Presentation Lab

Researched evidence-based presentation design principles

Synthesized established design theory — including contrast, alignment, repetition, proximity, and whitespace — into 10 research-backed strategies accessible to middle school students.

Identified age-appropriate entry points for the content

Selected relatable, low-stakes topics (ideal snow day, favorite book, a day in my life) to lower the barrier to practice while keeping the focus on design skills.

Designed a full lesson arc with scaffolded activities

Structured the lesson using an opener, concept review, concrete practice, peer sharing, and a reflection — drawing on best practices in instructional design for middle grades.

Created student-facing handouts to support learning

Developed three handouts — a Fast Pass connection activity, the Fab Four concept review, and a Learning Log reflection — to reinforce content at each stage of the lesson.

Curated free tools and resources for students

Identified and vetted external resources (Freepik, Unsplash, Coolors) for students to access high-quality images and color palettes — tools professionals actually use.

Built in a structured peer feedback component

Designed a partner sharing protocol with specific feedback criteria — slide design, use of visuals, and technical features — to encourage critical thinking and collaborative learning.

Instructional design for a teacher audience

Created a lesson plan written for teachers to deliver — including time cues, speaker notes, discussion prompts, and facilitation guidance — demonstrating the ability to design for an intermediary audience.

Translating research into accessible classroom content

Converted design theory principles (contrast, alignment, proximity, etc.) into student-friendly language and a concrete 10-strategy framework that middle schoolers could immediately apply.

Digital presentation design

Modeled the very skills being taught by building a polished, well-structured slide deck using Google Slides — demonstrating contrast, clean layout, and minimal text throughout.

Curriculum and materials development

Produced a complete set of classroom-ready materials — lesson plan, student handouts, and a slide deck — that could be picked up and delivered by any teacher without additional preparation.

Structured student engagement strategies

Used the Fast Pass / Fab Four format to activate prior knowledge, build buy-in, and help students self-identify their learning priorities — a research-informed approach to student engagement.

Designing for peer learning and feedback

Embedded structured peer feedback into the lesson, giving students practice both presenting and receiving constructive critique — skills that extend well beyond the classroom.