The Surge of E-Learning
The Process
CHALLANGE AND APPROACH
Limited opportunities for real-time interactions with peers and instructors
Reduced engagement, potential feelings of isolation, and a less dynamic passive learning experience
Difficulty managing time effectively and staying organised in a flexible learning environment
THE RESULT
Limited opportunities for real-time interactions with peers and instructors
Reduced engagement, potential feelings of isolation, and a less dynamic passive learning experience
Difficulty managing time effectively and staying organised in a flexible learning environment
What could actually make learning more enjoyable?
These themes have the potential to reshape our approach to at-home learning. I aim to create a platform that not only adapts to current circumstances but also lays the groundwork for a more dynamic and effective future of remote learning.
Gamification
The medals, achievements, and unlockables signify milestones, providing a sense of accomplishment and progress.
Learning Styles
Offering personalised learning styles with courses tailored to individuals learning preferences, as opposed a repository of endless courses.
Collaboration
Facilitating group sessions, encouraging idea-sharing, and fostering an interactive community for mutual assistance and collaboration.
Assessing the market:
We can learn a thing or two by looking at our competitors
Recognising market trends, steering clear of questionable designs, and adopting innovative and user-expected concepts.
Overview
Udemy is an online learning platform offering a diverse range of courses. Users access expert-led content, featuring personalized learning, robust search, and a global community.
Features
Wide-ranging learning content
Personalised Recommendations: Tailored course suggestions
Interactive Learning:Engaging and participative
Global Community: Connect with learners
Expert Instructors: Industry-experienced course creators
Mobile-Friendly Platform: Seamless learning on-the-go
Comprehensive Reviews: In-depth user feedback
Progress Tracking: Monitor course advancement
Heurisitcs
A comprehensive grasp of the progress status within each course.
no clear way to back out and select other courses, or option to restart progress.
The brand identity is not closely maintained when transitioning from the desktop to the mobile version.
lack of shortcuts and ability to create custom dashboard.
Simple and bold design with non decorative elements keeping users focused.
Discover assistance and support at the page's bottom. Additionally, an active community is present for further help.
Strengths
Udemy's user interface is intuitively designed, facilitating easy navigation
The platform features a powerful search system, enabling users to efficiently find courses and relevant content
The usability of Udemy is strengthened by its visually appealing and interactive course presentation, enhancing user engagement
Weaknesses
Some courses on Udemy may vary in quality, leading to inconsistencies in the learning experience
Pricing can vary, and some users may find certain courses expensive
The platform might not have stringent criteria for vetting instructors, leading to variations in teaching quality
Overview
Coursera is a global education hub, partners with top universities, providing diverse courses, industry-relevant content, and flexible learning with verified certificates.
Features
Top institutions enrich course content
Wide variety across subjects offered
Earn credibility with course completion
Individual courses, specialisations, and degrees
Engaging multimedia, quizzes, and assessments
Forums for collaborative learning experiences
On-the-go learning with mobile app
Regular updates reflect current industry trends
Heurisitcs
Clearly divided tabs and categories on homepage. Clearly divided sections for resources on each course.
There's no option to customise the dashboard or bookmark specific video segments for later reference.
The mobile version smoothly transitions to desktop, featuring a strong and consistent design system.
homepage curated with recommended suggestions.
Simple and bold design with non decorative elements keeping users focused, minimal colour range.
Live chat service available while doing course.
Strengths
Option to ’set set daily learning goals’ to boost learning initiative
Courses are well-organised, providing a clear and logical structure that enhances the overall learning experience
The platform incorporates interactive elements such as quizzes and peer assessments, fostering engagement and a dynamic learning environment
Coursera's responsive design ensures a seamless and consistent user experience across various devices, promoting accessibility
Weaknesses
Some courses may vary in interface design, leading to inconsistencies in the overall user experience
While courses are informative, the platform may lack advanced interactive features, limiting engagement for certain learning styles
Some courses may be more theoretical, and learners seeking hands-on, practical skills might find the content less applicable
Overview
Skillshare is an creative learning platform with project-based creative courses, a vibrant community, and diverse instructors. Its subscription model offers unlimited access to short video lessons and exclusive Skillshare Originals for comprehensive skill development
Features
Focus on design, writing, photography
Emphasises practical, project-based skill acquisition
Fosters collaboration, project sharing, feedback
Monthly fee for diverse course access
Industry pros, passionate experts teach
Accessible via mobile app anytime
Concise lessons for flexible scheduling
Offline viewing for flexibility
Heurisitcs
Distinct branding, swift access to categorised classes
Inability to bookmark video segments, or restart class progress.
While the design system is robust, the mobile version appears overly simplified, lacking some features present in the desktop interface.
Lacking accessibility features for those who may need it.
Great bold design, with unique branding and a minimal interface.
No live chat service. Additionally, class teachers may be less responsive in reviewing work.
Strengths
Skillshare emphasises hands-on, project-based learning for practical skill development
The platform encourages collaboration, project sharing, and feedback, creating a lively and engaging learning community
With a subscription model, Skillshare provides cost-effective access to a diverse array of courses
Skillshare Originals, exclusive content developed with industry leaders, offers unique and high-quality learning experiences
The option to schedule one-on-one sessions with professionals for a more personalised and intimate learning experience
Weaknesses
Skillshare's open platform results in varying course quality, impacting the overall learning experience
Some instructors may lack responsiveness, affecting learner engagement and feedback
Skillshare does not provide accredited certificates, potentially limiting their recognition in professional contexts
Heurisitcs Legend
Visibility
User Control
Consistency and Satndards
Help and documentaion
Flexibility and Efficiency of use
Aesthetic Minimalist design
There’s many aspects to consider here..
Identifying distinctive features that stood out
Compiling insightful analytical data for practical use
Seeking unbiased and objective weaknesses and strengths during the assessment process
Delving into Heuristic analysis tackling each aspect distinctly
What may be useful moving forward:
Asking the right questions...
Learning styles
What type of learner are you (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic), and does the learning platform accommodate your preferred learning style?
Motivation and Incentives
To what extent do reward systems contribute to maintaining your motivation to complete courses, and do you believe they are helpful?
Post -Course Support
What post-course resources or support would you find valuable for continued learning?
Mapping out the user’s emotions:
To effectively design a product that addresses key issues found in online learning, understanding users' emotions reveals conflicts and highlights their high and low moments.
Users may experience a range of emotions. What are the key aspects to consider here?
How do we address users mixed emotions..
Processing a multitude of emotions can be daunting
Accommodating all user types while prioritising high-impact value propositions
Assessing the feasibility and realism of potential options to implement in the design
Understanding the limitations in a learning platform while also recognising self accountability
It's important to explore both negative and positive emotions to anticipate users' expected behaviour.
What I’ve discovered here:
Users undergo a range of emotions, typically feeling inspired at the start of courses
Needs, wants, and desires - what are the most important factors to consider
Users often seek inspiration and struggle with self discipline
Organising the research into actionable insights:
There will be some re-emerging insights from what has been discovered in the research. It will give me an idea of what to prioritise while also exploring other issues that are feasible.
Some potential solutions for these recurring problems
Research reveals a disconnect from external resources and a need for direction - Incorporating the concept of an active community where users can participate in quizzes around courses being studied, and the option to book calls with the instructors of the course for that level of direct support.
Additionally, to foster a higher level of collaboration, we can incorporate the concept of study groups. These groups will encourage discussions and debates around various subjects, allowing students to engage more deeply with the material, share diverse perspectives, and enhance their understanding through peer interaction. This collaborative approach not only promotes active learning but also builds a sense of community among users.
Proposed design solutions:
System configuration and screen mapping:
Through the development of information architecture, I orchestrated the flow from a macro-level perspective, facilitating the simultaneous visualisation of multiple pathways.
Wireframing - User Flows
Three use-cases presented visually in the wireframe. What the user would expect to see while exploring the learning platform.
Design Choices
As a designer, I often face the challenge of balancing feature richness with product focus. Based on research gathered and seeing the products proposed layout and architecture, the priority is to focus on integrating three defined themes into the user experience
Addressing disengagement from boredom, isolation, and lack of interaction, I plan to provide the user another dimension of usr control and collaboration. This includes a dynamic dashboard presenting comprehensive statistics, featuring challenges, study-group discussions, and options to select preferred learning styles—each course tailored to Visual, Practical, and Auditory methods
Adding another layer of interactivity
Peek at the dashboard
Typically, where you see your statistics displayed, it serves primarily as a display metric. However, by expanding its functionality, users can not only view their past achievements but also delve deeper into their areas of success. They can choose to retake past exams, join recently added groups, or explore courses in their strongest fields of study, making the experience both informative and actionable.
Pick learning style in the onboarding
Visual
Auditory
Practical
Dashboard with all user metrics at a glance
Users can join learning groups and participate in study related discussions
Users can take on quiz challenges made by the community to earn medals
Dashboard - Course Completion
The dashboard will display all user metrics and stats, and will be the hub to navigate through the webapp
Learning groups
A place for users to discuss study related topics, discuss roadblocks, while even recommending and tagging courses.
Challenges
Users can participate in challenges curated by the community, tailored to different learning styles.
To Conclude
I wanted to draw attention to the app's accessibility features, ensuring that users of all abilities can easily engage with the platform. Moreover, I aimed to transform the traditional approach to home learning by infusing elements of fun and interactivity, thereby enhancing user engagement. Rather than merely serving as a repository of courses, I envisioned the platform as a vibrant community where users can actively participate, share ideas, and collaborate.
This shift from passive consumption to active involvement fosters a dynamic learning environment, promoting deeper understanding and knowledge retention, and a greater sense of support and connection. By emphasising interaction and socialisation, the platform transcends its role as a mere educational resource, becoming a lively hub for knowledge exchange and enjoyable learning.