Learning & Development | Instructional Design | Educational Technology

I’m Sarah Allred, a learning and development professional and instructional designer with nearly three decades of experience helping people learn, grow, and use technology effectively.

My background spans classroom instruction, instructional coaching, educational technology, professional learning, and digital course development. Throughout my career, I have designed and facilitated learning experiences, supported technology implementation, developed online and blended learning, administered learning management systems, and partnered with educators and subject matter experts to turn complex content into practical, engaging learning experiences.

With a Master of Arts in Instructional Technology and extensive experience in adult learning and professional development, I bring both a learning-centered perspective and hands-on technology expertise to instructional design.

What I Bring to the Table

Learning Experience Design: I create clear, engaging, and purposeful learning experiences grounded in sound instructional design and adult learning principles.
Collaboration & Consultation: I partner with subject matter experts and stakeholders to identify learning needs, clarify goals, and transform expertise into effective learning solutions.
Learning Technology: I bring extensive experience with LMS platforms, digital learning tools, educational technology, and emerging technologies, including responsible uses of AI.
Facilitation & Professional Learning: I have years of experience designing and facilitating professional development that helps adult learners build knowledge, confidence, and practical skills.

Great learning experiences don’t begin with the tool. They begin with the learner, the goal, and thoughtful design.

Resume Link

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-lou-allred

Contact sallred@live.com

Project Title: When AI Gets it Wrong

Tools: Articulate Rise 360, Storyline 360

Deliverables: Articulate Rise Course | PDF Version

The Problem: Educators need opportunities to practice critically evaluating AI-generated content, recognizing inaccuracies and privacy concerns, and making informed decisions about its instructional use.

The Solution: I developed a self-paced, scenario-based course that places learners in the role of investigators examining AI-generated content. Built with Articulate Rise 360 and Storyline 360, the course features interactive case files, decision-making activities, formative assessments, and individualized feedback to support active learning and practical application.

The Impact: This portfolio project demonstrates how experiential learning can build critical AI literacy skills through realistic, low-stakes practice. Although not yet formally deployed, the course is designed for future implementation and evaluation through learner feedback and performance on application-based activities.

Project Title: AI Powered Instructional Coaching Course

Deliverables: Articulate Rise Course | PDF Version

The Problem: Instructional coaches and administrators who were unable to attend my NCTIES conference presentation wanted access to the content and learning experience beyond simply viewing the presentation slides.

The Solution: I transformed the instructor-led presentation and supporting notes into a self-paced, asynchronous three-lesson course using Articulate 360. The course was designed to provide learners with structured content, reflection opportunities, and practical applications for using AI as an instructional coaching tool.

The Impact: The project expanded access to the learning experience, allowing educators to engage with the content on their own schedule. It also provided an opportunity to apply instructional design principles while developing a scalable professional learning resource that can be shared with a broader audience.

Project Title: Statewide Data Literacy Professional Learning Initiative

Deliverables: Co- Planning Documents

Conference Agenda

Project Activity Report

The Problem:
Educators often receive large amounts of student data but lack training on how to effectively analyze and apply that information to improve instruction.

The Solution:
Collaborated with a statewide team to develop a blended professional learning initiative focused on educator data literacy. My responsibilities included Moodle course development, multimedia preparation, instructional content design, and facilitation of professional learning sessions.

The Impact:
Provided educators with practical strategies for understanding and using data to support instructional decisions while strengthening my expertise in online learning, instructional design, and professional development.

Project Title: AI Powered Professional Growth & Coaching (NCTIES 2026)

Deliverable: Slideshow Session Outline

The Problem: Instructional coaches and school leaders often face "time poverty," struggling to balance high-quality teacher feedback with administrative demands. While AI offered a potential solution, many lacked a structured framework to use it effectively for coaching-specific tasks without compromising professional standards.

The Solution: I developed and facilitated a state-level conference session that reframed AI as a "Coaching Co-Pilot." The core of the presentation was a 5-Step Prompt Cycle (Persona, Context, Task, Constraints, Evaluation) designed specifically for leadership tasks: drafting personalized reflection questions, synthesizing observation notes, and generating professional development agendas.

The Impact: Delivered to a capacity audience of 30+ regional coaches and administrators at NCTIES. Participants gained a scalable toolkit for ethical AI integration, moving from "basic searching" to "strategic prompt engineering" that preserves the human element of instructional coaching.

Project Title: Scaling Professional Development via Canvas LMS

Deliverable: Slideshow with Speaker Notes

The Problem: Traditional, face-to-face professional development was difficult to scale, lacked differentiation for varying teacher skill levels, and was easily disrupted by scheduling conflicts or weather events.

The Solution: I transformed the Canvas LMS from a student-only tool into a robust Faculty Information & Growth Portal. I designed a multi-modal environment featuring asynchronous book studies, self-paced "mini-courses," and centralized digital handbooks to ensure 24/7 access to critical resources.

The Impact: This shift created a culture of "anytime, anywhere" learning, resulting in 100% faculty compliance for mandatory training and providing a blueprint for virtual collaboration during unscheduled school closures.

Case Study: Digital Gradebook Setup Instructions

Deliverable: User Guide

The Problem: At the start of the academic year, faculty faced high cognitive load when navigating the complex backend of PowerTeacher Pro, leading to frequent errors in category weighting and term calculations.

The Solution: I designed a high-leverage Instructional Job Aid that utilized visual scaffolding (color-coding, call-outs, and sequenced screenshots). This document served as a "just-in-time" support tool to accompany synchronous training, reducing the need for one-on-one technical intervention.

The Impact: Implementation led to a significant decrease in "Level 1" support tickets during the first week of school and ensured accuracy in grade reporting across the school

Case Study: Cross-Curricular PD Facilitation & Resource Adaptation

Deliverables:

Professional Development Plan SlideShow Handout

The Problem: Teachers across diverse subject areas struggled to create differentiated materials for varied learner needs without significantly increasing their daily preparation time.

The Solution: I facilitated a high-touch, Small-Group Consultancy session focused on the strategic use of AI-driven differentiation tools. I adapted program-specific resources into a streamlined, faculty-facing toolkit that emphasized immediate classroom application during collaborative planning blocks.

The Impact: Participants successfully generated differentiated curriculum sets in under 10 minutes, reporting an average of 5 hours saved per week on instructional material development.

Beyond the Résumé
Learning design is ultimately about people—and I think the people behind the work matter, too. When a recent application invited me to share 10 things about myself that wouldn't appear on my résumé, I had a little fun with the assignment.

→ Meet the person behind the portfolio: 10 Things to Know About Sarah [PDF]