Instructional Designer · Saskatoon, SK Open for freelance

I design learning that people actually finish.

I turn dense, in person processes into self paced courses people complete on their own terms, using action mapping, branching logic, and a good storyboard to cut out anything that doesn't earn its place.

See the work Get in touch

Knowledge extension Brand consistency Process standardization

The path so far

From the retail floor to learning design

2010 – 2015

Store Manager

Danier Leather, Saskatoon

Ran a $1M location and a team of up to 12, which is where I first learned that most performance problems are actually training problems in disguise.

2015 – 2017

Assistant General Manager

GAP, Saskatoon

Led a team of 20 to 25 across operations, merchandising, and talent development, coaching Assistant Managers and Leads toward a stronger bench.

2017 – 2021

Training & Knowledge Lead

Vibe HCM, Saskatoon

Built the eLearning curriculum for an HCM product, cutting client implementation time and support volume, and led the team behind Client Connect, a client facing knowledge base.

2022 – 2023

Customer Champion

Thinkific, Vancouver

Built an eLearning course that moved the support team's one touch resolution rate from 76% to 84%, while managing training for a 500,000 account deletion project.

2023 – Present

Learning Specialist, Design

Federated Co-operatives Ltd., Saskatoon

Design and build learning in Articulate Storyline, Rise, Camtasia, and Vyond, using action mapping and storyboarding to keep every course tied to a real business outcome.

Right now I'm helping FCL move from a centralized to a decentralized learning model, deciding case by case whether a project needs full instructional design support or a lighter, consultative touch. I also mentor newer team members through their trickiest projects, which is the part of the job that's pulling me toward people leadership.

Case studies

Three learning problems, three different fixes

Module 01 · Knowledge extension

Understanding the Co-operative Retailing System

Problem

Orientation gives new employees the basics of the Co-op system, but there was no clear next step for anyone who wanted to actually understand how it works and how it connects to FCL.

Approach

Designed a self paced elearning course that builds on orientation instead of repeating it, going deeper into the Co-operative Retailing System, FCL, and how the two connect.

Result

Now available across the Co-operative Retailing System's 150+ local Co-ops nationwide, for anyone ready to go beyond the basics.

Live

Module 02 · Brand consistency

Co-operative Coffee: a five module branching series

Problem

Coffee quality and service varied from one Co-op C-Store to the next, which put brand integrity and the customer experience at risk across the CRS.

Approach

Built a five module series covering product knowledge, cleaning and maintenance, brewing and serving both hot and iced coffee, and how to promote coffee day to day without turning staff into baristas or pushy sales people. JavaScript variable driven branching adjusted navigation and content per store, so a location without iced coffee moved through the course without hitting modules that didn't apply.

Result

A consistent coffee experience at every Co-op C-Store, with no interruptions from irrelevant content and no separate course version to build or maintain.

Live

Module 03 · Process standardization

Waste Management & Recycling course

Problem

Office and distribution centre sites were getting inconsistent audit results because there was no shared standard for how waste was handled.

Approach

Designed a course that standardizes the process across site types, built to bring every location up to the same sustainability and compliance bar.

Result

Currently in final testing ahead of a company wide launch.

In final testing

Also worth knowing

At Thinkific, an eLearning course I built moved the support team's one touch resolution rate from 76% to 84%. Measurable, and it stuck.

Also worth knowing

At Vibe HCM, the eLearning curriculum I designed for the core HCM product cut client implementation time by 2 to 4 weeks on average. Fewer support tickets, faster time to value.

Sample work

A couple of training videos

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Attire

A short workplace safety module walking through required PPE, including safety glasses, hard hats, and steel toed boots.

Watch on Google Drive →

Product Walkthrough Sample

A screen capture style training video covering setup and login, navigating the app, working with actions, and using favorites.

Watch on Google Drive →

These play through Google Drive rather than loading in page, since full quality video files get heavy fast. Ask if you'd like more samples.

Toolkit

What I build with

Instructional Design & Tools

Instructional Design Curriculum Development Action Mapping Storyboarding In-Person Instruction Online Instruction Skill Assessment Articulate Storyline Articulate Rise Captivate Camtasia Vyond HTML CSS

Platforms & Software

Microsoft Office Google Workspace Salesforce Zendesk Thinkific Canva Guru Jira Zoom Webex Zapier

Leadership & Interpersonal

Talent Management Employee Engagement Employee Relations Employee Wellness Corporate Culture Communication Learning & Motivation Customer Service

Recent professional development

Inspire Leadership Program, Federated Co-operatives Ltd. (2026)
Leadership: The Essential Competencies, ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership (2026)
Become an Instructional Designer, learning path, LinkedIn Learning
Organizational Learning and Development, LinkedIn Learning
HTML Essential Training & Introduction to CSS, LinkedIn Learning
Gender & Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace, University of Pittsburgh

Get in touch

Have a training problem worth solving? Let's map it out.

Currently open to freelance and contract instructional design work, alongside full time opportunities.

Email Send me a note

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/alixandergw

Based in Saskatoon, SK, Canada