Maria Bennett
Instructional Designer
Denver, CO
Actively Searching
Instructional designer turning classroom experience into practical, data-driven e-learning.
About
I am an instructional designer with eight years of classroom experience who creates scenario-based e-learning, microlearning, and project-based curricula using ADDIE and backward design. I build practical onboarding and compliance training in Storyline and Rise, iterating with learner interviews and assessment data to improve outcomes. I’m seeking instructional designer or learning experience designer roles in edtech, healthcare, or SaaS where I can scale onboarding and employee development and eventually lead larger learning programs.
Goals
I want to move into an instructional designer or learning experience designer role creating practical, engaging adult training—especially onboarding and employee development at edtech, healthcare, or SaaS companies. Over time I aim to lead larger learning programs and use learner feedback and performance data to continuously improve them.
Skills
Instructional Design
ADDIE
Backward design
Bloom's taxonomy
Needs analysis
Learning objectives
Assessment design
Scenario-based learning
Project-based curriculum design
Microlearning design
Data-driven iteration
Authoring & Media
Articulate Storyline 360
Articulate Rise
Camtasia
Vyond
Canva
Figma (basic)
Loom
LMS & Platforms
Canvas
Moodle
Google Classroom
Thinkific
Professional Skills
Facilitation
Coaching
Stakeholder interviews
Learner interviews & pilot testing
Assessment analysis (quiz/results-driven revision)
Projects
01
Spot the Phish
Branching security training that asked learners to triage suspicious emails through realistic scenarios to build decision-making skills and reduce security risk. Designed as an interactive module to simulate real-world email threats and provide immediate feedback.
Articulate StorylineVyond
02
New Manager Onboarding
Five-module onboarding course built in Articulate Rise with knowledge checks and a downloadable 30-60-90 day planner to accelerate new managers' ramp-up and practical skill application. Emphasized short, actionable activities and scaffolded assessments for adult learners.
Articulate RiseCanva
03
Teacher-to-ID Career Kit
Free self-paced mini-course hosted on Thinkific with 400+ enrollments that helps teachers transition into instructional design, incorporating Loom video explanations and step-by-step guidance. Focused on practical portfolio-building tasks and career planning.
ThinkificLoom
04
Compliance Course Redesign (Brightpath)
Increased completion from 61% to 89% by converting a 40-slide compliance course into a 15-minute, scenario-based module that prioritized decision-making practice and concise assessments. Streamlined content and applied scenario-based Storyline interactions to boost engagement.
Articulate Storyline
05
Customer-support Onboarding Microlearning
Produced six microlearning videos and job aids used by 120 new hires to shorten time-to-competency for customer-support roles; piloted content with 12 employees and revised assessments based on quiz results. Packaged short video lessons and practical job aids for on-the-job reference.
CamtasiaCanva
Experience
Instructional Design Contractor
Mar 2026 – Present
Brightpath Learning Co.
Improved compliance course completion from 61% to 89% by redesigning a 40-slide course into a 15-minute, scenario-based Articulate Storyline module. Produced six microlearning videos and job aids used by 120 new hires, and iterated content after interviewing learners and piloting materials with 12 employees using quiz results.
8th Grade Science Teacher & Curriculum Lead
Aug 2018 – Jun 2026
Ridgeview Middle School · Denver Public Schools
Raised state test proficiency from 54% to 71% over three years by designing a project-based physical science curriculum for six classes and 150+ students annually and leading a five-teacher rewrite of the grade-eight NGSS-aligned sequence. Created 30+ self-paced Canvas modules that became the school's model for hybrid learning and trained 20 colleagues on Canvas and Google Classroom during the transition to remote teaching.
Science Teacher
Aug 2016 – Jun 2018
Lakewood Charter Academy
Delivered hands-on seventh-grade life science labs within a $300 annual budget that supported engagement and practical skills development. Mentored two first-year teachers through their induction year to improve instructional practice and classroom management.
Education
2026
Certificate in Instructional Design
University of Colorado Denver
– 2026
2020
M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction
Metropolitan State University of Denver
– 2020
2016
B.S. in Biology
Colorado State University
– 2016