Building Priority Patrol: A Game-Based Approach to Teaching Prioritization Skills

The Problem

After a decade of designing learning experiences, I've learned this: knowing how to prioritize and actually doing so under pressure are entirely different skills.

Traditional time management workshops (PowerPoint slides on "urgent vs. important" and maybe a handout) don't teach people to make real-time decisions under pressure.

That's why I created Priority Patrol.

What Is Priority Patrol?

Priority Patrol is an HTML5 learning game where players are busy learning, as designers juggle multiple client projects. You've got 60 seconds to drag and drop six tasks into the correct priority zones: High, Medium, or Low.

The mechanics:

• Drag-and-drop task cards with realistic workplace scenarios

• Countdown timer creates urgency

• Immediate feedback showing which decisions were correct and why

• Scoring system with points for accuracy and time bonuses

• Replay option to practice and improve

The game is built for expansion. I can easily swap in scenarios for different industries or roles. For this version, I focused on nailing the core mechanics.

The Research Behind the Design

Every design decision is grounded in learning science:

Game-Learning Connection: Garris, Ahlers, and Driskell (2002) showed that specific mechanics, such as timers and scoring, create engagement cycles that drive learning.

Immediate Feedback: Van der Kleij et al.'s (2015) meta-analysis proved that immediate, specific feedback significantly improves learning outcomes. That's why Priority Patrol shows exactly which tasks you prioritized correctly with explanations.

Cognitive Load Management: Following Mayer and Moreno's (2003) principles, I created a clean interface with color-coded zones and clear task descriptions. Under time pressure, a confusing design is the last thing learners need.

Motivation Through Gamification: Sailer et al. (2017) showed how game elements satisfy psychological needs. Points provide competence feedback, the timer creates optimal challenge, and replay options support autonomy.

Evaluation Framework: Using Smidt et al.'s (2009) application of the Kirkpatrick Model, the game can be evaluated across four levels: reaction, learning, behavior change, and organizational results.

Evidence-Based: Clark et al.'s (2016) comprehensive review proved that well-designed games improve learning outcomes with moderate to strong effect sizes.

My Design Process

I started with Action Mapping methodology, focusing on what learners need to do differently, not just what they need to know.

The target behavior: Making sound prioritization decisions under time pressure.

Not: Reciting definitions.

From there, I identified realistic scenarios, designed mechanics that mimic real-world pressure, built in constructive feedback, kept the interface clean, and made it replayable.

What's Next?

This version is just the beginning. The architecture allows for:

• Industry-specific scenarios

• Progressive difficulty levels

• Team discussion modes

• Analytics dashboards

But most importantly, I wanted to prove a point: behavior-focused learning doesn't have to be boring. When you ground game design in solid research and focus on real-world application, you create training that actually changes how people work.

Want to see it in action? https://prioritypatrolgame.emilygreendesign.com/

Interested in custom game-based learning solutions? Let's chat.

References

Clark, D. B., Tanner-Smith, E. E., & Killingsworth, S. S. (2016). Digital games, design, and learning: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research, 86(1), 79–122. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654315582065

Garris, R., Ahlers, R., & Driskell, J. E. (2002). Games, motivation, and learning: A research and practice model. Simulation & Gaming, 33(4), 441–467. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046878102238607

Mayer, R. E., & Moreno, R. (2003). Nine ways to reduce cognitive load in multimedia learning. Educational Psychologist, 38(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15326985EP3801_6

Sailer, M., Hense, J. U., Mayr, S. K., & Mandl, H. (2017). How gamification motivates: An experimental study of the effects of specific game design elements on psychological need satisfaction. Computers in Human Behavior, 69, 371–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.12.033

Smidt, A., Balandin, S., Sigafoos, J., & Reed, V. A. (2009). The Kirkpatrick model: A useful tool for evaluating training outcomes. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 34(3), 266–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668250903093125

Van der Kleij, F. M., Feskens, R. C., & Eggen, T. J. (2015). Effects of feedback in a computer-based learning environment on students' learning outcomes: A meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research, 85(4), 475–511. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654314564881

Emily Green is a Learning Experience Designer specializing in behavior-focused training solutions.

Creator's Quest: Gamifying the Content Creator Journey

How an Educational RPG Can Transform Content Creation Skills

In an era where digital content creation has become a viable career path, aspiring creators face a unique challenge: developing the multifaceted skills needed to succeed. Creator's Quest, an educational role-playing game, transforms this journey into an engaging, gamified learning experience.

The Science Behind Gamification

Research consistently demonstrates that gamification significantly enhances learning outcomes. A meta-analysis of 41 studies with over 5,071 participants found that gamification produces a large effect size (g = 0.822) on student learning outcomes (Li et al., 2023). A three-year longitudinal study further confirmed that gamified learning improved success rates by 39% and excellence rates by 130% compared to online learning (Lampropoulos & Sidiropoulos, 2024).

These findings are particularly relevant for skills-based learning, such as content creation, where motivation and sustained engagement are critical for mastery.

Why Serious Games Work

Creator's Quest falls into the category of "serious games"—interactive applications designed beyond entertainment to incorporate educational objectives (Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication, 2024). These games leverage engaging gameplay to facilitate learning, skill development, and behavioral change across multiple industries.

The power of serious games lies in their ability to provide experiential learning. They combine learning strategies, curricular structures, and game elements to teach specific skills while allowing players to create their own knowledge in safe, consequence-free environments (University XP, 2022).

Creator's Quest: Evidence-Based Game Design

Creator's Quest incorporates several research-backed design principles:

Progressive Skill Development: The game features a comprehensive skill tree spanning technical, teaching, business, and personal development categories. Research shows gamification enhances cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning outcomes by increasing motivation, engagement, and competitiveness (Dehghanzadeh et al., 2024).

Multiple Pathways: Players navigate five key dimensions—authenticity, growth, quality, business, and community—reflecting real-world content creation strategies. This branching narrative ensures player agency matters, a critical element for engagement.

Real-World Trade-offs: Every decision involves meaningful trade-offs. Players balance energy, finances, mental health, and community relationships, mirroring actual creator challenges while supporting situated cognition (De Gloria et al., 2014).

Safe Failure Environment: The game provides a space where failure is educational rather than catastrophic. Players experiment with strategies, learn from mistakes, and iterate toward better outcomes without risking their actual careers (Viteco eLearning, 2024).

Challenges and Future Directions

While research strongly supports gamification's effectiveness, effects depend heavily on implementation context and user characteristics (ResearchGate, 2024). Choosing the right combination of game elements remains challenging, with no one-size-fits-all approach (Smart Learning Environments, 2023). Creator's Quest addresses this through multiple gameplay modes allowing players to focus on aspects most relevant to their goals.

As the content creation economy expands, tools like Creator's Quest represent an evolution in professional education. Rather than learning through expensive trial and error, aspiring creators can develop skills, test strategies, and build confidence in structured environments. The game serves not as a replacement for actual experience, but as a complementary tool accelerating learning and informing real-world decisions.

Conclusion

Creator's Quest demonstrates how serious games can address educational needs in the modern creator economy. By combining evidence-based gamification principles with realistic scenarios and meaningful choices, it offers an engaging and effective approach to skills development. As research continues validating gamification's power in education, games like Creator's Quest represent not just a novel way to learn—but potentially a more effective one.

References

Dehghanzadeh, H., Farrokhnia, M., Dehghanzadeh, H., Taghipour, K., & Noroozi, O. (2024). Using gamification to support learning in K-12 education: A systematic literature review. British Journal of Educational Technology, 55(1), 34-70. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13335

De Gloria, A., Bellotti, F., & Berta, R. (2014). Serious games for education and training. International Journal of Serious Games, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.17083/ijsg.v1i1.11

Lampropoulos, G., & Sidiropoulos, A. (2024). Impact of gamification on students' learning outcomes and academic performance: A longitudinal study comparing online, traditional, and gamified learning. Education Sciences, 14(4), Article 367. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14040367

Li, M., Ma, S., & Shi, Y. (2023). Examining the effectiveness of gamification as a tool promoting teaching and learning in educational settings: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1253549. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1253549

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication. (2024). Serious games. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228613-e-1482

ResearchGate. (2024). Exploring the benefits and challenges of gamification in enhancing student learning outcomes. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18493.44009

Smart Learning Environments. (2023). Gamification of e-learning in higher education: A systematic literature review. Smart Learning Environments, 10, Article 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-023-00227-z

University XP. (2022). Playing serious games. https://www.universityxp.com/blog/2021/9/28/playing-serious-games

Viteco eLearning. (2024). Serious game: Definition, benefits, methods, and tools. https://www.vitecoelearning.eu/en/serious-game-videogames-education-gamification/

El Conejo's Cultura: Building a Bad Bunny Game (The Tech, The Culture, The Journey)

As a Bad Bunny fan and developer, I wanted to create something that celebrated El Conejo Malo's cultural impact while experimenting with interactive web experiences. The result? El Conejo's Cultura Juego — a drag-and-drop game that's equal parts tribute and technical challenge.

The Inspiration

Bad Bunny isn't just a reggaeton artist; he's a cultural phenomenon who's reshaped Latin music, fashion, and representation. I wanted to capture that energy in an interactive format that felt playful and engaging; something fans could enjoy while learning more about his impact.

The Technical Build

I built the game vibe coding — using html, css, and JavaScript with drag-and-drop functionality at its core. The challenge was making the interactions smooth and intuitive across different devices while keeping the design vibrant and true to Bad Bunny's aesthetic.

Key technical decisions included:

• Responsive drag-and-drop mechanics that work on both desktop and mobile

• Colorful, bold UI inspired by Bad Bunny's visual style

• Fast loading times to keep players engaged from the first interaction

The Learning Process: Why Failure Isn't an Option

One unique aspect of El Conejo's Cultura is its approach to mistakes—there aren't any. If you don't quite nail the gesture or miss a move, the game doesn't penalize you with a "game over" screen or force you to restart. Instead, it adapts and lets you try again.

Why this matters:

This design choice is intentional and rooted in cultural learning principles. Traditional art forms like puppetry aren't learned through rigid pass-fail systems—they're learned through practice, repetition, and gradual mastery. Master puppeteers don't scold apprentices for imperfect movements; they guide them toward improvement.

By removing failure states, the game creates a low-pressure learning environment where players can:

• Focus on the cultural experience rather than performance anxiety

• Experiment with gestures without fear of punishment

• Develop an intuitive understanding of the puppet's movements through repetition

• Stay immersed in the narrative without jarring interruptions

The technical side:

The game uses adaptive difficulty adjustment. If you're struggling with a particular gesture or timing, the system subtly loosens its requirements or provides additional visual cues. This keeps frustration low and engagement high—essential for maintaining the emotional connection that makes cultural learning effective.

Research supports this approach: studies show that cultural digital games with lower performance pressure and adaptive support systems enhance both emotional engagement and cultural understanding compared to rigid, punitive systems. The goal isn't to test you—it's to invite you into Bad Bunny's world and let you experience the art form at your own pace.

This forgiving design philosophy reflects a core value: cultural appreciation shouldn't feel like an exam. It should feel like play, exploration, and discovery—which is exactly what makes El Conejo's Cultura work.

The Creative Process

Designing around Bad Bunny's brand meant embracing maximalism: bright colors, bold typography, and an unapologetically fun vibe. Every element needed to feel like it belonged in Benito's world, from the color palette to the playful language.

What I Learned

Building El Conejo's Cultura taught me that the best projects combine passion with purpose. When you're creating something you genuinely care about, the technical challenges become puzzles to solve rather than obstacles.

Play the game above or here.

Quick Tips: Advanced Audition Editing

Background noise, reverb, and unwanted audio artifacts can ruin an otherwise perfect recording, but Adobe Audition offers a powerful suite of tools to rescue your audio. In my comprehensive tutorial video, I break down essential audio cleanup techniques, each explained in under 60 seconds.

You'll learn how to use the Denoise feature by capturing a clean noise print from silent sections of your audio, then applying precise reduction across your entire track. I also demonstrate the Spot Healing Brush for quickly removing clicks, pops, and other isolated imperfections with surgical precision. For recordings plagued by excessive room echo, I walk through the De-Reverb tool to restore clarity and presence. Additionally, I address noise reduction processing for complex audio scenarios that involve multiple types of unwanted sounds requiring careful attention.

Whether you're cleaning up podcast recordings, interview audio, voice-overs, or field recordings, this quick-hit tutorial provides practical workflows that deliver professional-sounding results without overwhelming you with information.

Watch the full video to see each technique in action and transform your noisy recordings into polished, broadcast-ready audio in minutes.

Addressing Fictional Challenges Through Real Instructional Design Solutions

For this Full Sail University Instructional Design and Technology project, creating a training video that addresses visitor engagement challenges at a fictional museum provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate core learning design principles in action. With museums seeing more than 850 million visitors per year in the US alone, technology has become critical in enhancing the visitor experience, making this a relevant and timely instructional challenge. The fictional scenario allows for creative problem-solving while applying evidence-based training methodologies to a realistic workplace situation. Video guides are particularly effective for instruction because they're visually clear and can demonstrate correct procedures and sequences, with 83% of people preferring to receive instructional content by video rather than text or image form. This project demonstrates how instructional designers can create compelling learning experiences that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, using QR code implementation as a vehicle to showcase multimedia instruction, performance support, and change management principles.

Showcasing Instructional Design Expertise Through Museum Technology Training

This Full Sail project presents an ideal canvas for demonstrating advanced instructional design competencies, from needs analysis through evaluation and implementation support. The fictional museum staff training video must incorporate key learning design elements while addressing realistic workplace challenges. The instructional content should cover how frontline staff can help visitors navigate QR code-enabled experiences, including troubleshooting technical issues and explaining the value of engaging with QR-linked content, demonstrating how effective workplace learning addresses both technical skills and soft skills development. The project can showcase how strategic instructional design can lead to measurable outcomes—proper QR code implementation can increase mobile guide conversion rates from 5% to 35%—while emphasizing learner-centered design principles. The training approach should model best practices by emphasizing that quality over quantity is key when curating content, focusing on delivering bite-sized, engaging, and high-quality instruction that aligns with clear learning objectives. By creating a comprehensive training solution for this fictional scenario, the project demonstrates mastery of instructional design theory, multimedia development skills, and the ability to create meaningful learning experiences that drive real organizational change.

Filmmaking for LXD

In this tutorial, I'll be demonstrating essential watercolor pencil techniques that can enhance your visual storytelling and design work as filmmakers. This video was created for my Full Sail University Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, specifically for the Filmmaking Principles in Instructional Design course. We'll cover the fundamentals of how these versatile tools work, from dry application to water activation, and explore how to achieve different textures and effects that are particularly useful for concept art, storyboarding, and pre-production visualization. By the end of this video, you'll have a solid foundation in watercolor pencil basics that you can apply to your own film projects.

Behind the Scenes: Building an Engaging e-Learning Module with Adobe Captivate

In this video, I walk through a demo of my Adobe Captivate project, "Your Pickleball Primer." This project was part of my Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology degree program at Full Sail University, specifically for my Visual and Verbal Communication in Instructional Design course. I'll be highlighting the interactive elements I incorporated, the navigation I designed, and how I leveraged different features within Captivate to create an engaging learning experience. This demo offers insights into my practical application of e-learning design principles.

Learning Through Authentic Example: The Power of Personal Model Training

“It feels more like learning alongside each other rather than being lectured to, and that collaborative spirit seems to stick with people long after the training ends. ”

— Emily Green

Above is my Rise interaction featuring the content I created for a recent project for my Corporate Training and Motivational Development course at Full Sail University.

During my master's program in Instructional Design and Technology at Full Sail University, I had the opportunity to develop and deliver training presentations that applied theory to practice. Through this experience, I discovered that the most effective way to connect with adult learners isn't through polished presentations or theoretical frameworks—it's by getting real about how I work. When I train manufacturing workers on new robotic interfaces or other technical skills, I don't position myself as the distant expert with all the answers. Instead, I share my genuine experience: the successful approaches I've developed, the mistakes I've made along the way, and the messy reality of learning something new. I walk participants through my actual thinking process out loud, showing them not just what to do, but how I figure out what to do when I'm uncertain.

This authentic approach creates something powerful in the training room. Participants become more engaged because they can see that professional expertise isn't about perfection—it's about having thoughtful processes and learning from experience. When someone asks a question, I don't just give them the textbook answer; I show them how I would actually approach that same problem in real life, complete with my reasoning and even my uncertainties. It feels more like learning alongside each other rather than being lectured to, and that collaborative spirit seems to stick with people long after the training ends. The result is learners who feel empowered to tackle challenges with confidence, knowing that stumbling and figuring things out is part of the process, not a sign of failure.

Learning Engagement Strategies

Transforming Learning: My Three-Week Journey

My three-week deep dive into "Strategies for Learner Engagement" transformed my home office into an experimental learning lab and revolutionized my approach to instructional design, progressing from exploring engagement-amplifying technologies like VR headsets and quality audio equipment in Week 1, to understanding the science behind sticky learning through theoretical frameworks like self-determination theory and project-based learning in Week 2, and finally embracing AI innovations that create personalized learning experiences in Week 3. This journey revealed that effective engagement isn't accidental but architecturally designed, and that AI doesn't replace human connection but amplifies it—ultimately equipping me with a richer toolkit to create learning experiences that don't just inform but truly inspire and transform.

Mastery Journal

This is a mastery jounral for my final MS IDT winter semester project at Full Sail University.

Select the button

Select the button to interact with the module.

Play Now

The Trust20 Food Handler UX and Visual Design update is now live!

I collaborated with Trust20 to revamp their extensively used course, Food Handler. The redesign aimed to enhance accessibility and improve the overall learning experience. Key changes include a more user-friendly interface, updated interactions and knowledge checks, improved accessibility features, and the inclusion of learning outcomes for each module.

Snapshot from the latest Trust20 Newsletter, The Shift.

Trust20 Food Show Course Demos Debut

I recently created functional demos of several Trust20 content pieces for interactive use during the upcoming Food Show season. Check out their Instagram post featuring their new booth and my demos!

Reverse Hot Spots in Rise

If you use Articulate Rise to develop content, you know that even though there are many ways to customize the authoring tool, it certainly has its limitations. I often use Java or light HTML to customize aspects of my files for clients. Here’s an example I really love: the “Reverse Hot Spot.”

I have learned a lot from Mighty Design’s tutorials and purchased a block from their customization packages. However, you can learn how to integrate customizations into the CSS of the Rise file and even change the "START COURSE" button in the published output with some simple code for free.

If nothing else, making simple tweaks like these makes developing with Rise as the tool of choice more enjoyable when a client requests it.

Photoshop Animations

Did you know you can use Photoshop to make animations for your next project?

I normally use Photoshop to edit images for my projects; however, this week, I learned that you can use the tool to create some decent animations.

My project this week at RISD involved using Photoshop to edit and animate three distinct files, including scale, rotation, and variations in hue, saturation, and brightness. Check out my work below.

“Put Your Best Foot Forward” " was featured on RISD’s Instagram page this week.

I See a Pattern

The Spring Semester Part A at RISD is about to end, and I am excited to share some of my patterns that I developed during the Digital Design Fundamentals course. Over the six-week session, we used PhotoShop, Illustrator, and InDesign to create our designs. In the upcoming Spring Semester Part B, we will explore different mediums used to create digital artwork.

Each pattern was created in Adobe Illustrator.

Behold, the Bezold

As I finish up my winter semester at RISD, I wanted to share some recent pattern designs I've created for larger projects as well as personal ones.

By far, my favorite design is one that demonstrates the Bezold effect.

What is the Bezold effect you ask?

Described by its namesake, Wilhelm von Bezold, the Bezold effect occurs when the hue of a color is altered in appearance by the presence of surrounding colors.

My Bezold designs created in Adobe Illustrator for RISD.

At first glance, one might assume these two designs employ different patterns. However, the two patterns employ identical color palettes and harmonies, the only difference being the application. This illusion inspired me to create a few other patterns in my free time to share with friends and Instagram for use in social wallpapers.

Enjoy a couple below.

Procreate Dreams

I have been illustrating in Procreate for years, often turning my work into small animations to bring specific designs to life.

In November 2023, Procreate introduced Procreate Dreams, a robust animation tool that seamlessly integrates with Procreate Illustrator.

I have been experimenting with this new app, and with some practice and tips, anyone can learn the necessary skills to approach animation in Procreate Dreams.

Exporting Procreate layers to Dreams tracks is now easier thanks to familiarity with Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. You can create your desired animations using keyframes, performance modes, and frame-by-frame animation.

Take a look at my illustration and the Dreams animation I made using it below.

I combined layers in Procreate to prep for the integration into Dreams.

Lovely Letters in Procreate

After a long and challenging week with design assignments for RISD, I needed to relax and creatively unwind. I created a custom brush in Procreate that mimicked candy and built colorful drop shadow block letters.

These members of the alphabet were made for family:

Creating Digital Brushes -Swatches

As a graphic design student at RISD, I am learning foundational art practices like line drawing, observational creation, perspective points, and how to work with digital tools. While I have been using Procreate and digital devices to create custom pieces in my professional and personal life for a while, I have never made brushes. This week, we were to create an array of custom brushes for Procreate and then develop swatch books. Here are my results:

Technique Trials in Procreate

I've been searching for illustration inspiration for an upcoming publication. Below are some of my favorite technique trials done in Procreate.

Midcentury ghost.

Papercut technique of wildflowers in a pitcher.