative represents an ongoing commitment to supporting faculty development in a dynamic and sustainable way.
This PDF of course screenshots is provided for demonstration purposes only; the full Certification Pathways course is delivered in D2L Brightspace and has been designed to meet MSU accessibility standards.
Problem, Process, Takeaways
Problem
There was a need for a more cohesive, accessible professional development experience that connected instructional technologies to sound course design, inclusive pedagogy, and practical application.
Process
As project manager for Certification Pathways, I led a cross-functional team in developing five thematic workshop tracks within D2L Brightspace. I coordinated user testing, created communications and promotional content, and contributed to content development alongside instructional design colleagues. The project gave me deep, hands-on experience in D2L—structuring modules, embedding interactive media, configuring quizzes for badge release, and designing asynchronous learning workflows. The pathways continue to evolve, and I remain involved in iterative improvements and the addition of new tools and interactive elements.
Takeaways
This project sharpened my D2L Brightspace expertise and expanded my capacity to lead large-scale instructional design initiatives. It reinforced the importance of aligning ed tech tools with clear pedagogical goals and accessibility standards, while also developing sustainable, scalable faculty development solutions.