‍Client: Conceptual project for eSafety Commissioner.
Project: Online course design for parents of teenagers, aimed at improving online safety awareness.

Role: Instructional Designer and UX Designer

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The Challenge

Parents of teenagers often feel unprepared to guide their children through the complexities of online safety. With teens regularly using platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, parents need accessible tools to understand these technologies and protect their children effectively.

The challenge was to design a comprehensive, user-friendly online course that would educate parents on modern online safety issues while providing practical, actionable guidance.

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The Solution

I designed a conceptual online safety course for the eSafety Commissioner, specifically targeting parents of teens.

This modular course was designed to be engaging, self-paced, and accessible across devices, empowering parents to support their teens’ online safety confidently.

The course focuses on:

Simplified Learning Modules: Explained online risks and privacy issues clearly.

Interactive Tutorials: Simulated real-world app actions like adjusting Snapchat privacy settings.

Scenario-Based Learning: Engaged users with realistic problem-solving exercises.

Research

To inform the design, I conducted research on:

Parent Needs: Identified a gap in easy-to-use resources that explain teen-specific challenges like cyberbullying, privacy settings, and digital footprints.

Popular Platforms: Analyzed apps frequently used by teens, including TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, to ensure relevance.

E-learning Best Practices: Studied effective instructional design principles and accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

This research shaped the course’s content, tone, and interactive design.

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Key Screens

Understanding Online Safety for Teens

This module introduced parents to the challenges teens face online, featuring clear, actionable steps for fostering safe digital habits. Parents learned about common online risks, such as cyberbullying, privacy violations, and digital footprints. The design prioritized clarity and simplicity, ensuring users could easily digest the key concepts and feel empowered to take action in real-world scenarios.

Snapchat Privacy Settings Tutorial

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Parents practiced navigating a simulated Snapchat interface, adjusting privacy settings to secure their teen’s account. The interactive tutorial was designed to provide hands-on experience, guiding users through each step of customizing privacy controls to protect personal data. It was crafted to mirror real-world app interactions, making the process feel natural and intuitive.

Cyberbullying Scenario - Jamie's Story

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This scenario-based activity guided parents through addressing a cyberbullying incident. Parents followed the story of a teen, Jamie, who faces online harassment. They were prompted to make decisions on how to approach the situation, emphasizing communication, support, and reporting tools. The scenario aimed to help parents build confidence in managing sensitive situations and to equip them with the right responses for protecting their teen’s mental well-being.

Process

1. Content Design

The course was divided into three core learning modules, each addressing a critical aspect of online safety for parents of teens:

Understanding Online Safety for Teens:
Introduced the fundamentals of online risks, privacy concerns, and teen behavior in digital spaces.

Interactive Platform Tutorials:
Walked parents through step-by-step privacy settings and safety tools on Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, using simulated interfaces.

Scenario-Based Activities:
Engaged parents in role-playing exercises to practice identifying and addressing issues like cyberbullying and phishing.

2. Prototyping

Using Figma, I developed high-fidelity mockups for the course:

Interactive Screens: Designed detailed activities for privacy setting walkthroughs and scenario simulations.

Feedback Loops: Built-in feedback mechanisms provided immediate insights on user choices to enhance understanding.

3. Accessibility & Visual Design

To ensure the course was inclusive and easy to use, I incorporated:

Clear, legible typography and high-contrast colors.

WCAG-compliant layouts and features like alt-text, captions, and transcripts.

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Results

While conceptual, the final deliverable featured:

High-Fidelity Designs: Mockups of all key e-learning activities, including tutorials and scenarios.

Practical Focus: Realistic applications for online safety concepts, specifically tailored to parents of teens.

Inclusive Interface: Accessible design that accommodates a diverse range of users.

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Reflection

While conceptual, the course design demonstrated practical applications for online safety and emphasized usability, accessibility, and engagement.

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