Turning Experience into Learning That Makes Sense

I'm Jordan Brown, a creator and educator. My work focuses on making learning more transparent, more engaging, and easier to apply. I design experiences that help people make sense of complex information, stay present, and connect learning to real life.

About Me

Skills

  • Learning experience and curriculum design

  • Storytelling and creative direction

  • Facilitation and community engagement

  • Accessibility and user-centered design

Design Perspectives

  • Play, curiosity, and creative exploration

  • Mindfulness and awareness in everyday moments

  • Learning from my children and everyday relationships

  • Travel and learning through experience

How This Shows Up in My Work

  • Learning experiences that feel intentional and human

  • Clear structure paired with room to explore

  • Design choices that respect time, attention, and context

  • Content that connects ideas to real life

Experiences that shape my design

  • Travel - Study abroad, work abroad, family travel

  • Service - volunteering, mentorship, restaurant industry, hosting events focused on media, culture, and technology

  • Relationships - parenthood, family business partnerships, community engagement

Tools & Craft

  • Articulate Storyline and Rise

  • Adobe Captivate and Creative Cloud

  • Blackboard Ultra and Canvas LMS

  • Figma, Miro, Canva

  • Notion and lightweight planning tools

Portfolio

Each project is part of an ongoing collection. These examples show how I approach learning design through clarity, experience, and real-world use.

Ergonomics Training
This course supports workplace ergonomics practitioners as work arrangements shift and more employees work remotely. Learners move through realistic scenarios that reflect both in-office and remote setups, helping them assess risks and recommend practical solutions during real conversations with employees. Designing this course strengthened my ability to create learning that adapts to changing work environments.
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Wildfire Smoke Awareness
This course was created to support California employees during wildfire season, when smoke conditions can change quickly and affect health and work. The experience focuses on clear, calm guidance that helps learners understand risk, take preventive action, and share information with others. The project reinforced the importance of accessible learning during high-impact, real-world situations.
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Contributing as a Virtual Team Member
This course helps learners navigate remote work by setting clear expectations around communication, roles, and collaboration. I focused heavily on the learner experience, designing content that feels relevant and supportive rather than overwhelming. The goal was to help learners improve their online work experience while building habits that support effective teamwork.
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Digging Deep: Remixing Research
This microlearning experience helps participants assess and analyze art, culture, and everyday media they already find interesting. Learners explore how research exists across music, visuals, and cultural artifacts, building media literacy and critical thinking skills along the way. The project reflects my belief that meaningful learning can be found in all forms of culture.
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Check Out the View Film Series
This community film series was created to give people space to talk through films that explore personal and complex topics. Hosting these events made me more aware of how environment, facilitation, and shared experience shape engagement, especially among people meeting for the first time. By blending learning design, entertainment, and community-building, participants enjoyed new films while forming meaningful connections.
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Ergonomics Training
I developed an ergonomic training program to help Single Points of Contact (SPOCs) assess workstations, identify risks, and recommend solutions that improve comfort and productivity. The challenge began when SMEs suggested using a computer user handbook from the early 2000s. While it contained relevant information, it didn’t reflect modern work realities, such as remote work and evolving roles. My goal was to create a course that was current, engaging, and actionable, while ensuring exercises promoted safety and minimized ergonomic strain.

To achieve this, I followed a structured process: planning, needs analysis, data collection, collaborative design, pilot testing, and finalization. I worked closely with SMEs to update outdated content, translate technical jargon into plain language, and incorporate practical guidance for hybrid work environments. Interactive modules featured real-world examples and scenario-based activities in which learners make choices and receive feedback categorized as best, ok, or needs improvement.

This project taught me how to work effectively with SMEs by defining scope and timelines, understanding diverse DMV roles, and gathering data on departmental learning trends. The final course included microlearning segments and interactive exercises on posture, workstation setup, safe equipment use, movement, and remote work tips. Pilot feedback showed 90% of participants felt more confident identifying ergonomic risks. Looking back, I would add analytics dashboards and video demonstrations to enhance engagement and track impact.

Wildfire Smoke Awareness
Challenge – What Problem Did It Solve?
Wildfires in California have made air quality a big concern for everyone. The old safety materials had good information, but they didn’t cover new work situations like working from home. The course also needed to be moved to Blackboard Ultra so it was easier to access. My goal was to create a course that explained the risks in simple terms and gave people clear steps to stay safe during smoke events.
What made it hard:-Updating old content for today’s work environments
-Making the course easy to use and accessible
-Keeping the information accurate but not overwhelming

I started by reviewing the old wildfire safety materials and researching the Air Quality Index (AQI) and Particulate Matter Index (PMI). The first version was built using AI tools, but they didn’t give me enough control, so I rebuilt the course in Adobe Captivate.
To make the course engaging, I used:Microlearning: Short lessons on monitoring air quality and creating safety plans
Scenarios: Real-life examples of what to do during smoke events
Friendly visuals: Characters inspired by Smokey Bear and children’s shows to make the content feel approachable

The course teaches people how to check air quality, make a simple safety plan, and reduce exposure to smoke. Feedback showed learners liked the clear steps and relatable design. We expect this will help employees stay safer and more prepared during wildfire season.I learned how to take old content and make it relevant for today’s work environment, and how creative design can make safety information easier to understand. Next time, I would add tools to track progress and short videos showing what to do during smoke events.

Contributing as a Virtual Team Member
When remote work became common, many employees struggled with communication, collaboration, and understanding their roles. Existing resources were scattered and hard to follow. The goal was to create a course that felt helpful and easy to use, giving people simple habits to work better together online.
What made it hard:-Different roles had different needs
-Limited time to build and review the course
-Needed to make it accessible and engaging for everyone

I started by planning the course so it would be short, clear, and practical. I created wireframes and storyboards to organize the content and make sure it flowed well. I worked with subject matter experts to check accuracy and made changes based on their feedback.
The course uses:-Microlearning: Short lessons that are easy to fit into a busy day
-Scenarios: Real-life examples of remote work challenges
-Interactive activities: Learners make choices and see feedback

The course helped people feel more confident working remotely and reduced confusion about team roles. Feedback showed learners liked how clear and practical it was. We expect this will lead to better teamwork and productivity.I learned how to make complex topics simple and design content that feels supportive instead of overwhelming. Next time, I would add tools to track progress and short videos showing real examples of good virtual teamwork.

Digging Deep: Remixing Research
Many learners struggle to see research as relevant or interesting. Traditional approaches often feel disconnected from their everyday lives. The goal was to create a microlearning experience that makes research engaging by connecting it to art, music, and cultural media people already enjoy.
What made it hard:-Breaking down research concepts into simple, relatable steps
-Keeping the experience short but meaningful
-Designing activities that feel creative, not academic

I designed the course around the idea that research exists everywhere—in music, visuals, and cultural artifacts. Using storyboards, I mapped out short modules that guide learners through analyzing media they already know and love. Interactive activities encourage learners to ask questions, find patterns, and think critically about cultural influences.
The course uses:
-Microlearning: Quick lessons that fit into busy schedules
-Scenarios: Real-world examples from art and pop culture
-Interactive exercises: Learners explore and remix ideas to build media literacy

The experience helps learners see research as creative and relevant, while building critical thinking and media literacy skills. Feedback showed participants enjoyed connecting learning to their personal interests.I learned how to turn abstract concepts into hands-on activities and how cultural relevance can make learning more engaging. Next time, I would add collaborative features so learners can share their own examples and insights.

Check Out the View Film Series
People often need spaces to talk about personal and complex topics, but starting those conversations can feel intimidating—especially among strangers. The goal of this community film series was to create an environment where participants could explore meaningful themes through film and connect with others in a comfortable setting.
What made it hard:-Encouraging open discussion among people meeting for the first time
-Balancing entertainment with thoughtful conversation
-Creating a welcoming environment that supports engagement

I designed the series to blend learning, entertainment, and community-building. Each event featured a film that explored personal or challenging topics, followed by guided discussions. I focused on creating a safe, inviting space and used facilitation techniques to help participants share ideas and listen to different perspectives.
The experience included:-Shared viewing: Films as a starting point for conversation
-Facilitated discussion: Prompts to guide meaningful dialogue
-Community-building: Opportunities for participants to connect beyond the film

Participants enjoyed discovering new films while forming real connections. Feedback showed that the mix of entertainment and structured discussion helped people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts.I learned how environment and facilitation shape engagement and how shared experiences can bring people together. Next time, I would add digital tools for continued conversation after the event.

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