Phishing Awareness Training

Tools: Canvas LMS, Canva, PowerPoint, YouTube
Format: Self-paced, interactive eLearning with assessments
Audience: Employees across departments
My Role: Instructional Designer & Developer
Context: Developed as part of my Master’s in Instructional Design 

Project Summary

This phishing awareness training course was developed as part of my Master’s Degree program to apply core instructional design principles and eLearning development skills. The course helps employees recognize and respond effectively to phishing attacks—a major cybersecurity threat. Delivered through Canvas LMS, it features interactive content, real-world examples, and assessments designed to build learner confidence and improve organizational data security.

Challenge

Phishing attacks remain one of the leading cybersecurity risks. A gap analysis revealed that many employees lacked the awareness and practical skills needed to detect and respond to phishing attempts. This inconsistency put organizational data at risk. The challenge was to create a centralized, engaging, and role-relevant course that would close this knowledge gap and promote safe behaviors.

My Approach

Following the ADDIE model and principles of Andragogy, I designed a learner-centered, modular course that emphasizes interactivity and self-paced learning. The structure supports continuous improvement through assessments and real-world scenarios.

Key instructional design strategies included:

  • Pre- and post-assessments to establish baseline knowledge and measure learning gains

  • Interactive knowledge checks embedded throughout to reinforce concepts

  • Scenario-based questions tailored to employees’ specific roles

  • Use of visual infographics and simplified phishing examples created in Canva

  • Embedded YouTube videos illustrating real phishing attacks

  • Automated grading, immediate feedback, and progress tracking through Canvas LMS

  • Animations and supporting visuals developed with PowerPoint to clarify complex ideas

Outcome and Impact

Learner performance improved significantly, with pre-assessment averages rising from 75% to 90% on the post-assessment. Quiz results showed steady progress, and learners reported increased confidence in identifying phishing attempts. Managers observed enhanced vigilance and better cybersecurity conversations among staff.

Key skills Demonstrated

  • Instructional Design (ADDIE model)

  • eLearning Development (Canvas LMS, Canva, PowerPoint, YouTube)

  • Assessment Design & Data Analysis

  • Learner Engagement & Scenario-Based Learning

  • Progress Tracking & Analytics