Renee Sakai - Instructional Designer
I am an Instructional Designer with a Master of Education in Distance Education and five years of proven experience in creating effective and accessible e-learning solutions.
My expertise lies in collaborating with subject matter experts (SMEs) to transform complex content into engaging learning experiences that drive organizational goals.
Key Skills: ADDIE, Adult Learning Principles, Needs Analysis, Articulate Storyline 360, Articulate Rise, Canva, Camtasia, AODA Standards
My Philosophy as an Instructional Designer
I believe that all learning—whether in academic, healthcare, or corporate environments—shares the same essence: Supporting learners’ success and Fostering confidence by building it where needed and enhancing it where possible.
Knowledge retention and skill transfer are important goals, but I see them as tools to serve this deeper purpose.
Whenever I face uncertainty, I return to this core: enabling learner success and confidence through thoughtful, learner-centred design.
Instructional Design Model (Life Cycle, Structure)
<Course samples>
*Click on any titles of my projects above.
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Portfolio Overview: Strategic Instructional Design for Behavioural Change
This portfolio showcases a selection of sample projects designed to demonstrate my ability to translate complex challenges into engaging, learner-centred digital learning experiences. All examples are recreated to illustrate my instructional design capabilities while respecting confidentiality agreements.
1. Core Competency: Healthcare Strategy & Safety
These two flagship projects showcase my expertise in addressing unique cultural and safety challenges within clinical settings, demonstrating mastery in both high-fidelity simulation and rapid development.
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Challenge: Ambiguous “grey zone” communication habits can lead to misunderstandings and reduced team trust.
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ID Strategy: Applied Gagné’s Nine Events to create interactive scenarios guiding learners to identify and correct risky communication patterns.
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Tools Used: Articulate Storyline
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Reflection: Peer-reviewed for clarity and flow; refined scenarios to improve realism and decision-making accuracy.
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Challenge: Cultural norms may normalize overwork, causing early signs of burnout to go unnoticed.
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ID Strategy: Designed scenario-based learning activities that encourage learners to recognize stress indicators and engage in empathetic, system-focused observation.
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Tools Used: Articulate Rise
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Reflection: Feedback highlighted strong relevance and accessibility; enhanced scenario progression to support practical application.
2. Cross-Functional Versatility: Compliance, Soft Skills, & Global L&D
These projects highlight my ability to tackle diverse organizational needs, ensuring both compliance and crucial professional development across various formats and audiences.
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Challenge: Professionals lacked confidence in delivering effective feedback, increasing risk of conflict or misunderstandings.
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ID Strategy: Produced an animated explainer video offering clear, actionable strategies for giving constructive feedback.
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Tools Used: Animaker
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Reflection: Peer feedback confirmed clarity and usefulness; refined pacing and examples to improve engagement.
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Challenge: Office employees needed stronger awareness of phishing and fraud tactics.
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ID Strategy: Developed a 5-minute interactive microlearning course focused on recognizing common security red flags.
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Tools Used: Articulate Rise
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Reflection: Improved interface clarity and scenario variety through iterative peer review.
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Challenge: Remote employees face increased cybersecurity threats requiring quick, accurate judgment.
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ID Strategy: Designed a scenario-based module simulating real-world email and device-security risks.
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Tools Used: Articulate Storyline
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Reflection: Reviewers reported increased confidence in identifying threats; enhanced feedback loops for better learner guidance.
3. Localization Project (EN & JP)
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Challenge: Japanese instructional content required cultural and structural adaptation for English-speaking professionals.
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ID Strategy: Streamlined content structure, adapted idioms and terminology, and applied a problem-solution learning pattern.
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Tools Used: Articulate Storyline
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Reflection: Peer review confirmed improved clarity and cultural relevance; refined tone and flow based on feedback.
4. Interactive Starter Tutorial
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Challenge: Learners needed a quick, hands-on introduction to a visual collaboration tool.
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ID Strategy: Created a 5-minute interactive course enabling immediate practice of core Miro functions.
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Tools Used: H5P
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Reflection: Peers found the interaction intuitive and efficient; adjusted instructions to further support first-time users.
5. Infographic
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Challenge: L&D teams needed quick-reference guidance on accessible design.
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ID Strategy: Developed a WCAG-aligned infographic covering layout, contrast, readability, and inclusive design essentials.
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Tools Used: Canva
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Reflection: Reviewers reported strong clarity; refined visual hierarchy to improve usability.
Key ID Value Proposition
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Learner-Centred & Design Thinking Approach: Deep focus on empathy and user needs to ensure meaningful, practical learning outcomes.
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Action-Oriented Learning: Designs promote critical thinking and behavioural application, not just knowledge consumption.
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Accessibility & Technical Expertise: Skilled in Storyline, Rise, Vyond, Camtasia, and AODA/WCAG 2.1 AA-compliant design.
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Broad Strategic Range: Experience across clinical safety, mental health/well-being, compliance, and soft-skills development.
Please note: The original projects I worked on are protected by confidentiality agreements, so these examples were recreated to demonstrate my skills.