New and experienced instructors lacked a consistent, structured understanding of how to deliver the revised TOEFL certification exam programme. ETS, the organisation responsible for administering TOEFL globally, had updated the exam structure, creating a need for continuous professional development to align instructor capability with the new requirements.

• A newly released TOEFL exam format created a gap between instructor capability and updated assessment requirements

• Lack of structured onboarding resulted in inconsistent instructional delivery across TOEFL classes

• Variations in teaching practice impacted the consistency of learner outcomes across cohorts

To bridge this gap, I worked with Subject Matter Experts and designed a comprehensive onboarding and professional development solution for TOEFL instructors consisting of: 

An interactive eLearning onboarding programme

A structured learning experience built in Articulate Storyline 360 that equips new and experienced instructors with the knowledge and skills required to deliver the certification exam programme consistently and effectively. The experience combines foundational learning, guided practice, and performance-based activities to support real-world teaching application.

Coaching and peer learning component

To reinforce learning transfer, the programme includes structured coaching sessions and peer review with experienced instructors and Subject Matter Experts. This allows learners to receive feedback, observe best practices, and refine their teaching approaches in a supported, collaborative environment.

The solution was designed using a structured instructional design approach:

• Action Mapping to identify performance gaps and define required instructional behaviours

• Text-based Storyboarding to structure learning flow and content sequencing

• Style Guide Development to ensure consistency in tone and visual design

• Wireframing & Visual Mockups to design learner interactions and navigation flow

• Interactive Development using Articulate Storyline 360 to build the final eLearning experience

• Evaluation Planning aligned to the Kirkpatrick Model

This solution establishes a structured, scalable onboarding and professional development framework for TOEFL instructors that aligns learning design with real teaching performance expectations. The programme was designed to ensure the learning content reflected current TOEFL standards, instructional best practices, and organisational expectations.

The programme is designed to support measurable improvements across the following areas:

• Increased instructor readiness and confidence in delivering the TOEFL certification exam programme

• Improved consistency in instructional delivery across new and experienced instructors

• Enhanced application of teaching strategies through coaching and peer feedback cycles

• Improved knowledge transfer through blended learning and structured practice activities

• Standardised onboarding experience aligned with organisational teaching expectations

The onboarding programme was implemented within the academy as part of the transition to the revised TOEFL certification exam. While a formal Kirkpatrick evaluation was not conducted, the programme incorporated evaluation methods aligned with the Kirkpatrick Four Levels of Evaluation to monitor learner progress and instructional effectiveness.