Problem 

Screen the World Logo

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wachiay Studio, a screenprinting studio in the Comox Valley, needed to pivot to remote instruction. Developing a an accessible and comprehensive online learning platform for screenprinting proved to not only meet the needs to teach our students but also to the general public. Screenprinting is a versatile and accessible production method, but learning the process and setting up a functional studio can be overwhelming due to fragmented resources and a steep learning curve. While educational materials exist, they are often scattered, inconsistent in quality, or lack a clear, sequential structure.

Aspiring screenprinters—small-scale artisans, educators, and entrepreneurs—need a comprehensive, high-quality, and affordable learning platform that provides both technical knowledge and practical guidance. Additionally, they require low-cost, locally sourced equipment solutions to make studio setup more feasible. The challenge is not just access to materials but access to structured, expert-driven training that enables skill development, creative expression, and economic opportunity.

Action 

The development of Screen the World involved strategic decisions and actions in technology, content development, and platform construction to create a flexible, scalable, and engaging learning experience for aspiring screenprinters.

Technology

To create a flexible and scalable learning platform, I chose WordPress¹ as the foundation due to its ease of use and customization options, integrating plug-ins such as CLUEVO LMS² to host SCORM³ content. WooCommerce⁴ was incorporated for e-commerce capabilities, allowing us to sell membership. Building a site from scratch using WordPress was chosen due to its flexibility and ability to easily manage public vs. private content and e-commerce. Many ‘traditional’ LMSs such as Canvas and Moodle have predetermined structures that would not suit all the needs for our project. 

Content is to be developed externally in an external program, by authoring software capable of creating SCORM content.  This decision was strategic, as SCORM content not only works seamlessly within our own platform but can also be easily exported to other SCORM-compatible LMS platforms, allowing for future licensing, repurposing, and wider distribution of the content. I selected Articulate 360⁵ for its industry standard status, cost-effectiveness, ability to create interactive and rich content, and its capability to export both SCORM-compliant courses and PDFs.

Content

I collaborated closely with subject matter expert Andy MacDougall⁶ to ensure the educational content is accurate and of high quality. Andy’s extensive expertise in screenprinting was foundational in shaping the curriculum. We integrated and updated his content from “Screenprinting Today – The Basics” and incorporated his new ten-step process, which guided learners through each step of screenprinting. The content was designed to be modular, combining both theoretical knowledge and practical application.

Screen Printing Today: The Basics by Andy MacDougall

The Ten Steps to Screenprinting

Development

The development of Screen the World encompassed core website functionalities, including the creation of modules, rich content, and testing, all aimed at ensuring a seamless user experience. A style guide was developed to maintain consistency in design, branding, and overall user experience across the platform. I developed interactive and rich content, such as quizzes, hands-on exercises, discussion forums, and video tutorials. Mindful of Universal Design for Learning principles, I incorporated multiple modalities to present the toughest concepts. These development efforts were focused on providing a smooth, engaging, and informative learning experience for users of all skill levels.

Screen the World Style Guide

Results 

Screen the World soft launched as an LMS for the 10-week Screenprinting for Entrepreneurs course, successfully delivering structured, high-quality education. The platform provided technical knowledge through multimedia, including text, images, video, interactive exercises, and discussion forums. Our technical choices—WordPress, CLUEVO LMS, and Articulate 360—integrated seamlessly, creating an intuitive learning experience.

Within four months of the soft launch, we gained our first ten members, confirming demand for structured, expert-led screen printing education. Using SCORM-compliant content positioned the platform for future scalability, enabling licensing and distribution beyond our LMS.

Engaging, Interactive Content

The course features interactive Articulate 360 modules and video demonstrations break down key techniques.

View a public facing learning module authored with Articulate Rise on Screen the world: 

Check out some other interactive content – hover over images and interactive images authored in Storyline 360, as well as a video tutorial.

Selected works from the Screenprinting for Entrepreneurs course are showcased online to see what students have made:

https://screentheworld.org/category/editors-choice/

Screen the World, in its first year, has successfully helped at least three individuals across British Columbia launch their screen printing businesses, enabling them to produce high-quality prints. The platform has empowered learners to confidently start their screen printing journey, creating new economic opportunities and fostering creative expression.

Learnings 

Building Screen the World provided valuable insights into digital learning design, collaboration, and learner engagement. 

• Choosing the Right Platforms Saves Time – They say that in each subsequent step of the design process, it costs ten times more (in time and/or money) to change a decision. Investing time upfront to select the right digital tools proved to be invaluable and met all of our needs for customization, integration, scalability, and ease of use. 
• Collaborating with a Subject Matter Expert – Working with Andy MacDougall was both educational and enjoyable. His deep knowledge of screenprinting complemented my instructional design expertise. While I learned a lot about screen printing, Andy appreciated how I structured and organized the content to make learning intuitive. We were a great team!
• Multiple Means for Engagement – Learners commented on different parts of the multimedia content —videos, quizzes, interactive exercises, and discussion prompts. This reinforced the value of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), confirming that presenting difficult concepts through multiple modalities allows each person to find the modality that resonates with them.
• Sustaining Engagement Online is Tough – As a teacher and community leader, I continuously participated in online forums to model active participation. Learners in the online course, Screenprinting for Entrepreneurs, tended to participate at the minimum requirements. Once the course ended, students no longer engaged online, neither did any Screen the World members not enrolled in a class. This highlights the need to reassess the role of forums and explore alternative strategies to foster ongoing engagement.

These learnings will not only shape future iterations of Screen the World but also other online learning platforms to ensure that both content delivery and community engagement evolve to best support learners. 

1. WordPress: an open source website development platform. https://wordpress.org/
2. CLUEVO LMS: a lightweight and user-friendly Learning Management System plugin for WordPress. https://wp-lms.cluevo.at/
3. Sharable Content Object Reference Model, a set of technical standards for eLearning products that allows content and Learning Management Systems (LMSs) to work together seamlessly.
4. WooCommerce: a customizable, open-source ecommerce platform built on WordPress. https://woocommerce.com/
5. Articulate 360: a suite of tools that includes Storyline 360 for creating interactive e-learning content. https://www.articulate.com/360/
6. Andy MacDougall, an internationally recognized screenprinting expert, is a member of the Academy of Screen and Digital Printing (ASDPT), author of Screen Printing Today, the Basics, and a global consultant for artists, educators, and industry leaders. https://www.speedballart.com/pro-artist-network/andy-macdougall/