When the previous institutionally required trainings expired for human research, I met with the IRB Chair. She identified the need for an institutionally hosted, interactive training to replace a costly external system. The solution needed to be asynchronous and include a pre-determined exam that would issue a certificate or formal acknowledgment upon completion, with certification automatically awarded based on achieving a defined passing score.
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Trainings expired, creating immediate risk of non-compliance with human research (IRB) requirements and potential delays in study approvals
Existing system was costly, externally hosted, required separate logins, and created administrative burden for tracking completions across departments
Need for an institutionally hosted, asynchronous training solution that faculty, staff, and students could access easily within existing systems
Training had to translate complex regulations (e.g., Belmont principles, informed consent, risk levels) into clear, digestible, and engaging content
Required a built-in exam aligned to IRB expectations that measured true understanding, not just content recall
Certification needed to be automatically awarded based on a defined passing score, reducing manual verification and follow-up
System needed to track completions, scores, and certification status for reporting, compliance documentation, and audit readiness
Designed for ongoing use, including onboarding new researchers and supporting recurring recertification cycles
Needed to be easily updateable as policies, regulations, or institutional procedures changed without requiring a full rebuild
Balanced compliance rigor with usability to avoid overwhelming users while still meeting federal and institutional requirements
The Design Approach
We reviewed the certification exam and existing IRB and governmental resources to identify key content and align training to assessment expectations. The course was structured into modular, asynchronous content that balanced concise, recall-based information with scenario-based application. After developing and validating a sample module with the IRB Chair, we refined the content, built the course in Canvas, and implemented automated certification based on exam performance. To support ongoing administration, we also created a custom Canvas role that allowed the IRB Chair to manage course enrollment as needed.
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Trainings expired, creating immediate risk of non-compliance with human research (IRB) requirements and potential delays in study approvals
Reviewed the certification exam to identify key content areas and question styles
Noted that the exam primarily relied on factual recall questions, including multiple-choice and true/false, with a smaller number of scenario-based application questions
Collected teaching materials from the IRB Chair and reviewed existing governmental resources to inform content development
Developed a content outline and obtained approval from the IRB Chair before building the training
Organized the training into five core modules plus an additional module focused on case studies and practical applicatio
Aligned module content to the exam by presenting recall-based information concisely while including enough elaborative detail to support memory retention
Designed scenario-based content in two steps: foundational knowledge followed by application through varied scenarios to preserve exam validity
Shared a sample module with the subject matter expert to confirm alignment with expectations and requirements
Incorporated feedback by adding content and additional checks for understanding
Created a custom Canvas role, “Roster Manager,” and assigned it to the IRB Chair, allowing them to add participants to the course as needed
Outcomes and Impact
The project replaced a costly external system with an internally hosted, asynchronous training that maintained compliance and improved access for faculty, staff, and students. It aligned training with the certification exam, automated grading and certification, and made tracking easier. The result was a more efficient, scalable system that supports ongoing use and can be updated as needed.
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Trainings expired, creating immediate risk of non-compliance with human research (IRB) requirements and potential delays in study approvals
Replaced a costly external training system with an institutionally hosted solution, resulting in ongoing cost savings
Ensured continuity of human research compliance by providing a reliable, accessible training pathway after certifications expired
Increased accessibility of training by offering a fully asynchronous format that accommodated faculty, staff, and student schedules
Strengthened alignment between training and assessment, leading to clearer expectations and more effective preparation for certification exams
Supported deeper learning by incorporating both concise recall-based content and scenario-based application opportunities
Reduced administrative workload through automated grading, certification generation, and streamlined tracking of completions
Enhanced audit readiness by creating a centralized, trackable record of training completion and certification status
Empowered the IRB Chair with direct enrollment management through the custom “Roster Manager” role, reducing reliance on intermediaries
Established a scalable training model that supports ongoing onboarding and recertification without requiring significant redevelopment
Created a flexible framework that can be updated as regulations or institutional policies change
Increased institutional control over training content, allowing customization to reflect local IRB processes and expectations
Improved user experience through clear structure, modular design, and integrated checks for understanding
This project required careful decisions about how to chunk complex, sometimes sequential content while keeping it accessible for community college learners with limited research experience. A key challenge was balancing compliance-driven rigor with cognitive load to ensure the material was clear and manageable. For myself, I was able to offset my cognitive load as an Instructional Designer by using AI tools to develop practice scenarios.
A major takeaway was the importance of aligning content and checks for understanding directly with assessment expectations to better prepare learners. Given more time, I would gather participant feedback to evaluate real-world application and engagement. This approach is transferable to future training work, especially in compliance settings, where aligning content, assessment, and learner needs is critical for effectiveness and scalability.
Relevant Testimonials
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Human Research TrainingKristine ClarkIRB Chair & Professor Excercise Science & Nutrition, Western Wyoming Community College
I tasked Rhonda and her team with development an in-house, interactive training module on the ethical practice of human research, which is required to initiating any research involving human participants. This internal training was designed for campus faculty and students.
Rhonda did an excellent job transforming the materials I provided into an updated, engaging, and interactive training modules. The module includes a post-training quiz, and participants who successfully pass receive a certificate of completion. This work was instrumental in creating a clear and accessible pathway for conducting human research on our campus, particularly supporting and expanding opportunities for our student research population.
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Collaborative Problem-SolvingDr. Aaron JensenDean Career and Technical Education, Southeastern Community College
I have had the great pleasure of working alongside Rhonda Gamble for a number of years and in a number of capacities. Rhonda is a wonderful colleague, and I consistently admire her dedication to her role and to the people she serves. She is exceptionally detail-oriented and brings a level of care and precision to her work that elevates everyone around her. She deeply values the importance of working conditions for her colleagues and team members and actively advocates for improvements that make a real difference.
She is an outstanding organizer and communicator who asks thoughtful, probing questions to truly understand challenges before jumping to conclusions. Rather than settling for easy answers, she encourages collaborative problem-solving and isn’t afraid to explore creative or unorthodox solutions when needed. Her flexibility, professionalism, and commitment to continuous improvement make her an invaluable asset to any team.
