People often ask about the tattoos on my arm. For most people, tattoos are reminders... small pieces of their story permanently displayed. I'm no different. Each collection of ink marks a moment, a belief, or a person who matters. They’re pieces of who I am. They are reminders. They are my most personal stories.

There’s a dark and twisty tree that reminds me of an internal struggle. My daughter’s birth flower and my son’s birth tree grow on either side of mine with all roots leading into the Greek word FISH. Two palm trees and a crescent moon honor my marriage in South Carolina. Every piece is connected. Every one tells a story.

And that’s the thing about stories… they stick.

Long after the words fade or the lesson ends, we remember the meaning attached to the story. It’s how our brains are wired. Stories create emotion, add context & build trust.

I believe learning can, and should, work the same way.

Where Story Meets Learning

My name is Kelly Halbrock, and I’m an instructional designer and media producer who believes learning should feel just as engaging as great storytelling. I combine evidence-based instructional design theory with more than 20 years of creative video production experience to help organizations build eLearning, video training, and culture content that truly connects with the learner.

I’ve partnered with corporate, nonprofit, and educational clients to transform training into something people actually want to complete. In each course I work to balance structure, design, and story. I use a blend of tested Instruction Design methodologies like ADDIE, content mapping & multimedia learning theory to construct experiences that are visually compelling, emotionally resonant, and instructionally sound.

Courses designed with story elements allow learners to internalize, believe in and act on the content.

What It’s Like to Work With Me

Each project will begin with strategy sessions. Together we’ll define your learning goals and desired outcomes. From there, I’ll collaborate closely with your subject-matter experts to understand your audience and translate your message into something meaningful.

Next, you’ll see an initial outline or storyboard where I’ll share ideas on how to humanize the learning experience. We’ll discuss what combination of visual storytelling, relatable branching scenarios, testimonials or other story structure will work best for your course.

Once the direction is approved, I’ll handle content creation, production, and review cycles. I’ll work personally with your team every step of the way. At the end of the project you’ll be provided SCORM files ready for your in-house LMS.

Course creation time varies depending on scope and level of interactivity. A short course with graphics and simple quizzes may take about 4 weeks after strategy sessions are completed, while high-interactivity experiences, like scenario-based learning or full-scale video production, can take up to 16+ weeks.

Why Include Storytelling in Learning?*

At kBrock Media, storytelling isn’t an add-on, it’s the foundation of my course creation.

Using story activates empathy, emotion, and meaning, which in turn activates memory & retention. A learner who remembers the story behind the lesson will remember, and act on, the lesson itself.

Story is what will ultimately turn dull information into learner transformation.

That’s the kBrock Media difference. Learning that sticks, like ink beneath the skin.



*To learn more about corporate storytelling check out the preview to my own master course:
The Critical Narrator: Mastering the Strategy & Design of Organizational Storytelling. You’ll learn storytelling structure, the science behind why it works and how to leverage storytelling in leadership & instructional design development.