We built personalization around what truly affects learner follow-through—like sensory load and executive function—not just clicks and completion data. The work shaped how we design support across a platform serving 200K+ learners.
The sensory processing category of the Guiding Empowerment Model (GEM).
Traditional engagement data doesn’t explain why students fall behind. Our peer-reviewed Guiding Empowerment Model (GEM) helped us see what’s usually overlooked: energy levels, environmental distractions, executive function, time pressure, sensory load. These barriers don’t show up in dashboards—but they shape every interaction.
I led the application of GEM across product strategy, UX research, and design—ensuring personalization reflected real student context, not just preference-matching or performance data.
I worked with cross-functional partners to bring GEM into practice. We used it to frame research questions, prioritize features, and design interventions across a range of support tools and strategies.
This work shaped our AI-powered support system, planning and scheduling features, mobile design priorities, and even institutional decision-making tools—each one grounded in the lived experience of our learners.
