Case Study #
1

Cadet Portfolio

Redefining education for 350,000 cadets.

I developed the brand and designed the user interface for Cadet Portfolio, which was adopted by the US Army and is now used by every JROTC cadet in the nation.

My role:

digital strategist

Designing and overseeing the implementation of a digital educational platform to digitize the JROTC curriculum and track cadets' progress year over year.

educational technologist

Improving the educational experiences of cadets and their instructors using technology and design.

platform architect

Structuring a system that supports cadets’ education and career readiness, while helping instructors with lesson planning and grading.

ux designer

Ensuring the platform is intuitive, user-friendly, accessible, and meets the educational needs of cadets and instructors.

The goal

To design a digital portfolio platform that would digitize the curriculum, allowing cadets to easily access their assignments from any device, document their journeys, share accomplishments, and create professional resumes, while giving instructors a way to track cadets' progress, create quizzes, and plan lessons.

The challenge

Army JROTC cadets were disorganized, carrying around clunky three-ring binders with their homework and assignments all out of order. They had no good way to track their achievements, set goals, and showcase their skills for future opportunities. The lack of a digital platform made it difficult for cadets to visualize their growth year over year.

The solution

Solution 1: place powerful digital tools in the hands of cadets & their leaders

Cadets add experiences, skills, and certifications as they progress through the program, which allows them to track their accomplishments. The self-reported data is also visible to Cadet Command, who can see what programs are working well.

Solution 2: Encourage Mentorship

"A day in the life" Alumni Success Stories allow cadets to learn from those who came before them and ask them a limited number of questions. Alumni answer questions like "What does a typical day at your job look like?" and "What do you wish you had known when you were in my place?"

Solution 3: Integrate with existing tools & curriculum

The platform hosts all assignments, worksheets, quizzes, tests, and other content, and allows instructors to easily create new assignments with an intuitivedrag-and-drop "Assignment Creator."

The results

widespread adoption

With an Army contract, our platform is in use by more than 350,000 cadets, instructors, and administrators, it is a requirement for every highschool with an Army JROTC program across the nation.

enhanced learning outcomes

Our project elevated the learning experience by fostering deeper engagement with the curriculum, leading to a marked improvement in students’ understanding and retention of key concepts.

support for instructors

Streamlined teaching workflows, access to resources, and more effective communication with students contributed to a more enriched learning environment.

Future Implications

Cadet Portfolio is poised to redefine military education for cadets, setting a new standard for interactive and immersive learning. Its widespread adoption underscores its effectiveness and potential to inspire continuous innovation in how leadership and citizenship are taught.

Given the success we’ve had with the Army, we are seeking to expand into the other branches of the military, our first focus being the Navy.

Share your feedback?

If you have any feedback, pointers, suggestions for improvements, etc., I'm all ears! Feel free to discuss this project or anything else you've seen on this site.

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