What sustained partnership looks like over time

THE SITUATION

Professor Roger Cole’s music history course was running with no teaching assistants, limited online delivery experience, and an enrollment that reflected those constraints. The course had an audience waiting for it — music history is a subject with genuine broad appeal — but the online experience wasn’t yet meeting that potential.

WHAT I DID

This one is less about a single intervention and more about what consistent, sustained collaboration makes possible. Over time, I worked with Professor Cole on course structure, gradebook configuration, media integration, and ongoing content updates within the LMS — staying engaged through the full development cycle rather than handing off after an initial build. As the course improved and enrollment grew, I continued to support updates and refinements, functioning as a long-term design partner rather than a one-time contractor.

WHAT CHANGED

Enrollment grew from approximately 80 students to over 420 students, with learners joining from around the world. That growth wasn’t accidental — it reflects what happens when online course design actually supports the instructor’s strengths and removes barriers for learners. It’s also a case study in what the instructional media designer role can be when it’s done as genuine collaboration rather than production support.