Andy Brooks
LET’S MAKE SOMETHING TOGETHER.
What kind of solution are you looking for?
Hi, my name is Andy.
I DESIGN MEANINGFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
As an experienced educator, content creator, and instructional designer, I've spent over a decade crafting comprehensive learning experiences for face-to-face, online, and hybrid courses. I can help you analyze diverse learner needs and employ pedagogical best practices to develop engaging curricula and materials. I utilize various Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Google Classroom, Canvas, Moodle, and Thinkific to create interactive virtual classrooms that match your organization’s mission and brand. I create immersive environments for active participation and real-world application using innovative solutions and asynchronous learning activities, fostering practical skills and confidence for both educators and their learners.
I began as a freelance graphic designer and filmmaker in high school, and I now bring over 15 years of experience as a teacher trainer and educational consultant working cross-culturally with schools and non-profits on every continent around the world. And I’m excited for this opportunity to work alongside you in solving real challenges that will improve the quality of your courses and help you chase after your goals and dreams.
M Y P O R T F O L I O
Here are a few samples of my work
CHALLENGE #1
Navigating the complexity of LMS platforms
Instructors with limited experience developing online courses can feel lost in the interfaces and technical jargon of Learning Management Systems (LMS). This complexity can hinder their ability to effectively create, manage, and deliver high-quality online courses. But how can their strengths inside the classroom shine through the computer screen?
THE SOLUTION:
An adaptive online course ecosystem
As the creator of Citizens TESOL, I am intimately familiar with the process of designing a high-quality online training program from the ground up. Our user-friendly learning platform seamlessly integrates engaging video content with interactive activities based on The Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework to foster critical thinking and collaboration. And students are given meaningful assignments that utilize Project-Based Learning principles and self-paced activities that can be adapted to suit any schedule or syllabus, including Blended and Flipped Classroom models of instruction.
The courses I create are built upon the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), ensuring accessibility and catering to diverse communities of learners. This empowers educators to navigate the online learning environment with confidence, while students enjoy a personalized and enriching learning experience that caters to their individual needs and preferences. And I can help you design and deliver this same kind of learner-centered online course with your organization’s preferred LMS — including Google Classroom, Thinkific, Canvas, Moodle, and more.
Other solutions to this challenge…
CHALLENGE #2
Needing a relevant curriculum, for a special kind of class
Traditional textbooks often focus on generic themes disconnected from the aspirations of students. Language learners crave a curriculum that sparks their passion for social good, not one that leaves them feeling stuck in a cycle of rote memorization, irrelevant topics, and unachievable outcomes. This lack of alignment between classroom learning and their ultimate goals demotivated learners and left them questioning the effectiveness of their studies.
THE SOLUTION:
A magazine-inspired series of course books
To address this challenge, I led a team of teachers who developed C&C Magazine — a series of 12 magazine issues for ESL learners interested in jobs within the humanitarian sector.
This curriculum’s content-based approach offers the visual appeal and engaging format of a magazine, making learning English feel less like a textbook chore and more like an inspiring exploration. Each unit focuses on a meaningful topic with real-world stories, creative projects, and communicative challenges, and it comes with a YouTube playlist for expanded audio and video learning opportunities.
CHALLENGE #3
Keeping students motivated and engaged
A group of teachers in our community faced a challenge with their online course. Students reported feeling disengaged and unmotivated, leading to high dropout rates. The platform lacked built-in gamification features, and none of the teachers had any coding experience.
THE SOLUTION:
A low-tech gamification strategy
I developed a series of low-tech and hilariously interactive gamification elements that teachers could easily integrate into their online courses without any coding knowledge. Now our teachers can gamify their entire course in 30 minutes or less.
Other solutions to this challenge…
CHALLENGE #4
Conquering complex tasks and assignments
At some point, everyone faces the complexities of a daunting task at work or a confusing assignment at school. For the teachers-in-training in one of our TESOL programs, the thing they struggled with the most was how to create effective lesson plans from scratch. This process required them to complete numerous steps, understand work-related jargon, utilize web-based tools, and follow specific assessment criteria. If they made a mistake, they might let down themselves and their students. Without a structured approach, the trainees felt lost, confused, and overwhelmed.
THE SOLUTION:
A video playlist for bite-sized learning
To address this challenge, I broke up the entire process into bite-sized chunks and created a comprehensive video playlist that walked the students through it step-by-step from start to finish. Each video focused on a specific step, using clear visuals, engaging explanations, and real-world examples to keep students motivated. After creating these videos, I developed several microlearning modules in our online course with instructions, samples, templates and interactive design challenges that further solidified understanding. This multi-pronged approach empowered students to tackle the assignment with confidence and creativity, resulting in lesson plans that consistently exceeded our performance benchmarks.
My background in videography allows me to create engaging and informative content like this. I can utilize clear visuals, engaging narration, and effective editing techniques to break down complex topics into easily digestible pieces. This experience makes me well-equipped to develop instructional materials that not only inform but also inspire and motivate learners.
Samples of videos
Explainer videos
Teaching a complicated topic doesn’t need to be boring. I like making videos that engage the student in the topic while explaining it clearly and meaningfully. And I like to have a little fun too.
Tutorial videos
Need to explain a complex multi-step process to someone? Let me turn on some nice background music and share my screen, and we can walk through it together.
Course trailers
One of the most important videos of any online course is the first video they see. A high-quality intro video can mean the difference between a course that sells and one that sits empty.
CHALLENGE #5
Launching a Brand with a cohesive ocean-inspired identity
A local men's clothing store was poised to launch, but lacked a cohesive brand identity. They envisioned a brand that evoked the feeling of the ocean and a classic wooden ship docked in a charming seaside village. However, translating this vision into a logo, website aesthetic, and marketing materials proved challenging.
THE SOLUTION:
A multifaceted design approach
Leveraging market research and the client's vision, I crafted a versatile logo and a cohesive brand experience across all platforms. The website and marketing materials incorporated evocative imagery reminiscent of charming seaside towns and classic ships, along with brand language that resonated with the target audience. To ensure consistency, I created comprehensive brand guidelines outlining the brand's visual identity, including color palette, typography, and image style. This multi-faceted approach allowed the brand to effectively communicate its ocean-inspired essence, leaving a lasting impression on customers and setting the stage for a successful launch.
CHALLENGE #6
Bridging the gap through culturally responsive pedagogy
A K-8 school in the Dominican Republic faced a complex challenge integrating a large number of Haitian refugees into their local Dominican classrooms. Traditional curriculum and teaching methods didn't address the language barriers, cultural differences, or potential trauma these students experienced. School administrators lacked confidence in their ability to support this diverse population, and teachers needed effective tools and a culturally relevant curriculum to bridge the learning gap.
THE SOLUTION:
Building confidence and capacity through tailored support
Two things were at the heart of my approach when working with this school: Empowering the teachers in the classrooms, and fostering confidence at the administrative level. Through online consultations with administrators and their staff, I assessed their program’s needs and provided a roadmap for success. I offered engaging training sessions and one-on-one support that equipped teachers with research-based strategies, culturally sensitive methods, and curriculum options that were tailored to their students.
Through online conferencing, I delivered personalized feedback based on research and experience. These consultations covered curriculum development, culturally sensitive pedagogy, and program evaluation using established benchmarks like the Quality Matters Rubric. This empowered teachers with new skills and resources and instilled assurance in their administrators. The end result was the confidence to choose culturally responsive resources and the knowledge to create a supportive learning environment for their refugee students.
Andy Brooks
I design meaningful learning experiences and products,
and I’d love to help you on your next project.
LET’S MAKE SOMETHING TOGETHER.