Creating and Organization-Wide LMS Strategy & Scalable Learning System
Creating and Organization-Wide LMS Strategy & Scalable Learning System
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⚠️Disclaimer: visual examples available upon request.
TLDR
TLDR
I reframed a stalled single-course initiative into an organization-wide LMS and content strategy:
Designed a scalable learning framework adopted across teams in under 12 months
Reduced future course development time by ~65–70%
Established reusable templates, standards, and workflows across the organization
Led cross-functional alignment across SMEs, designers, and stakeholders
Audience
Audience
PreK–12 education professionals and internal course authors
Company
Company
Private USA Edtech Organization
Languages
Languages
English
Roles
Roles
Product Manager · Lead Instructional Designer · Lead UX/UI designer
Overview
I was initially tasked with designing a single UDL (Universal Design for Learning) course in Canvas LMS. Early discovery revealed that repeated failed launches were not due to content quality, but to systemic issues in structure, tooling, and collaboration. Rather than optimizing one course in isolation, I reframed the initiative as a platform and process problem. I led the design and rollout of a scalable LMS strategy and eLearning framework that enabled the organization to consistently build, update, and launch future courses, transforming how learning products were delivered across the organization.
The Problem
Despite multiple attempts over several years, the organization had been unable to successfully launch a flagship UDL course. Initial analysis showed that the issue was not a lack of expertise, but a lack of shared systems and standards.
Key challenges included:
Content overload with unclear learning structure
Inconsistent tone, branding, and learner experience across courses
Frequent LMS migrations that fragmented workflows
Misalignment between SMEs, designers, and stakeholders
These issues created friction, slowed delivery, and made scaling learning initiatives unsustainable.
The Solution
I defined and led an organization-wide LMS and content strategy focused on reuse, accessibility, and speed.
The solution included:
A modular, WCAG-aligned UDL course built in Canvas LMS
Reusable instructional and visual templates for future courses
Standardized naming conventions and content patterns
Clear collaboration workflows for SMEs, designers, and stakeholders
The UDL course became the reference implementation for all future learning products.
Product Strategy & Reframing
Product Strategy & Reframing
A critical turning point in the project was reframing the problem. Rather than asking, “How do we finally launch this course?”, I repositioned the initiative as a platform challenge: “How do we enable the organization to ship high-quality courses consistently, within tight timelines and budgets?”
This shift unlocked alignment across teams and changed how success was defined. The goal was no longer a single launch, but a repeatable system that reduced friction, improved quality, and scaled across future learning products.
Execution & Delivery
Execution & Delivery
I led the initiative end-to-end, working in agile cycles with cross-functional teams. My responsibilities included:
Auditing legacy content and workflows
Aligning stakeholders on success criteria
Iterating course structures and templates through feedback
Coordinating delivery across roles and timelines
This approach improved transparency, reduced rework, and accelerated decision-making.
Key Product Decisions & Tradeoffs
Key Product Decisions & Tradeoffs
Several intentional tradeoffs shaped adoption and long-term success. I prioritized standardization over customization, accepting less visual variety in exchange for consistency, speed, and maintainability. I leaned heavily on Canvas-native patterns to reduce tool sprawl and lower the learning curve for internal teams.
To increase stakeholder participation, I chose low-barrier collaboration tools, using Miro instead of Figma so non-designers could engage meaningfully in early-stage ideation. I also treated documentation as a first-class product artifact, recognizing that templates, guidelines, and examples were just as critical as the course itself for long-term impact.
Outcomes & Impact
Outcomes & Impact
My initiative delivered measurable organizational value:
Successful launch of a flagship UDL course
Adoption of an internal eLearning system across the organization
~65–70% reduction in future course development time
~80% improvement in visual and instructional consistency
Recognition as the foundation for subsequent learning initiatives
Reflection & Learnings
Reflection & Learnings
This project reinforced the value of treating internal tools, systems, and processes as products in their own right. By investing early in standards, documentation, and shared workflows, we created leverage that far exceeded the impact of any single course.
It also strengthened my product leadership approach: platform thinking scales impact, tool choice directly affects adoption, and instructional design, UX, and product strategy are most effective when tightly integrated. Designing systems that align people, process, and technology remains central to how I approach product work today.
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