A research-informed, interactive resource platform that helps early childhood entrepreneurs in Indianapolis find the support they need to start, run, and grow their programs.
- Initiative: Shine Indy Early Learning Initiative
- Partners: Strategic Leap Training & Consulting, P.A.S.S. Consulting, Shine Indy, and IAAQLI
- Published: 2026, publicly available at indyearlychildhood.com/ecosystem
- Services: research, resource development, instructional design, e-learning development
The challenge
Early learning providers, especially small and home-based programs, often run their businesses while also caring for children. Helpful resources for licensing, finances, staffing, and growth exist across many organizations, but they can be hard to find, compare, and use.
The approach
1. Listening first
The Navigator grew out of research with the people it is meant to serve. As part of the initiative, Strategic Leap designed and carried out a research project that included 25 in-depth interviews, five focus groups, and a broad survey of early learning providers, administrators, and entrepreneurs.
2. Curating and organizing resources
More than 225 resources were gathered and organized into categories so providers can search and filter by need rather than by which organization offers the help.
3. Designing an accessible digital tool
The Navigator was designed as an interactive experience built in Articulate Storyline, with a resource library, a journey map, a scorecard, and a maturity model to help providers see where they are and what to explore next. It was then published online for free public use.
Who did what
This was a collaborative project. Being clear about roles matters:
- Strategic Leap Training & Consulting (Brandon Houston): research design and data collection, synthesis of findings, instructional and experience design, and development of the interactive Navigator in Articulate Storyline, along with business coaching for participating providers.
- Collaborating organizations: Shine Indy, IAAQLI, and P.A.S.S. Consulting partnered on the broader initiative.
- Contributors: Kevin Hillman, Dr. Rod Brown, and Dr. Brian Collins were acknowledged contributors to the project.
The result
The Ecosystem Navigator is live and freely available to the public. Coaches use it as a follow-up resource with providers in the initiative’s business coaching sessions, pointing participants to the right tools for the topics they are working on.
What this project shows
- Research with real users can shape a practical tool
- Instructional design applies beyond courses, to resource tools people use on the job
- Accessible, well-organized digital resources can extend the reach of coaching and training
Interested in a similar resource tool, training, or research project? See instructional design and e-learning or research and evaluation.