Revolutionary Spies:
A Merchant in the Shadows
The Problem
When I taught the American Revolution in fourth grade, the curriculum primarily focused on battles, major events, and well-known figures. I then thought of my own education, I realized it had largely focused on those same things. It wasn't until later that I discovered the Culper Ring, the intelligence network that quietly supported the Patriot cause, and realized there was an entire side of the Revolution that was glossed over.
I wanted learners to experience the lesser-known side of the Revolution and discover how information, secrecy, codes, relationships, and individual decisions could influence the course of a war.
Project Scene: Sets the stage for an immersive journey during the American Revolution.
The Solution
The solution was to create an immersive learning experience that places learners inside the Culper spy network, telling the story of Robert Townsend, and exploring how intelligence helped influence the course of the American Revolution.
Audience: Upper-elementary through adult learners interested in exploring the American Revolution through immersive, scenario-based learning.
Responsibilities: research, instructional design, eLearning development, historical mapping, text-based storyboard, style guide, mood board, high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototyping and technical problem-solving, assessment development, JavaScript development, web development, custom interaction development, variable and state management, multimedia development.
Tools Used: Articulate Storyline 360, Figma, ChatGPT, Claude, Dzine, ElevenLabs
Key Features
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Scenario-Based Historical Storytelling: Learners step into the role of Robert Townsend and experience key moments in the Culper Ring's story through historically grounded primary sourced scenarios, along with conversations and decisions.
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Interactive Espionage Tradecraft: Learners use codes and ciphers, uncover messages with invisible ink, gather information through conversations and practice the techniques used to pass intelligence.
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Decision-Making and Consequences: Throughout the experience, learners make decisions as Townsend, requiring them to consider what they have observed and learned rather than simply progressing through historical information.
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Integrated Field Journal and Culper Book: Learners have access to two persistent resources throughout the journey: a Field Journal for recording and revisiting information and a Culper Book containing the codes, cipher tools, and tradecraft needed to complete their missions.
Why This Project Stands Out
This project began with the learner experience rather than the limitations of the development tool. I wanted learners to step into Townsend's world, not just to learn about the Culper Ring, and interact with the information, tools, and decisions that shaped his life as a spy.
Creating that experience required going beyond Storyline's native functionality. Custom JavaScript and web development were used alongside Storyline variables, triggers, and states to create interactions such as the Culper Book, persistent Field Journal, coded messages, and other espionage activities. The result is an experience in which the technology supports the story rather than defining what the learner is allowed to do.