Kirsten Alburg · Learning Experience Designer
Learning Experience Designer | M.S. Instructional Design and Technology | Higher Education & Science Communication
Turning complex information into clear, engaging learning experiences.
Learning Experience Designer specializing in transforming complex information into clear, engaging learning experiences — with a unique background in science communication, higher education, and field-based learning.
28+
Years designing learning
7
Learning design projects
8
Interactive demonstrations
Remote
Michigan, USA — available now
Hello, I'm Kirsten
Learning begins with understanding the person behind the process.
Throughout my career, I have focused on one question: How do we help people understand complex information and apply what they learn? Whether working with students, educators, faculty, scientists, or professional teams, my work has centered on creating learning experiences that are clear, meaningful, and useful.
I use The Clarity Learning Framework™ to move from complexity to clarity: understanding the learner, defining the outcome, and designing experiences that help people understand and apply what they learn. Technology — including AI — supports that work, but the design remains human-centered.
More about my storyAreas of expertise
Three areas where I bring the most value.
The through-line across every one of them is the same: understand the learner, then make the complicated thing clear.
Learning Experience Design
Designing learner-centered experiences that improve understanding, engagement, and application.
- Instructional design
- Needs analysis
- Learner analysis
- SME collaboration
- Adult learning principles
- Learning objectives
- Assessment design
- Digital learning experiences
- Curriculum development
- Scenario-based learning
- Storyboarding
- ADDIE
- Backward design
- Bloom's Taxonomy
- Performance-based learning
- Formative and summative assessment
- Learning evaluation
Science & Knowledge Communication
Designing learning experiences that help people understand complex information.
- Scientific communication
- Conservation learning
- Environmental education
- Research translation
- Knowledge translation
- Field-based learning
- Public engagement
Digital Learning & Technology
Using technology thoughtfully to create accessible and engaging learning experiences.
- Moodle LMS
- Canvas LMS (training)
- Articulate 360 (Storyline & Rise)
- Online learning design
- Learning technology integration
- AI-assisted learning design workflows
- Digital learning tools
- Accessibility-aware learning design
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Inclusive learning practices
My design approach
The Clarity Learning Framework™
A human-centered approach to transforming complex information into meaningful learning experiences. Five steps — Understand, Clarify, Design, Engage, Improve — and not one of them is about technology.
Explore my approach01
Understand
02
Clarify
03
Design
04
Engage
05
Improve
Featured work
Five projects, five different kinds of complexity.
Real-world science, a landscape, a first week on the job, research nobody understood, a course library that stopped working. Same problem underneath every time.
Signature learning experience design
Odyssey Discovery: Real-World Learning Design
A learning experience platform connecting educators with scientists, researchers, and field experts — designed as repeatable programs, not one-off events. Field Notes: Explorer and Educator Expeditions turn active research into clear, applicable learning.
Science & knowledge communication
Science Communication: Turning Research Into Understanding
Helping researchers and technical experts be understood without being diminished — audience analysis, message hierarchy, and rehearsed question handling, practiced on their own work.
Conservation & environmental education
Conservation Learning Experience
A place-anchored learning experience for a conservation site: field orientation, interpretive moments tied to one behavior each, and volunteer steward training.
Corporate & workplace learning
Employee Onboarding Experience
A guided first-week experience: an explorable workplace, culture taught as decisions, branching scenarios, and a final check for understanding.
Analysis & improvement
Online Learning Experience Redesign
A five-lens audit of a course library nobody finished — learner journey, structure, engagement, assessment alignment, accessibility — with a prioritized remediation plan.
Real-world learning design in action
Odyssey Discovery
Kirsten founded Odyssey Discovery to connect educators with scientists, researchers, and field experts through meaningful learning experiences.
Through programs such as Field Notes: Explorer and Educator Expeditions, Kirsten designs learning experiences that transform complex scientific information into clear, engaging opportunities for understanding and application.
Explore Odyssey Discovery
Science & conservation learning
Complex research has the greatest impact when it can be understood, communicated, and applied beyond the people who conducted it.
Kirsten brings a unique background in science education, field-based learning, and instructional design to help organizations communicate complex research, conservation challenges, and scientific concepts through meaningful learning experiences.
That work fits conservation organizations, national and state parks, science organizations, NGOs, research institutions, museums, and universities — anywhere the knowledge is sound and the understanding is not yet there.
Interactive learning demonstrations
A secondary library of experiences you can actually take.
Original demonstrations built to show design thinking — branching scenarios, feedback, assessment, and accessibility decisions you experience directly rather than read about.
- Conservation & environmental educationConservation Learning ExperiencePlace-based stewardship training for visitors, volunteers, and seasonal staffTake the course
- Workforce DevelopmentAI Workplace EssentialsPractical, responsible AI use for everyday knowledge workTake the course
- Corporate L&DEmployee Onboarding ExperienceA guided first-week experience for new corporate hiresTake the course
- Science & Technical CommunicationScience Communication TrainingTurning complex ideas into understandingTake the course
- Customer EducationCustomer Product TrainingProduct onboarding and certification for software customersTake the course
- Faculty & SME DevelopmentDesigning Better Online LearningKirsten's signature course for faculty, trainers, and subject matter expertsTake the course
- Leadership & Manager EnablementLeadership ConversationsScenario practice for the conversations managers avoidTake the course
- ComplianceHealthcare Privacy & Compliance TrainingMicrolearning for staff who handle patient informationTake the course
- AI EnablementAI Productivity ToolkitShort lessons and practice for putting AI into everyday workTake the course
One tool among many
AI-Enhanced Learning Design
AI is a tool that supports Kirsten's instructional design process by helping accelerate research, brainstorming, prototyping, content organization, and workflow improvement. Human understanding, instructional strategy, and learner needs remain at the center of every design decision.
How AI fits into the processLearning design partnerships
For organizations
Kirsten works with organizations to transform complex information into meaningful learning experiences — learning experience design, science and knowledge communication, and course design and improvement.
Partner with meAvailable for work
Open to full-time, contract, and consulting learning design engagements.
Remote from Michigan, working with corporate L&D teams, science and conservation organizations, higher education, and nonprofits.