The Problem: Weight Bias In HealthCare Harms Patients who are overweight & Those who suffer from obesity 

This project started with a simple job posting- Company seeking an Instructional Designer to create eLearning on the dangers of obesity for the general public. It made me pause and so I started researching. I discovered the real issue isn't public awareness-it's weight bias within the medical profession itself. Patients who are overweight, as well as those who suffer from obesity routinely experience stigma, dismissive treatment, and misdiagnoses. This poor level of care leads to delayed care, reduced trust in providers, and poor health outcomes. 

Identified Performance Gaps:

Limited Awareness of Weight Bias in Healthcare

• Many providers don't recognize their own bias or how it impacts their care of patients who are overweight or obese. 

Inconsistent Use of Empathy in Patient Conversations 

• Healthcare professionals often struggle to engage this patient population with empathetic, patient-centered communication.

Lack of Training in Non-Stigmatizing Communication 

• Many providers unintentionally use harmful language that makes this population of patients less likely to seek care. 

Failure to Apply People-First Communication Strategies 

• Instead of patient-first approaches that build trust, professionals often default to weight-first language that centers medical care solely around weight loss.

Through my research I discovered Most healthcare professionals receive no formal training on how to provide stigma-free care to patients who are overweight or suffering from obesity, despite its proven impact on patient outcomes. Healthcare providers aren’t being trained to combat weight bias. So, what is an Instructional Designer to do? Create an innovative learning solution that does. 

The Solution: Breaking Bias

Breaking Bias is an AI-powered, scenario-driven eLearning experience designed to help healthcare professionals improve care, reduce bias, and improve patient communication with patients who are overweight or suffering from obesity.  

Learner Centered Design:

Learners engage in real-time AI conversations, make scenario-based decisions, and receive dynamic feedback, giving them the skills to:

• Recognize and address weight bias in patient interactions

• Apply empathy-driven communication strategies with patients who are overweight or suffering from obesity

• Use non-stigmatizing communication, and people-first language to foster trust and engagement

• Ensure patient conversations focus on holistic care, not just weight loss

By practicing realistic patient interactions in a safe, simulated environment, learners develop the confidence to shift their approach when working with patients who overweight or suffering from obesity—leading to better patient experiences, increased trust, and improved health outcomes.

Better communication leads to better care. Imagine if every healthcare professional received training like this.

My Process: Designing an AI Powered, Scenario Based Learning Experience

To develop Breaking Bias, I took an iterative, action-mapping-first approach, ensuring that every interaction supported real-world skill application rather than passive knowledge transfer. This process involved continuous refinement of AI-driven dialogue, UI/UX design, and JavaScript enhancement to create a realistic, behavior-changing learning experience.

AI-Powered Learning & Adaptive Feedback:

Challenge: How do you create dynamic, real-time patient interactions that feel authentic and responsive?
Solution: Integrate ChatGPT API via JavaScript to power adaptive, real-time AI coaching, making each learner interaction unique.

• Every response the learner gives shapes patient feedback, allowing for a natural, evolving conversation.

• AI-driven analysis determines how well the learner applies empathy, non-stigmatizing language, and people-first communication strategies.

• Dynamic feedback system rates performance and provides coaching through resident characters (Kacy & Jordan) rather than a generic score.

Custom Storyline Functionality & JavaScript Enhancements:

Challenge: How do you move beyond basic eLearning interactions to create a fully immersive, simulation-style experience?
Solution: Focus on iterative JavaScript enhancements and user experience refinements to ensure seamless interactivity. 

• Interactive, non-linear design ensures learners feel engaged in a realistic patient conversation rather than just clicking through slides. 

• Refine UI and UX by continuously testing, improving, and simplifying navigation for a more intuitive learner experience. 

• Develop AI-powered analysis that evaluates learner input and dynamically adjusts feedback based on real-time performance.

• Craft custom JavaScript programming to dynamically adjust responses based on learner input, making each conversation feel unique. 

Scenario-Based Learning with Real-World Consequences

Challenge: How do you ensure learners don’t just “click through” content, but instead experience and internalize the impact of their decisions?
Solution: Design interactive patient encounters that mimic real-world conversations, where learner choices directly shape the patient’s trust and willingness to engage.

Patient-centered AI interactions: 

• Instead of scripted responses, the AI reacts dynamically, reinforcing the impact of bias-aware communication.

Real-world consequence modeling: 

• Poor communication leads to negative patient reactions, while empathetic engagement results in stronger rapport.

Behavior-driven learning flow: 

• Instead of passive instruction, learners see, experience, and correct biases in real time.

Why This Process Matters

By combining AI-driven interactivity, real-time adaptive learning, and scenario-based decision-making, this training doesn't just inform—it transforms behavior. Every design choice was made to create an experience where learners practice, fail safely, receive coaching, and improve.

Breaking Bias isn't just an eLearning module—it's a dynamic, AI-powered simulation that prepares healthcare professionals to engage with patients in a more empathetic, inclusive way.

Action MapPing: dESIGNING FOR REAL WORLD BEHAVIOR CHANGE

As both the Subject Matter Expert (SME) and Instructional Designer, I used Cathy Moore's action mapping framework to ensure the training focused on behavior-driven learning objectives rather than passive knowledge transfer. While traditional action maps are often visual mind maps, I structured mine as a detailed, strategic document in Google Docs to precisely define the critical actions healthcare professionals must take to improve patient interactions with patients who are overweight and patients who suffer from obesity.

Identifying High-Impact Behaviors

To ensure maximum real-word application, I identified key behaviors that healthcare professionals need to master to reduce weight bias and improve patient care:

Demonstrate empathetic communication 

• Shift the focus from weight to the patient’s overall well-being.

Engage in non-stigmatizing weight-related discussions 

• Avoid harmful language that endangers patient trust.

Use people-first language 

• Speak in a way that first acknowledges the patient as a person, rather than defining them by their condition.

Each of these behaviors was selected based on evidence-based best practices for reducing weight bias and improving patient-provider relationships. 

Prioritizing Real-World Application

Instead of traditional knowledge-based eLearning, I designed an AI-driven, scenario-based learning experience where doctors:

• Practice high-impact behaviors in dynamic, real-time patient interactions

• See the consequences of their communication choices—positive or negative—based on AI-powered responses

• Receive real time, context aware coaching from an AI powered mentor (Jill) rather than static, generic, boxed suggestions

• Receive induvialized AI generated feedback on how well they showed empathy, non-stigmatizing communication, and patient-centered communication from Resident Doctors (Kacy and Jordan)

Learning doesn’t just happen—it’s fostered through real-world, meaningful application, and with the right instructional design, it translates directly into improved patient interactions.

Addressing Root Causes for Measurable Impact

 Why is this training necessary? 

Studies show that missed diagnoses, weight-based assumptions, and stigmatizing communication are major drivers of low patient satisfaction and negative health outcomes for individuals who are overweight and those who suffer from obesity. Through aligning learning objectives with observable, high-impact behaviors, this training supports:

Practical skill application:

• Doctors actively practice and refine their communication strategies.

Measurable behavior change:

• Feedback and adaptive coaching reinforce learning.

Improved patient care: 

• Ensures that patients receive trust-based, stigma-free interactions.

Breaking Bias is more than an awareness course—it’s a targeted solution designed to change behaviors and improve patient outcomes.

Text-based Story Board: An Iterative Development First Approach

Rather than creating a traditional text-based storyboard, I used Action Mapping as my primary design blueprint and moved directly into prototyping in Articulate Storyline 360. My Action Map served as the foundation for the first iteration of the simulation, allowing me to focus on real-world application from the start. 

Iterative Development in Storyline

Instead of scripting interactions in advance, I built, tested, and refined directly within Storyline—leveraging AI, peer feedback, and industry professionals to refine:

Key decision points

• Adjusted decision points based on usability feedback to ensure meaningful, realistic learner choices

AI-powered conversations

• Continuously refined prompt engineering to create characters powered by ChatGPT that felt natural, engaged in contextual patient interactions, and provided useful, contextualized feedback to help learners grow.

Learner interactions & pacing

• Iterated JavaScript functions to ensure smooth interaction flow, accurate response timing, and an engaging learning experience.

UI & UX Iteration 

• Continuously refined interface design, and user navigation based on user feedback to improve usability and engagement. 

Because every element was tested in real-time within the platform, I was able to rapidly adapt based on user feedback—ensuring that the learning experience felt organic, responsive, and practical.

Why This Approach?

This development-first method allowed me to:

Build a functional prototype immediately 

• Rather than spending time on static storyboarding, I focused on interactive design from day one.

Refine based on real user engagement 

• AI-driven conversations evolved through direct testing and iteration, not hypothetical scripting.

Optimize AI-Powered Learning 

• Continuously refined prompt engineering, JavaScript functionality, and UX enhancements to create a cohesive, dynamic, and contextually aware AI interaction.

By prioritizing real-world testing over pre-planned scripting, I created a learner driven training that is immersive and feels intuitive.

Visual Design: Iterative Development First Approach

Rather than creating static visual mockups, I took a development-first, iterative approach, refining UI, layout, and interaction design throughout the prototyping phase in Articulate Storyline 360. Every visual decision was guided by usability, cognitive load reduction, and learner engagement to create an experience that was clear, immersive, and stress-free for users.

I didn't just design for aesthetics—I designed for functionality, focus, and learner impact.

Iterative Visual Design Enhancements

Refined UI & Modified Designs to Reduce Cognitive Load 

• Adjusted color contrast, text hierarchy, button design, and layout to minimize distractions and help learners focus on key content.

Improved Screen Flow & Navigation to Reduce Eye Strain

• Ensured text placement, pacing, and transitions supported natural reading flow, reducing visual fatigue and improving engagement and knowledge retention

Optimized Character Visuals for Immersion & Realism 

• Strengthened the believability of patient interactions, creating a more engaging and emotionally resonant learning experience.

Enhanced UX to Improve Focus & Knowledge Absorption 

• Designed intuitive, structured interactions that freed learners to concentrate on content rather than navigation.

By continuously refining visuals throughout development, I ensured the training wasn’t just interactive—it was optimized for clarity, engagement, and knowledge retention.

Interactive prototype: Bringing ai powered learning to life

Instead of following a rigid Alpha → Beta → Final process methodology, I used a continuous, iterative design approach—developing, testing, and refining in real time to ensure a seamless, dynamic learning experience. My workflow followed the Successive Approximation Model (SAM), which emphasizes rapid prototyping, ongoing evaluation, and continuous refinement. This ensured the prototype evolved organically through continuous loops of testing, iteration and refinement. 

Preparation Phase

Mapped Key Learning Outcomes 

• Created an Action Map to ensure training focused on behavior change rather than passive knowledge transfer. This framework defined the critical skills healthcare professionals needed to positively affect provider-patient trust when interacting with patients who are overweight or suffering from obesity, such as empathetic communication, non-stigmatizing communication, and people-first language.

Designed AI-Driven Conversations 

• Began building the training simulation directly in Storyline, structuring realistic, dynamic patient interactions that required learners to navigate weight bias awareness moments and make meaningful communication decisions.

AI-Driven Learning Refinements

• Refined AI-generated patient interactions to make conversations feel natural, contextual, and personalized to learner choices.

• Continuously optimized AI prompt engineering to ensure ChatGPT’s responses aligned with realistic patient behavior & bias-awareness training goals.

• Tested & adjusted decision-based outcomes to reflect meaningful consequences based on learner responses.

Interactive eLearning Development & UX Improvements

• Integrated custom JavaScript logic to refine scenario flow, response timing, and real-time AI coaching features.

• Optimized UI & UX based on user feedback, ensuring content was visually clear, cognitively accessible, and immersive.

• Enhanced screen flow & navigation to reduce cognitive load and allow learners to focus on patient interactions without distraction.

Feedback-Driven Enhancements

• Incorporated peer & industry feedback throughout development, iterating on content until interactions were instructionally sound and felt intuitive, and engaging.

• Validated the training simulation against Mayer’s Multimedia Principles, ensuring cognitive load was managed, and learning maximized.

• Tested AI-driven feedback loops to ensure patient reactions, mentor guidance, and resident evaluations were meaningful and adaptive.

Why This Process Matters for Clients

Rapid Iteration = Faster Development 

• My development-first approach allowed for quick refinements based on user testing and real-time feedback.

AI-Powered Learning = Engaging, Adaptive Scenarios 

• The integration of ChatGPT-driven patient interactions ensured that learners experienced dynamic, real-world conversations that adapted to their responses.

Scenario-Based Training = Immediate Skill Application 

• Learners weren’t passively consuming information—they were actively applying bias-awareness strategies in real-time patient interactions.

Full Build: Bringing AI- Driven Scenario-based Training to life

After rigorous testing and iteration, I developed the final version of Breaking Bias in Articulate Storyline 360, ensuring that it provided an immersive, AI-powered learning experience that effectively trained healthcare professionals in empathetic, non-stigmatizing patient communication. Rather than just refining surface-level interactions, I focused on deepening AI-driven conversations, enhancing scenario realism, and optimizing UI/UX for seamless learner engagement.

Refining AI Conversations & Scenario-Based Learning

Expanded AI-Powered Coaching & Decision-Based Interactions

• Introduced Jill, an AI-powered mentor, who provides on-demand coaching and tailored guidance based on learner needs, helping them navigate challenging patient interactions.

Enhanced AI-Generated Dialogue 

• Fine-tuned patient responses to be more dynamic, emotionally responsive, and contextually accurate, ensuring that learners received meaningful, realistic feedback from the AI-powered patient, Sarah.

Deepened Learner Consequences & Reflection Points 

• Structured feedback from Kacy & Jordan (resident doctors) to reinforce key learning takeaways and help learners understand how their communication influenced both patients and future medical professionals.

Optimizing UI, UX & Instructional Design for Impact

Reduced Cognitive Load 

• Aligned content presentation with Mayer’s Multimedia Principles, minimizing distractions, improving information processing, and ensuring the visual design reinforced learning objectives.

Refined User Interface & Screen Navigation

• Streamlined interactions to create an intuitive learner journey and enhance scenario realism.

Optimized AI Integration with Custom JavaScript Enhancements 

• Fine-tuned AI logic, ensuring natural conversation pacing, smoother transitions between decision points, and more dynamic response variability.

Final Quality Assurance & Professional Validation

To ensure the training delivered measurable learning value, I conducted extensive testing and gathered expert feedback from multiple perspectives:

AI-Powered Testing & Iteration 

• Assessed AI response quality, ensuring natural language processing aligned with learning goals.

Industry Professionals (Healthcare & L&D) 

• Verified training relevance, engagement, and instructional clarity from both a medical and instructional design perspective.

Peer Reviewers (Instructional Designers & LinkedIn Network) 

• Provided feedback on usability, accessibility, and learner experience improvements.

Final Outcome: An AI-Powered Training Solution That Drives Real Change

The final version of Breaking Bias is an AI-driven, scenario-based learning experience designed to equip healthcare professionals with the skills to combat weight bias, engage in, patient-centered communication, and improve overall patient satisfaction.

Why It Matters for Clients & Organizations:
This project showcases my ability to blend cutting-edge AI with instructional design, creating a high-impact training solution that addresses a critical industry need while providing a scalable, adaptable eLearning model for organizations investing in behavioral change and DEI-driven learning initiatives.

Reflections & Lessons Learned 

This project was an opportunity to create a meaningful, AI-powered learning experience while pushing the boundaries of scenario-based eLearning, JavaScript integration, and AI-driven interactions. Throughout development, I had to balance technical complexity with learner experience, ensuring that every feature was instructionally sound, user-friendly, and engaging. 

Key Challenges & Lessons Learned

Balancing Functionality with Time & Resources 

• Integrating AI-generated conversations, JavaScript logic, and interactive patient scenarios required careful prioritization. I learned how to identify when a feature was instructionally effective and technically sound rather than falling into endless iteration cycles.

Refining AI-Driven Learning 

• Developing dynamic characters like Sarah (patient), Jill (mentor), and Kayce & Jordan (resident doctors) demonstrated the power of AI-generated responses in enhancing scenario-based learning—making interactions feel natural, engaging, and contextually aware.

Leveraging User & Expert Feedback 

Iterating based on feedback from peers, industry professionals, and a healthcare expert ensured that my dynamic learning solution was realistic, impactful, and aligned with real-world healthcare communication needs.

The Impact: Real-World Relevance

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was receiving validation from a healthcare professional who experienced the training firsthand. Their feedback confirmed that Breaking Bias effectively highlights the importance of empathetic, non-stigmatizing communication in patient care.

"Before your patients care about what you know, they must first know that you care. I honestly thought I was doing a great job of not making Sarah feel bad about her weight, but after getting the feedback, I realized I never acknowledged her feelings of being judged. This course does a great job at training healthcare workers to embody empathy." - Jeremy C. Healthcare Professional 

Want to see how this project made a real impact? Read my reflection on the impact Breaking Bias has already had.

What’s Next?

AI Powered Learning Solutions

Breaking Bias is one of two AI-powered, scenario-driven learning experiences I have developed—each designed to push the boundaries of interactive learning and real-time feedback.

• Guiding Potential is an AI-driven scenario-based eLearning experience that helps school counselors refine their interpersonal skills by engaging in an immersive conversation with Markus, a high school student facing significant challenges in pursuing his dreams of becoming an aerospace engineer. This project uses HeyGen avatars to create a lifelike, interactive experience with Markus, allowing learners to navigate difficult conversations, provide meaningful support, and practice empathetic communication in a safe, simulated environment. Ready to step into the shoes of a school counselor? Click here to experience the project for yourself.

Each of these projects demonstrates my ability to merge instructional design with AI technology to create engaging, high-impact training solutions. Whether it’s coaching school counselors, improving healthcare communication, or driving behavior change in other industries, my expertise lies in designing AI-enhanced, scenario-driven learning experiences that engage learners and drive real-world results.

Ready to take your training to the next level? Let’s collaborate on an AI-powered learning solution that engages, challenges, and transforms your learners.

Contact me to discuss your next project!