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.
The pilot tools demonstrated the potential of integrating contextual data into decision-making processes. Faculty gained clearer insights into student challenges, enabling more targeted support, while the groundwork was laid for a system that could adapt learning experiences in real-time based on individual student contexts.
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.
