Turning a static FAQ into a functional program platform
THE SITUATION
The Keep Learning site began as a basic FAQ resource — useful during the COVID pivot to online instruction, but not built to serve as a lasting platform for CAPE’s professional development and continuing education offerings. It lacked current University of Idaho branding, a coherent visual system, and the structural features learners needed to find and register for courses.
WHAT I DID
I led the frontend redesign of the platform, applying CSS and HTML within the Modern Campus CMS to bring the site into alignment with current UI branding while also building out the functionality that had been missing. That included implementing a filterable course listing — a seemingly simple feature that required rethinking how the site was structured — and developing proof-of-concept explorations for how the platform could evolve to better serve program marketing and learner information needs. The work was done within the constraints of an enterprise CMS, which meant creative problem-solving rather than building from scratch.
WHAT CHANGED
The site moved from a temporary resource to a functional program home. Learners clicking “Courses” now see an actual course list they can filter and act on, rather than landing on an empty search page. The updated branding brought the site in line with institutional standards and improved the professional credibility of the programs it represents.
BEFORE: website served purely as an FAQ.
AFTER: integrates Modern Campus platform with current University of Idaho branding.
Proof of Concept
REQUIREMENTS: Improve frontend user experience of purchasing course products, making courses easier to find with a powerful filterable search feature, integrate with any course registration system, allow for department level branding and product scope, easy end-user content creation, importable products, and securely avoiding PII user data collection, while still presenting dynamically personalized content based on user interactive with the site over time.
SOLUTION 1: Custom frontend design hosted on the Keep Learning Modern Campus PV platform. No additional cost, little time in learning new system. Search engine is still sub-standard, and most of the site is still not departmentally personalized
COST: $0
TIME: 3-4 days
SOLUTION 2: WordPress frontend built using WooCommerce plugins with customized OceanWP child theme, If-So personalization plugin, manually developed catalog mode with Modern Campus cart integration, and theme customization all of which leans on the tremendous power inherent in WooCommerce filterable product search engine.
COST: $400
TIME: 1 week
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