Success Story: City University of New York —
Driving Digital Adoption Through High-Impact Instructional Video
Driving Digital Adoption Through High-Impact Instructional Video
Problem:
The City University of New York (CUNY) was rolling out new LMS features and online teaching tools during a period of rapid technological transition. Faculty members—many with limited experience in digital pedagogy—needed concise, accessible tutorials to build confidence and competence in using the updated systems. Existing resources were fragmented, text-heavy, and ineffective in supporting diverse instructional needs. As a result, faculty engagement lagged, support tickets increased, and adoption of new digital tools stalled.
The City University of New York (CUNY) was rolling out new LMS features and online teaching tools during a period of rapid technological transition. Faculty members—many with limited experience in digital pedagogy—needed concise, accessible tutorials to build confidence and competence in using the updated systems. Existing resources were fragmented, text-heavy, and ineffective in supporting diverse instructional needs. As a result, faculty engagement lagged, support tickets increased, and adoption of new digital tools stalled.
Action:
Hired on a fixed-term contract, I conducted a focused needs assessment by analyzing help-desk patterns, faculty feedback, and LMS usage data. Recognizing the need for streamlined, visually clear training, I produced an integrated library of video tutorials using Camtasia, VYOND, and Synthesia.
Hired on a fixed-term contract, I conducted a focused needs assessment by analyzing help-desk patterns, faculty feedback, and LMS usage data. Recognizing the need for streamlined, visually clear training, I produced an integrated library of video tutorials using Camtasia, VYOND, and Synthesia.
I applied multimedia learning theory and UX principles to script, design, and produce each video to ensure cognitive load was minimized and instructional clarity maximized. The videos showcased step-by-step workflows, demonstrations of LMS tools, and practical teaching strategies aligned with faculty pain points.
To support scalability, I also implemented a structured file system and metadata tagging so videos could be indexed, reused, and embedded across multiple CUNY platforms. I collaborated closely with academic technology teams to validate accuracy, iterate quickly based on feedback, and ensure consistency with institutional branding and accessibility standards (including captioning and WCAG compliance).
Result:
Within the contract period, CUNY saw a 40% increase in faculty engagement with the new LMS and associated digital tools. The clear, high-quality video tutorials significantly reduced the learning curve for faculty and lowered the volume of repetitive service requests.
Within the contract period, CUNY saw a 40% increase in faculty engagement with the new LMS and associated digital tools. The clear, high-quality video tutorials significantly reduced the learning curve for faculty and lowered the volume of repetitive service requests.
The tutorial library became a central component of CUNY's digital teaching support infrastructure—providing reusable, scalable resources that continued to benefit faculty long after the contract ended. The project strengthened instructional continuity, improved faculty confidence in digital delivery, and enhanced the overall effectiveness of CUNY’s online teaching ecosystem.
