Mary Peabody

Clarity through thoughtful design

I’m an instructional designer, educator, and community builder who specializes in:

bringing clarity to complexity
zooming in to refine a learning experience
zooming out to align big-picture strategy
approaching each project with a unique lens—shaped by context, empathy, and building relationships

My work spans classrooms, workshops, online learning environments, and creative communities, all connected by a single thread: the power of perspective to illuminate meaningful change.

See my spectrum of work: (see the tabs below for a few examples of recent work)

Instructional Design

I work with subject matter experts to design learning experiences that bring focus and structure to complex content—shaping moments of clarity and connection that help learners meet their goals.

Please see an example of a recent project below

Design of a Graduate-Level Financial & Managerial Accounting Course

Overview: We combined two 16-week accounting courses into one 8-week course, while also moving it from an in-person to asynchronous online format. We maintained the integrity of all learning objectives while also contextualizing assignments in a 5-week multimedia case study, developing 16 skill-building assignments that provided immediate & individualized feedback, and successfully supported students with varying levels of previous experience in the field.

My role on the team: I functioned as the primary learning experience designer & project manager for a team that included a subject matter expert, program lead, and three multimedia specialists.

Tools Used: D2L Brightspace (LMS), Dropbox, Miro, Webex, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, MS Teams, Adobe Illustrator & Acrobat

Goals & Challenges

Changing modality from in-person to online asynchronous
Repackaging 32 weeks of content into 8 weeks
Planning for students with varied knowledge and skills in accounting
Giving timely and meaningful feedback to 60 students
Delivering within program template constraints in the LMS

Achieved by

Strategic chunking and scaffolding of skills both within modules and between modules
Balancing a mix of auto-graded and instructor-graded assignments to make sure feedback was both timely and meaningful
Giving students a chance to see accounting principles and skills in context by aligning assignments with a 5-week multimedia case study
Supporting students with less background in the field by developing thorough introductory material to each topic.

Outcomes

Referrals from the SME to work with other faculty and programs
Overwhelmingly positive feedback from students, including comments that asked for “more courses with this structure and style” and remarked that this course made them “excited to learn more”.
96% of students reached course objectives, including students with little-to-no background in the subject

In retrospect

Strategic file and version management was key to delivering on-time and accurate material between 5 project contributors
Students greatly benefited from thoughtfully chunked course material, freedom to work at their own pace, immediate feedback on skills-based assignments, and engaging with material in context

Workshop Facilitation

I lead interactive workshops that illuminate ideas, foster reflection, and spark collaborative insight. My facilitation helps people pause, refocus, and engage with purpose.

Please see an example of a recent project below

Research and Workshop to Assess and Develop a 2-year Master’s Program

Overview: After conducting interviews and organizing insights, I designed and facilitated a hybrid workshop that led program leaders to develop innovative solutions for problems in enrollment and student & faculty satisfaction.

My role on the team: I served as learning experience researcher & workshop facilitator, working with the program advisor, program academic director, the chair of the school, and several faculty members.

Tools Used: Miro, Canva, Canvas (LMS), Figma, Zoom, TheyDo, Google Drive, MS OneDrive, MS Teams, Adobe Illustrator & Acrobat

Goals & Challenges

To complete an interval assessment of program practices to increase enrollment and satisfaction
To gain valuable insights from students about their experience in the program and how well it served their professional and academic goals
The social research required IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval and collaboration with a faculty primary investigator

Achieved by

Aligning insights from 23 interviews to the program’s strategic goals and and students’ 5-semester experience
Creating and implementing an interactive hybrid workshop that enabled participation from program leaders across the state
Strategically leveraging multiple platforms for design, collaboration, and communication

Outcomes

Based on workshop insights, program leaders developed an innovative student orientation process, which was later highlighted at a national education conference
Program leaders and faculty developed an improved understanding of student journeys and pain points, leading to more effective communication and problem-solving

In retrospect

Using a variety of journey maps, ecosystem diagrams, and other visual techniques to present research insights was a highly effective way to quickly communicate complex ideas
Breaking the workshop into 2 sessions would have allowed participants more time consider findings and collaborate on solutions

Event Engagement & Interaction

I create strategic engagement plans that add energy and connection to events—turning scattered moments into a cohesive experience. I aim to shine a spotlight on meaningful participation.

Please see an example of a recent project below

Increasing Attendee Participation and Outcomes at a Statewide Conference

Overview: We developed a 2-day narrative-driven conference experience that increased attendee engagement with peers, events, vendors, and giving session feedback. It included a digital platform for engagement, which automatically tracked scores and kept a live leaderboard. It allowed the 450+ participants to easily engage (and earn points!) in a variety of activities using their cell phones. Attendees benefited by connecting, reflecting, and winning prizes, while conference organizers gained over 2,000 data points of feedback and insights.

My role on the team: I conceptualized and created the digital platform that enabled large scale participation and data collection during the event. I worked with five colleagues from two other universities who developed the narrative, multimedia, and logistical components.

Tools Used: Google Sheets, Google Forms, Google Drive, MS Teams, Adobe Illustrator

Goals & Challenges

To increase attendee interaction with both their peer and session content
To increase attendance at conference social events, vendor booths, and closing sessions
To collect feedback on attendee outcomes, interests, and satisfaction
We worked with a near-zero budget for materials and supplies

Achieved by

Developing a narrative, multimedia, and activities that provided a motivation for attendee participation
Creating a mobile platform for attendees to engage during the event- including multiple avenues for participation during and after sessions, a real-time leaderboard, a raffle system, and ways to retrieve and analyze collected insights.

Outcomes

An 80% participation rate from conference attendees, which resulted in the collection of over 2,000 data points of feedback and insights that will guide future conferences
Overwhelmingly positive feedback from the conference head and attendees, as well as an invitation to return again the following year

In retrospect

Clear instructions and the appropriate amount of guidance are key to creating activities that are challenging, but not frustrating
The scoring mechanics and experience could be improved by implementing a weighted point structure for different types of participation and a limit for certain types of participation

back to project tabs

About me

At the heart of my work are two simple goals: make complex things clearer and make learning more enjoyable.

With over 15 years in education, including 8 years in curriculum design and leadership, I’ve built a career around helping others grow. I specialize in crafting learning experiences that are intuitive, engaging, and impactful—whether for college students, adult learners, or professional teams.

My strengths lie in asking the right questions & being a whole-hearted listener, building lasting & transformative relationships with stakeholders and SMEs, and designing solutions that connect learners with what they need—clearly, efficiently, and creatively. I bring both big-picture strategy and detailed design thinking to my work, always keeping the learner’s experience at the center.

I’m a strong collaborator, an optimist by nature, and someone who thrives in environments that invite curiosity and innovative problem-solving.

Outside of work, I help lead a non-profit 501(c)(3) makerspace—organizing community events, supporting member growth, and shaping the organization's partnerships. This role gives me the opportunity to drive community initiatives around two of my biggest passions: fostering creativity & bringing people together around shared goals.

Contact me

Looking to create engagement, enjoyment, and clarity in your learning experiences? I'd love to chat!

I'm open to short- or long-term consulting, as well as design opportunities for courses, workshops, and events. I also have expertise in curriculum and assessment design, school accreditation, and teacher training. Use the contact form to get in touch- I look forward to hearing from you!

Resume (See my resume below or download it here)

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Mary Peabody

See my spectrum of work: (see the tabs below for a few examples of recent work)

Instructional Design

About me

Contact me

Get in touch

Resume (See my resume below or download it here)

Thank you for visiting. Click below to return to any of the previous sections.