AARP

Responsibilities:

Tools Used:

Overview

This project, created in collaboration with AARP, aimed to educate users on how misinformation spreads across the internet, particularly on social media, and how to recognize and mitigate its effects. The course, designed to accompany an AARP webinar, utilized a mix of motion graphic videos, interactive e-learning content, and supplemental materials to drive home the key messages about the dangers of misinformation.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate how misinformation can quickly spread online, even through seemingly innocent posts.
• Educate learners on recognizing red flags that signal false or misleading information.
• Provide real-world examples of how misinformation has perpetuated myths and shaped public perception.
• Equip learners with the skills to stop the spread of misinformation by verifying sources before sharing content.

With a focus on real-world scenarios, the course used a blend of educational tools to highlight how fast misinformation can spread and the damage it can cause. The instructional design focused on creating relatable, tangible examples that resonate with the target audience. We utilized motion graphics and interactive elements to ensure that the learning experience was not only informative but also engaging.

Initially, I experimented with different color schemes and styles that deviated from AARP's established branding to create a fresh and modern look. However, after several rounds of feedback with the client, I ended up incorporating AARP's signature red into the design, aligning the course with the brand while maintaining a distinctive visual approach.

The client ultimately favored clean and bold layouts that kept the course visually appealing and accessible. Once the look and feel were approved, I applied the design style across all modules to maintain consistency.

As script development was underway, I began designing interactive prototypes for each lesson. These prototypes were crafted to demonstrate how learners would interact with the content and to ensure that the instructional goals were clearly communicated.

Each prototype underwent a review process with both the client and internal team, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and engagement before moving into the final design phase.

The course was broken into interactive modules, each illustrating how misinformation spreads and how it can be identified. We crafted scenarios that allowed learners to interact with content in simulated 'real-time', giving them a chance to spot misinformation as it would appear in social media posts or articles.

The motion graphics reinforced these lessons, using animated sequences to show how a single post could spiral out of control, reach a large audience, and perpetuate false information. Each element was designed to keep learners engaged while delivering impactful, relatable messages.

The review process for this course was highly collaborative, with frequent feedback sessions that allowed me to make adjustments quickly and efficiently. The alignment between the look and feel, prototypes, and final interactive elements meant that developers had everything they needed to bring the course to life with minimal delays.

• Iterative Feedback: Thanks to the client's involvement in early design decisions, the feedback process was smooth and streamlined. Most feedback sessions involved minor tweaks to interactions or visuals, allowing the project to stay on schedule.
• Stakeholder Sign-Off: The early buy-in from stakeholders on key design elements, such as color schemes, interactive prototypes, and overall flow, contributed to a quicker development cycle. This approach ensured that both the instructional goals and the visual elements aligned closely with the client's vision.

Problem

In response to the growing problem of fake and misleading imagery online, I designed and developed a key component for this e-learning course aimed at helping learners verify questionable images by using reverse image search techniques. The video is a practical, scenario-based lesson that walks learners through how to trace an image to its original source, fostering critical thinking and fact-checking skills in digital media consumption.

Learning Objectives

• Equip learners with the skills to identify and assess the credibility of online images.
• Teach reverse image search tools to verify the authenticity of questionable imagery.
• Enable learners to critically evaluate the origins of images to combat misinformation.

The video is structured in three progressive phases—Recognition, Response, and Self-Editing. This was done to promote a clear and methodical approach. Using a fictional but realistic scenario, learners are introduced to a suspicious image and guided through the steps needed to verify its legitimacy.

• Recognition: Learners are taught how to identify red flags that suggest an image may be misleading or fake.
• Response: They are then shown how to use reverse image search tools to trace the image back to its original source, with a live demonstration using a fictional image.
• Self-Editing: Learners practice what they've learned by reviewing their responses and improving their fact-checking techniques.

To enhance engagement and realism, the scenario mirrors a common online interaction, incorporating a social media post where questionable images often circulate. This approach creates a more relatable and immersive experience for the learner.

I presented the images on the left for the look and feel of the video. These reflected the design of the overall course closely. The client chose the bottom image on the left. Once the script was locked in and the voiceover recorded, I began the work of producing the final video.

A visually compelling and user-friendly instructional video, seamlessly integrated into the larger e-learning course. The video not only provides a how-to guide on reverse image searching but also emphasizes the importance of critically assessing online content and being proactive in debunking fake imagery.

The client was deeply invested in ensuring the course content was clear, engaging, and aligned with their instructional goals. As a result:

• The course received high praise from both AARP stakeholders and learners, who found the lessons relatable and the interactions intuitive.
• The client appreciated how closely the visual and instructional elements aligned with their brand and objectives, leading to further collaboration on additional projects.
• The final product successfully educated learners on the dangers of misinformation, helping them develop critical thinking skills to navigate social media with greater awareness.