CASE STUDY
A Graceful and Grace-filled Exit
Transforming an author’s expertise and vision into a reflective digital learning experience.
Learning Experience Design • Content Transformation • SME Partnership
ROLE
Instructional Designer &
eLearning Developer
AUDIENCE
Adults planning for future
end-of-life care
TOOLS
Articulate Rise 360
DELIVERABLES
Design Document • Video
Scripts • Asynchronous eLearning Course
COLLABORATORS
Author &
Subject Matter Expert
Project Snapshot
The Challenge
Author and longtime hospice chaplain, Betsy Clark, wanted to help adults make important end-of-life decisions before their families were faced with making those decisions for them. She had originally planned live workshops based on her book, A Graceful and Grace-filled Exit, but COVID-19 restrictions, health concerns, and scheduling challenges made in-person delivery difficult.
From live workshop to reflective digital learning, without losing the author's voice.
Analysis & Insights
Through a series of conversations, Betsy and I explored alternative ways to deliver the experience, including live virtual sessions and standalone videos. Because she wasn’t comfortable facilitating live online sessions, I recommended pivoting from the original workshop model to an asynchronous eLearning course that could preserve the interaction and reflection she had envisioned while allowing participants to engage with the material on their own time.
We also determined that the course needed to offer something beyond simply presenting the book digitally. Participants could already read the book. The learning experience needed to help them engage with the content by reflecting on their own wishes, accessing additional resources, hearing directly from Betsy, and beginning conversations and decisions about their own end-of-life plans.
KEY INSIGHTS
Delivery Needed to Change
The original live-workshop model was no longer practical.
Preserve the Experience
The digital solution needed to retain the reflection and interaction Betsy envisioned.
Add Value Beyond the Book
The course needed to help participants engage, reflect, access resources, and begin making decisions – not simply read content on a screen.
The Solution
I began by creating a design document that mapped the book’s content into a structured learning experience. Working closely with Betsy, I selected and organized existing text from the book, identified opportunities for additional resources and reflection, and developed the course script and scripts for Betsy’s video segments.
I maintained the book’s overall organization so the two experiences complemented one another while using Rise to create a more interactive journey through the content. The visual design reflected the book’s color palette and tone, while embedded resources, journaling prompts, and brief videos from Betsy added elements the book alone could not provide.
Betsy served as both SME and reviewer throughout development, collaborating with me as we refined the course organization, selected content, developed her video scripts, and reviewed each stage of the experience.
Preserve the expertise. Transform the experience.
FROM BOOK TO LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Author's Content
Preserve Betsy's expertise, voice, and overall organiztion
Structure the Experience
Map the content through the design document and course script
Add Interaction
Incorporate reflection, journaling, resources, and video
Support Action
Help participants begin making and discussing their own decisions
Application & Practice
The course moved participants beyond learning about end-of-life options to beginning the process of making their own decisions. Through reflection and journaling, they considered their wishes, the choices they wanted to make, and the personal legacy they wanted to leave.
Hear from the Author
Brief video segments allowed Betsy to bring her hospice experience and personal perspective directly into the learning experience.
Reflection & Journal
Prompts encouraged participants to consider the experiences, relationships, values, and memories they wanted to preserve and share.
The goal wasn't to complete an end-of-life plan during the course. It was to help participants begin the process.
Core Capabilities Demonstrated
Performance Analysis & Learning Strategy | Learning Experience & Curriculum Design | Stakeholder & SME Partnership
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