The Focal Point Hub: Photo Class 2026

Project Overview

The Focal Point Hub Photo Class 2026 was a collaborative instructional design project focused on developing an engaging, learner-centered online photography course. The goal was to create a structured learning experience that supports hobbyist and aspiring photographers in building practical skills through guided instruction and interactive content.

My Role

I served as a contributing instructional designer on a collaborative team, supporting analysis, design, development, and quality assurance phases of the project.

Needs Assessment & Data Collection

Our team designed and distributed a needs assessment using Google Forms to gather insights from potential learners.

• Identified learner goals, prior experience, and skill gaps
• Collected data to inform course structure and instructional priorities
• Contributed to interpreting results to guide design decisions

Learner Analysis

I conducted a detailed learner analysis examining:

• Prior knowledge and photography experience
• Learning preferences and motivations
• Potential barriers such as time, technical confidence, and skill level

These insights directly informed decisions from the owner/SME around pacing, scaffolding, and content.

Instructional Design & Development

eLearning Development (Lesson 7)

Our team developed Lesson 7 using Articulate Rise. The two team members contributions included:

• Structuring content for clarity and logical progression
• Organizing SME-provided material into an effective learning flow
• Applying multimedia and engagement strategies to support understanding
• Ensuring alignment between objectives, content, and learner interaction

Instructional Scripting (Lesson 8)

For Lesson 8, I collaborated with another team member to develop an instructional script based on content provided by the subject matter expert (SME).

• Translated SME-written content into an interactive eLearning experience
• Determined how content would be presented within Rise (blocks, interactions, flow)
• Designed the learner experience, including pacing and content chunking
• Focused on clarity, engagement, and instructional alignment

This work reflects the role of an instructional designer as a bridge between raw content and effective learning experiences.

Quality Assurance & Iteration

All team members contributed to a collaborative QA process.

My role included:

• Reviewing lessons for instructional alignment and clarity
• Identifying usability and navigation issues
• Ensuring consistency across lessons in tone, structure, and learner experience

Instructional Design Approach

This project applied key instructional design principles:

• Learner-centered design driven by real data
• Alignment between objectives, content, and activities
• Instructional scaffolding to support skill progression
• Thoughtful content transformation from SME material into engaging learning

Outcome

The result was a cohesive online photography course that:

• Translates expert knowledge into structured, accessible learning
• Supports learners at varying skill levels
• Provides a clear and engaging user experience

Reflection

This project strengthened my ability to:

• Translate SME content into effective instructional experiences
• Design within real-world constraints (existing content, team collaboration)
• Think critically about how content is delivered, not just what is taught
• Collaborate across roles in a full-cycle instructional design process

What Made This Challenging

Working with SME-provided content required thoughtful instructional decision-making. Rather than creating original copy, the challenge was translating dense material into a clear, engaging learning experience while maintaining the integrity of the expert’s voice.