My Process

The first step in developing this course was identifying the unique challenges faced by patients at The Hearts and Hands Clinic, particularly those with limited access to technology or difficulty attending in-person appointments. My goal was to create content that was accessible, engaging, and easy to understand for a diverse group of patients—ranging from those with limited internet access to those unfamiliar with advanced medical concepts.

To ensure the material was digestible, I structured the course into clear, bite-sized segments. The content was organized into a series of short, focused videos covering the key aspects of diabetes management: understanding the diagnosis, testing and interpreting blood sugar levels, and adopting lifestyle changes for nutrition and exercise.

Recognizing the varying levels of technological proficiency within the target audience, I took steps to ensure the videos were compatible with low-bandwidth environments and could be accessed on a variety of devices, including smartphones. I also incorporated subtitles and voiceover narration to accommodate patients with hearing impairments or those who preferred audio content.

The tone of the videos was intentionally conversational and approachable. To make the content relatable, I used visual aids and real-life scenarios that connected the information to the patients' daily experiences. For instance, instead of just listing harmful foods, I demonstrated the symptoms that arise when unhealthy food is consumed, providing a more tangible understanding of the consequences.

Given that patients could not attend in-person visits, I designed the course for self-paced learning, allowing patients to review the content as often as needed. This flexibility helped reinforce the information and supported patients in learning at their own pace.

The overall goal was to empower patients to manage their health with confidence and independence. By transforming complex medical content into accessible, patient-friendly video lessons, I created an effective learning experience that provided patients with the tools they needed to manage their Type II Diabetes—despite their technological and logistical limitations.

During the analysis phase, we identified that our target learners were older, lower-income individuals with limited access to technology. While many had access to cell phones and tablets, laptops were often out of reach. This insight, along with the learning personas, guided our decision to use simple, accessible language and animated videos to deliver the content in short, engaging mini-lessons.

Given the budget constraints of the non-profit clinic, animated instructional videos were an ideal solution, enabling us to effectively convey important concepts without incurring high production costs. I chose a scenario-based approach for the video storyboard, featuring a character named Kara, who has recently been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

Using a scenario helps demystify complex information, such as how high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods are processed differently in individuals with this condition. The story format allows us to present this information in a relatable, understandable way, avoiding difficult medical jargon while still delivering key content.

Below is the visual script for Module 4, Lesson 1 – “How Does Food Affect Me?”

Prototype Development

For the prototype, I used Powtoon, a video creation tool ideal for producing animated content. This program allowed me to enhance my skills while creating a user-friendly, visually engaging instructional video for Module 4, Lesson 1. Powtoon proved to be both cost-effective and easy to use, making it an excellent choice for the project’s budget and scope.

While I adhered to the original storyboard and script, the development process revealed areas where adjustments were necessary. I made updates to the storyboard and script to reflect these changes, ensuring the final product was aligned with the learning objectives and effective for the target audience.