Senior Learning Experience Designer and Project ManagerDuke University · Durham, NC (Remote)
Led learning design and project delivery for 50+ online courses and Specializations across engineering, data science, healthcare, and business, working with experts to translate complex subject matter into relevant practice and assessment.
Guided multidisciplinary teams from early ideas through launch, defining scope, coordinating resources and reviews, and adapting plans as requirements changed. Helped stakeholders resolve competing priorities and make decisions about quality, timing, and available capacity.
Designed hands-on coding practice, branching scenarios, interactive media, and case-based learning for technical and professional audiences. Used learner feedback, expert consultation, and prototypes to shape experiences around what people needed to understand and do.
Developed course design resources used in 25 published courses and trained faculty, Duke Corporate Education partners, and fellow designers to use them. Built on this work through a shared design guide, planning templates, and reusable examples.
Created Duke’s self-guided Coursera development pathway used by 25+ faculty, doubling course output while maintaining quality and autonomy.
Built a set of AI tools for course development with the Claude API and Claude Skills. The largest, the Interactivity Generator and its Coursera plugin, brings activity selection, working previews, content editing, expert review, and export into one workflow, with static text alternatives for learners.
Designed and facilitated a summer 2026 AI pilot for the design team in one-week Agile sprints, serving as Product Owner for two tools and coaching colleagues who were building software for the first time. The team built five tools, including a shared Claude Skills library, a capacity forecasting model, and a script writing agent.
Co-designed Duke’s credit-bearing Medical Sociology course for the National Education Opportunity Network (NEON), reaching 255 students in 15 high schools in Spring 2026. Built the Canvas modules, co-developed assessments and the capstone, and wrote guides for high school co-teachers and Teaching Fellows.
Co-designed Coursera’s integrated labs interface, now deployed platform-wide, applying Universal Design for Learning to make technical learning environments easier to navigate.
Built a project scoping and resource framework that helped teams see priorities and plan capacity against institutional goals.
Mentored designers in project management and learning design, helping them plan their work, navigate constraints, and develop their own judgment.
Advised leadership on AI integration, faculty autonomy models, and alternative credentialing strategies.
Consistently earned top “Exceptional” ratings for innovation, leadership, and collaborative impact.
Learning designProject managementAI and ed techCurriculum design
January 2020 – April 2021
Learning Experience DesignerDuke University · Durham, NC (Remote)
Led design sprints with faculty across Duke University and Duke Health, translating complex subject matter into online and hybrid learning experiences.
Developed interactive prototypes and assessments that improved learner engagement and showed what learners had learned.
Applied learner analytics and faculty feedback to iterate and improve course designs.
Learning design
July 2018 – December 2019
Educational Technology SpecialistHigh Point University · High Point, NC
Served as project lead for the rollout of campus-wide learning initiatives, supporting 100+ faculty in adopting instructional technology and Blackboard LMS.
Created and scaled the Blackboard Bootcamp program, establishing a sustainable training pipeline that improved faculty confidence by 32% and reduced support requests by an average of 18%.
Developed and facilitated workshops and user support materials on Blackboard, educational technology, and other online learning tools.
Designed HPU’s first cross-disciplinary Pathway system using e-portfolios and achievement badges, giving leadership new visibility into student progression.
Collected and analyzed adoption and engagement data to evaluate technology effectiveness and guide improvements.
Provided teaching and learning support for the Engineering is Elementary Seed Leadership Team: Engineering for Equity and Diversity in High-Needs Schools, a $220,000 project funded by the Museum of Science, Boston (Project Director: Heidi Carlone).
Coordinated and led 4–6 week units for elementary school students engaging in the Engineering is Elementary (EiE) curriculum.
Designed and facilitated teacher professional development workshops, increasing STEM teaching capacity for dozens of educators across the district.
Developed research and evaluation instruments (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods) to assess program success and inform district-level strategy, and co-authored the resulting research with the project director (see Publications and Conference presentations).
Instructional Designer and Project ManagerUNC Greensboro · Greensboro, NC
Served as Project Manager for cross-functional online course development teams, coordinating faculty, multimedia developers, and designers to deliver innovative courses on Canvas and WordPress.
Designed and launched UNCG’s first MOOC, which paved the way for later online programs.
Developed several undergraduate and graduate courses across disciplines.
Ensured projects met milestones, maintained accessibility standards, and aligned with institutional strategy, balancing faculty needs with university-wide objectives.
Learning designProject management
02
Teaching
March 2024 – July 2025
Virtual Mission Flight Director (4th–12th grade)Challenger Learning Center · Bangor, ME
Coordinated and led virtual missions to the Moon and Mars through NASA’s educator program.
Worked with K–12 teachers to prepare and provide supplemental curriculum and activities for students participating in virtual missions.
Provided technical support to teachers and students participating in virtual missions.
STEM teachingCurriculum design
July 2014 – May 2015
Science Teacher (7th–12th grade)New Garden Friends School · Greensboro, NC
Planned and taught the entire middle school science curriculum and high school environmental science using hands-on, guided inquiry methods and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
STEM teachingCurriculum design
June 2011 – April 2015
STEM Instructor and eStudies Academic Consultant (5th–12th grade)Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP) · Durham, NC
Designed and taught hands-on courses in topics like Engineering of Space Exploration, Roller Coaster Physics, Engineering Technology for the Digital World, and Digital Circuit Design and Analysis.
Reviewed and provided feedback for online curriculum in development for STEM instructors. Served as STEM eStudies Academic Coordinator in 2014.
Trained instructional staff online, both live and self-paced.
STEM teachingCurriculum designAI and ed tech
2012 – 2013
Graduate Teaching AssistantNorth Carolina State University
EMS 505: Methods of Teaching Science.
STEM teaching
2011 – 2012
Graduate Teaching AssistantUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
PHY 410: Teaching and Learning Physics.
PHY 115: General Physics II Recitation.
PHY 351: Electronics I Lab.
STEM teaching
03
Curriculum development
2011 – 2015
K–12 curriculum developmentDuke Talent Identification Program (TIP)
Elementary school: Sensor Development for Monitoring Leatherback Turtles (2012); Engineering of Space Exploration (2011–2014); Roller Coaster Physics (2011–2014).
Middle school: Engineering Technology for the Digital World (2014–2015); Engineering Problem Solving (2011–2013).
High school: Chaos, Complexity and the Universe (2014); Aerospace Engineering (2013); Newton to Einstein: Space, Time, and Motion (2011); Digital Circuit Design and Analysis (2011–2015).
Curriculum designSTEM teaching
04
Teacher professional development and outreach
2015 – 2017
Engineering is Elementary (EiE) Seed Leadership TeamUNC Greensboro · funded by the Museum of Science, Boston
Facilitated summer institutes where elementary teachers worked through EiE units as engineers themselves before teaching them.
Supported teachers through the school year as they taught engineering design in high-needs classrooms, and studied how their beliefs about science and engineering shaped their teaching.
Pre-Service Education Outreach CoordinatorASSIST Center (Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies), NC State University · Raleigh, NC
Coordinated pre-service teacher education outreach for the center.
STEM teaching
2011 – 2012
Mastering Physical Science SeriesUNC Chapel Hill and Durham Public Schools
Elementary and middle school teacher professional development workshops: Nanoworld (Dec 2011), States of Matter (Jan 2012), Properties of Materials (Feb 2012), Structures of Matter (Mar 2012), Amusement Park Physics (Apr 2012), and Forces & Motion (May 2012).
STEM teachingCurriculum design
05
Research
2015 – 2017
Research Assistant in Science EducationUNC Greensboro
Exploring Meaning-Making in Elementary Science and Engineering: studied the resources and knowledge elementary students draw on in science and engineering practices. Developed fourth grade research protocols; mixed-methods analysis, student interviews, and classroom observation.
Defining Students’ Engineering Competence in Elementary Education: studied how “engineering competence” emerges as first and fifth graders work through the EiE curriculum. Co-developed research protocols; mixed-methods analysis, interviews, and observation.
Examining Elementary Teachers’ Epistemic Cognition in Science and Engineering: studied teachers’ science and engineering epistemic cognition before and after teaching EiE. Led survey development, mixed-methods analysis, and teacher interviews.
ResearchSTEM teaching
2012 – 2013
Graduate Research Assistant in Science EducationNorth Carolina State University
Citizen Scientists and Science Hobbyists: quantitative and qualitative data analysis, protocols, transcription, and data management.
Research
2011 – 2013
Graduate Research Assistant in Physics EducationUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Developing in-service elementary and middle school teachers’ physics pedagogical content knowledge: designed K–8 physical science content and planned and facilitated professional development.
ResearchSTEM teachingCurriculum design
2007 – 2009
Research Assistant in PhysicsUNC Greensboro
Stellar Evolution and Star Classification: data mining and analysis of absorption spectra.
Research
2007 – 2008
Research Assistant in Mathematical BiologyUNC Greensboro
Mechanisms that Lead to High Genetic Diversity in Social Insects: fieldwork, experimental data collection, and modeling.
Lancaster, M.R., Rogers, H. (2024, July). Designing with Empathy: Integrating Trauma-Informed Principles in Asynchronous MOOCs. Conversations with Colleagues presentation, Distance Teaching & Learning (UPCEA DT&L), Minneapolis, MN.
ResearchLearning design
2022
Lancaster, M.R., Hudson, M. (2022, May). Accelerate Skill Development with Coursera Labs. Technical presentation, Coursera Conference, Virtual.
ResearchLearning designAI and ed tech
2021
Carlone, H.B. & Lancaster, M.R. (2021, May). How instructional design can help support the disruption of inequities in STEM. Invited presentation, Duke MAT Noyce Conference, Durham, NC (online).
ResearchLearning design
2019
Carlone, H.B., Schouweiler, D.J., Mercier, A., Worsley, T., Lancaster, M.R., & Heredia, S.C. (2019, April). Designing for youths’ STEM identity work: The STEM Identity Profile Instrument. Poster, National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), Baltimore, MD.
Research
2018
Carlone, H.B. & Lancaster, M.R. (2018, March). Productive friction and “getting along” in an elementary engineering classroom. Paper, National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), Atlanta, GA.
Research
2017
Lancaster, M.R. & Carlone, H.B. (2017, May). Cultural production of engineering “competence” and meaning-making in the elementary classroom. Paper, Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE), Toronto, Canada.
Research
2017
Carlone, H.B., Lancaster, M.R., Mercier, A., & Metzger, S. (2017, April). The cultural production of “competence” in elementary engineering. Paper, American Educational Research Association (AERA), New York, NY.
Research
2016
Carlone, H.B., Blankmann, D., Jones, A., Lancaster, M.R., & Mangrum, J. (2016, November). Kids love to engineer! How do elementary teachers teach engineering design? Presentation, North Carolina Science Teachers Association (NCSTA) Professional Development Institute, Greensboro, NC.
ResearchSTEM teaching
2016
Carlone, H.B., Lancaster, M.R., Mangrum, J., Hegedus, T., Martin, M., & Carter, A. (2016, April). Cultural meanings of engineering competence in a high needs elementary classroom. Paper, American Educational Research Association (AERA), Washington, DC.
Research
2016
Lancaster, M.R. & Carlone, H.B. (2016, April). Examining teacher epistemic beliefs in elementary engineering education. Poster, American Educational Research Association (AERA), Washington, DC.
Research
2016
Lancaster, M.R. & Carlone, H.B. (2016, April). A new lens for examining teachers’ epistemic beliefs in science and engineering. Roundtable, American Educational Research Association (AERA), Washington, DC.
Research
2016
Carlone, H.B., Lancaster, M.R., Mangrum, J., & Hegedus, T. (2016, April). Fifth grade students’ meanings of engineering competence. Paper, National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), Baltimore, MD.
Research
2016
Lancaster, M.R. (2016, April). Examining elementary teachers’ existing epistemic beliefs in science and engineering. Poster, National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), Baltimore, MD.
Research
2012
Jones, M.G., Tracy, J., Leagon, M.R., Childers, G., Corin, E., & Taylor, A. (2012, November). What is the big deal about nanotechnology? Workshop, North Carolina Science Teachers Association (NCSTA), Winston-Salem, NC.
ResearchSTEM teaching
08
Awards, honors, and scholarships
2025
Coursera Vision & Values Award
Honored for principled innovation, platform leadership, and AI-integrated teaching tools.
Learning designAI and ed tech
2021
Duke Presidential Award
Recognized for extraordinary contributions in transitioning Duke to remote teaching during COVID-19.
Learning designAI and ed tech
2016 – 2017
Inclusiveness Award
Awarded for academic merit and contributions to greater inclusivity at UNC Greensboro.
Research
2011 – present
Sigma Pi Sigma
National physics honor society.
Research
2006 – 2007
Bertha Barnwell Vielhauer Endowed Scholarship
One of ten recipients of a merit-based mathematics scholarship.
Research
2005 – 2009
Aubrey Lee Brooks Fellowship
Awarded for academic merit, leadership, and character.
Research
2005 – 2009
North Carolina Teaching Fellowship
Offered for academic merit, community service, and commitment to teaching. Declined to accept the Aubrey Lee Brooks Fellowship.
STEM teaching
2005 – 2006
Sam Walton Scholarship
North Carolina state winner of a merit-based scholarship.
Research
09
Education and certification
Project Management Professional (PMP®)Project Management Institute
Project management
M.Ed., Science EducationNorth Carolina State University · STEM Education Research and Curriculum Development
STEM teachingCurriculum designResearch
M.S., Engineering PhysicsAppalachian State University · Instrumentation and Automation
Research
B.S., PhysicsUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro
Research
10
Skills and tools
Skills
Learning strategy · Universal Design for Learning (UDL) · Design thinking · Evaluation and learner feedback · Coaching and mentoring · Project and portfolio management · Stakeholder engagement · Cross-functional collaboration
Learning designProject management
AI and development
Claude, Claude API, Claude Code, Claude Design, ChatGPT; AI-assisted HTML/JavaScript development
AI and ed tech
Platforms and authoring
Coursera, Canvas, Blackboard, WordPress, PlayPosit, Monday.com; Articulate Storyline and Rise, Vyond, Camtasia, Adobe Captivate, Illustrator, Character Animator, EdStem
AI and ed techLearning design
11
Community engagement
Science outreach events up and down the East Coast, including:
Maine Science Week
Planetary Walk
Family Science Days
Family Science Nights
HPUniverse Day
UNCG Science Everywhere
NanoDays
FIRST LEGO League robotics judging
Science fair judging
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