Not The Usual Gap Year
Brief
This playful, personal project let me explore how learning design tools could be applied to a non-education topic I know first-hand: backpacking in Australia. It was a chance to design through a storyboard and then develop using new authoring tools. For this project, I took on the role of SME, designer, and developer. The target audience was a niche group of more mature backpackers — those stuck in a rut, unsure if they’d left it too late to take a ‘gap year,’ and looking for an authentic experience beyond the 18–21 crowd.
Target Learner
Mid-20s–30s backpackers seeking an authentic travel experience beyond the typical gap year crowd.
Learning Designer – Microlearning E-Learning (Storyboard & Prototype)
My Role
Google Sites (storyboarding/reflection)
Canva (graphics)
Genially (prototype)
Tools Used
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Almost ten years ago, at the ripe old age of 29, I found myself an experienced professional wondering, “is this it?” While my friends were buying houses, getting married, and starting families, I had just moved back into my family home to save money. I had transferable skills and dreams I hadn’t chased. I wanted a break and I wanted to see the world, or at least the southern hemisphere.
But I had doubts: Am I too old? Shouldn’t I have done this ten years ago? Do I really want to be backpacking with 18 year olds? To make things more complicated, I was almost too old for the working holiday visa, and there was little advice for people approaching their 30s. I knew many others were in the same boat, and buying that one-way ticket, as scary as it was, is something I’ve never regretted. I wanted to reach others with the same doubts and show them that gap years aren’t just for 18–21 year olds. Change can feel less daunting and more doable when you see someone else has taken the leap.
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I set out to create a practical microlearning course that would leave people feeling energised and excited, not overwhelmed. My aim was to be realistic, giving tips while weighing up pros and cons, but also encouraging. I used real photos and a storytelling approach with a relatable case study traveller so the audience could see themselves in the experience and feel confident taking the leap.
Design and Development
I created the storyboard in Google Slides. From there, I moved into Canva for visuals and Genially to bring the prototype together. Drawing on my own travel photos and anecdotes gave the module an authentic voice that spoke directly to the target audience.
For the structure, I adapted a macro/micro approach I first came across through another designer, Emma Berry.
Macro zoomed-out on the learning journey in four main chunks.
Micro zoomed in on each topic (chunks), where I applied Emma’s CAR framework (Context–Activity–Reflection) to keep a consistent flow between balanced and interactive.
I also mapped in Gagné’s 9 Events of Instruction, from gaining attention with a strong cover slide, to embedding reflection prompts and interactive activities to sustain engagement.
Storyboard Sample
Reflection
This project gave me space to experiment with e-learning tools in a playful context. It confirmed how useful macro/micro and CAR structures are for planning, and showed how personal storytelling can make content feel authentic.
Working in Genially was a mixed experience. I liked the interactive features such as drag-and-drop and pop-up boxes, which made the module feel more hands-on and less like a slideshow. Some of the templates were fun to work with, but there were limitations - especially having to use an embedded Google Slide for reflection instead of an inbuilt text entry tool. If I developed this further, I’d look for ways to give learners more seamless opportunities to write, reflect, and interact.