Treating Low Sugars Project | Nathan Bushey, Instructional Design, Learning Designer

Treating Low Sugars eLearning

In this scenario-based eLearning concept project, type 1 diabetic patients experience low sugar events with real-world scenarios.

Audience: OmniHealth Systems type 1 diabetes patients

Responsibilities: Instructional Design, eLearning Development, Action Map, Visual Design, Storyboard, and Mockups

Tools Used: Articulate Storyline 360, Figma, Canva, Adobe Illustrator, MindMeister, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Audacity, Amazon Simple Storage Service (AWS, Amazon S3)

Experience the Project

The Problem

The client is OmniHealth Systems, the nation's largest and most comprehensive health care system. When type 1 diabetics do not properly treat a low sugar event, they lose sleep, have lower energy, need a trip to the ER, or even die. This lack of knowledge is flooding their physicians with messages and calls for help. Their physician retention rate is dropping while already being short staffed. These patients are also filling up emergency rooms which creates longer wait times, major financial ramifications, and loss of life.

The Solution

I recommended a scenario-based eLearning simulation to let newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics learn and practice how to manage a low sugar event. This practice is done through interactions with different low sugar scenarios.

I also proposed creating a Treating Low Sugars quick-reference aid that is downloadable from the eLearning simulation and reviewed at doctors appointments. The third component of the solution is having patients schedule a 1-on-1 session with a dietitian/nutritionist who specializes in type 1 diabetes management.

My Process

After determining the clients biggest challenge, I created an action map and text-based storyboard. I then created visual mockups including a moodboard, style guide, and wireframes. This was followed by feedback and lots of iteration.

Action Map

Text-based Storyboard

I worked with a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to determine the biggest challenges and what solutions would help change their patients' behavior. Through this behavior change, type 1 diabetic low sugar treatments will decrease 20% by next year as patients self-treat low blood sugar episodes instead of needing to engage with the hospital. The action map ensured that I was designing learning experiences aimed at behavior change rather than merely acquiring new knowledge

I developed a text-based storyboard to act as an outline. I created a story that immerses learners in a day in the life of a type 1 diabetic, showcasing different low sugar events with individual consequences in a risk-free atmosphere. Our story takes us from a type 1 diabetic support group to playing in a baseball game and all the events in between. I also introduce Dr. Rose, our mentor character who provides question-specific advice when users need it.

Visual Mockups

I created a mood board to start the creative juices and searched for health care/diabetic specific company aesthetics. I crafted a style guide to ensure uniformity of color, font and spacing across the project and iterated on wireframes to shore up the layout of each type of slide (mentor, question, consequence, job aid).

Interactive Prototype

I planned my slides in Figma and then created an interactive prototype in Articulate Storyline 360 to get feedback on functionality. My prototype included a question, mentor slide and an incorrect consequence. I received feedback on the prototype and ran quality assurance checks. Project issues included hover state fonts not matching the normal state and animations not consistently assigned on the same object across the project. After many iterations, I moved on to the full development.

Full Development

The full development started after feedback on my prototype was taken into account. I added some moments of delight with engaging transitions that further take you deep into the story and what consequences your actions bring. These moments include a trip in an ambulance, a car ride to the baseball game, and a home run hit! The project includes a realistic continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to show the user what their sugars will look like in addition to the descriptions. This CGM changes throughout the project to simulate low events associated with exercising. At the end of the course, learners are asked to download a job aid that summarizes the key points from the eLearning experience.

Results and Takeaways

This was a blast to work on as an instructional designer. I look forward to seeing improved health for type 1 diabetics and a reduced demand on OmniHealth Systems doctors and emergency rooms. This project helped me understand the importance of getting the prototypes right before building out the entire thing and having to change them all later.

Experience the Project