VEX 123 — Early Years Coding Adventure 

Context & Business Need: To introduce foundational STEM and computer science concepts to early learners (K-2), I designed a vibrant microlearning video that simplifies robotics. The goal was to demonstrate that coding is accessible, play-based, and achievable without a screen.

Audience & Constraints: The target audience is young students (ages 5-8) and educators in classroom settings. The primary constraint was distilling three distinct interaction methods—Touch, Coder Cards, and Grid movement—into a high-energy, 90-second format that maintains a child’s attention while delivering clear instructional value.

Your Role & Contribution: I served as the Lead Instructional Designer and Scriptwriter. I developed the narrative structure, choosing to frame technical hardware features as "puzzle pieces" and "adventures" to foster a growth mindset and reduce "tech-intimidation."

Process Artifacts:

• Bimodal Storyboard: A detailed production plan coordinating "bouncy" animations with a simplified voiceover script.

• Instructional Scaffolding: Designed a progression that starts with simple button presses and moves to complex grid-based logic.

• Micro-Scripts: Concise, encouraging dialogue focused on the "1 Move = 1 Square" rule and the "Debugging" process.

Tools Used:

• Storyboarding: Microsoft Word for shot-by-shot visual and audio alignment.

• Production Management: Visual direction for colorful character design and classroom settings to ensure a relatable learner experience.

Results & Impact: The video effectively reframes "mistakes" as a positive "Debugging" phase of the learning cycle. By visualizing collaboration and problem-solving, the asset prepares students to move from passive viewers to active creators within a robotics lab environment.

Reflections & Iterations: To maximize the "micro" nature of the content, I iterated on the script to remove jargon, replacing it with descriptive verbs (e.g., "wiggle," "spin," "code"). For future iterations, I would include a "pause and practice" prompt to turn the video into a blended learning activity.