SmartLab Learning: Scalable STEM PBL Curriculum & Teacher PD

Client Needs:

Teachers lacked confidence in facilitating STEM PBL sessions, requiring a scaffolded PD curriculum.

SmartLab needed a solution that was scalable across multiple districts with a strict one-year launch deadline and a fixed budget.

Results & Impact:

• New Product Launch:  Led the end-to-end development and successful pilot launch of the new Explorer and Pathfinder curriculum, achieving adoption by 10 early-adopter schools with 100% on-time delivery. Teachers reported increased confidence in facilitating project-based learning in STEM labs.

• Legacy Maintenance: Managed content updates and lifecycle maintenance for the core legacy curriculum, sustaining engagement across 500+ schools and ensuring seamless delivery of large-scale updates.

Design Process:

Writer's Workshop for Curriculum Planning

I collaborated with writers, edtech specialist and the purchasing team to plan the curriculum framework using templates like this: 

Project & Risk Management

I managed the development cycle to ensure delivery deadlines were met. In one instance, when two robotics units needed a rewrite, I evaluated the gap and scope, implemented a revision plan, and successfully met the launch deadline. 

I also optimized the Standard Operating Procedure by adding a peer review step for exemplar artifacts, ensuring higher quality standards.

Program Feedback Pipeline Management

I owned the curriculum feedback pipeline for teacher-reported issues,  coordinating cross-functional resolution with training, LMS, and content teams.

The following is a mockup of the monday.com dashboard:

Balancing Direct Instruction and Open-ended Project Making

Ensured every unit is standards-aligned with sufficient scaffolding to support learners' independent problem-solving.

I also proposed a new curriculum structure which includes drills and project frameworks in a flexible sequence to balance direct instruction and student inquiry.

Here is an example of how I instruct teachers to provide scaffolding in the app design unit:

AI Literacy & Career-Readiness

Designed hands-on activities to foster AI literacy by providing AI-generated output for learners to analyze and draw inspiration from. Learners step into the roles of industry experts to collaborate on their projects.

The following are AI mockups and learner content fostering career readiness.

Assessment Design

Designed and refined formative assessments (quizzes, reflection prompts, data collection forms) and summative performance tasks to track student progress.

Accessibility Design

Ensured WCAG compliance by reviewing alt text, captions, narration, readability, link text, structural formatting, and vendor compliance with COPPA.

To streamline the process, I proposed additional features for the Inkling LMS to include readability suggestions, alt text suggestions, and accessibility checks. 

Final Delivery:

• • 6 STEM PBL units, including facilitator guides and learner content for K-8 audience, 40+ video assets and graphic novels.

  • 3 Teacher professional development workshops, including slides and 10+ video assets.

  • 100+ hours of content.

  • 3 monday.com boards to manage active tasks,  product backlog, and program feedback.