Athena Online Learning Experience
Athena Online Learning Experience
Athena Online Learning Experience
Partnership Under NDA. Evanston, United States, Product Design
Partnership Under NDA. Evanston, United States, Product Design
Partnership Under NDA. Evanston, United States, Product Design
To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform. How might we increase motivation to finish a Professional Certificate Program after enrollment?
To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform. How might we increase motivation to finish a Professional Certificate Program after enrollment?
To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform. How might we increase motivation to finish a Professional Certificate Program after enrollment?
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
UI/UX Designer
User interviews | User testing | Prototyping
Client: Subject to NDA
UI/UX Designer
User interviews | User testing | Prototyping
Client: Subject to NDA
UI/UX Designer
User interviews | User testing | Prototyping
Client: Subject to NDA
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
10 Weeks
[Jan. - Mar. 2022]
10 Weeks
[Jan. - Mar. 2022]
10 Weeks
[Jan. - Mar. 2022]
TEAMATES
TEAMATES
TEAMATES
Amanda Acquaire
Lindsay Lipschultz
Corinne Brady
Amanda Acquaire
Lindsay Lipschultz
Corinne Brady
Amanda Acquaire
Lindsay Lipschultz
Corinne Brady
Design Process
Sprint 1: Foundational Research and Problem
Understand the Current User Journey
Foundational Research
Competitive & Comparative Analysis
Social Listening
Initial User Interviews
Research Synthesis
Mid-term Client Presentation
Present research insights,
opportunities,
guiding principles,
early design concepts and early features
Sprint 2: Prototype, Iterate, User Test
Concept storyboards
User flow
Low-fi Prototypes
Concept Validation Interviews
Findings Synthesis
Hi-fi Prototypes
Hand-off Presentation to Client
Sprint 1: Understand the current journey
Open an in-progress online learning course
Realize this task is too difficult and lengthy to complete now
Start next required task on syllabus
Close Athena
Next Time
Enroll & Oboard
Select interested course, set up payment options, either try 7-day free trial
Or pay directly
Receive onboarding emails and instruction
Start Learning
Enter course through home page, read the introduction and syllabus, browse through course contents, start with first content in Module 1.
Continue Learning
Continue watch/read/do course contents/ do tests after class
Click “Resume Button” on the Home page, or click on interested button, or click uncheck/checked content.
Complete Learning
Completion page showed up on screen. User is celebrated and provided with course certificate to download.
Transition
User adds their certification to their LinkedIn, or share their achievement with friends, and utilize skills learned in new jobs.
The guidance on "Completion" stage is not clear. Things happen in life, people stop the course in the middle of studying
Sprint 1: Understand the current journey
Open an in-progress online learning course
Realize this task is too difficult and lengthy to complete now
Start next required task on syllabus
Close Athena
Next Time
Enroll & Oboard
Select interested course, set up payment options, either try 7-day free trial
Or pay directly
Receive onboarding emails and instruction
Start Learning
Enter course through home page, read the introduction and syllabus, browse through course contents, start with first content in Module 1.
Continue Learning
Continue watch/read/do course contents/ do tests after class
Click “Resume Button” on the Home page, or click on interested button, or click uncheck/checked content.
Complete Learning
Completion page showed up on screen. User is celebrated and provided with course certificate to download.
Transition
User adds their certification to their LinkedIn, or share their achievement with friends, and utilize skills learned in new jobs.
The guidance on "Completion" stage is not clear. Things happen in life, people stop the course in the middle of studying
Sprint 1: Understand the market
(Blurred for NDA purposes)
Competitor Analysis:
We have conducted extensive market competitor analysis to understand the market by using SWOT Analysis, and conducted a comparative analysis on each competitor’s design styles and flows.
Social Listening:
We went online to different social media platforms such as Youtube, Tiktok, Quora, and Reddit to learn about people’s opinions on online learning platforms.
Sprint 1: Understand the users
PRIMARY RESEARCH: INITIAL INTERVIEW
With understanding of the product and current market from secondary research, we constructed a discussion guide for a 30-min interview. The interviews have been conducted with 6 participants through a platform called dScout. In the interview, our objectives are:
What exactly are the moments of friction/ challenges that stand in the way of completing the course for a user?
Do the concepts of everyday challenges and moments of friction differ for users and in what ways?
What motivates learners to complete a task that requires effort, time, technology, mental and physical energy?
What emotions come to users’ mind when thinking about completing a course online?
PRIMARY RESEARCH: INITIAL INTERVIEW
With understanding of the product and current market from secondary research, we constructed a discussion guide for a 30-min interview. The interviews have been conducted with 6 participants through a platform called dScout. In the interview, our objectives are:
What exactly are the moments of friction/ challenges that stand in the way of completing the course for a user?
Do the concepts of everyday challenges and moments of friction differ for users and in what ways?
What motivates learners to complete a task that requires effort, time, technology, mental and physical energy?
What emotions come to users’ mind when thinking about completing a course online?
Participants
Age: 19-40
Race & Ethnicity: African American / Asian / White
Employment Status: Full-time and Part-time
Experience with Online Learning Platform:
Actively working on a professional certificates
Started but not finished a processional certificate program
Participants
Age: 19-40
Race & Ethnicity: African American / Asian / White
Employment Status: Full-time and Part-time
Experience with Online Learning Platform:
Actively working on a professional certificates
Started but not finished a processional certificate program
Insights & HMW
Insight 1
Learning fits into life, not life fits into learning.
"I prioritized hanging out with friends over coursework ."
-Yao
Daniel found time to work on Sundays but still prioritized almost all else over coursework
"I don't think there is anything in particular that's holding me back from wanting to start another course."
-Grace
"I assumed if I was gonna pay for it, I was gonna hold myself more accountable [but] I didn't."
-Daniel
Insight 2
Intrinsically motivated learners are most successful
Insight 3
Completing a course and achieving personal goals do not always align.
"Unless it's last minute, like today is, who cares how your mood is? You kinda have to get it done."
-Rachel
"But as you as you were asking me the questions earlier, I think it is pretty interesting and pretty helpful to think about goals."
-Daniel
Who are Athena users?
EMILY
Age: 32
Occupation: Business Analyst
Education: Bachelor
Employment Status: Full time
Household: Mother of two kids
GOALS
Emily is looking for a career shift since she has reached the senior level of Business Analysis in her current company, there is not much space for growth in her career. She would like to learn more about data science analysis since it has been a trendy and rising field recently with a decent pay. In order to take a career shift while working full time, she needs to take a flexible and motivated professional certificate program that is recognizable by employers.
Pain Points
Lack of motivation to continue the courses.
Don't have enough time to complete a whole task.
Emily only has time at night to watch the course videos and do assignments.
Sprint 2: Concept Validation
GUIDING PRINCIPLE: Empowerment
Redesign the learning pathway for “classic” and “adventure” modes that represents regular learning pathway and game-mode learning pathway for different learning habits.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE: Quantifiability
Add the feature of taking courses in a bundle, enable the users to approach the course in a way that makes them most successful. The system will estimates the time and creates the bundles for the users, supported with AI.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE: Flexibility
Learn is one of the modes of learning for learners who have small chunk of time to learn new contents. “Snackable” contents will be generated based on available time block.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE: Empowerment
A wrap-up page will provide information on pathway learners have learned in a week, to-do-list, progress on each course, and calendar they have created.
Participants
Age: 22-43
Race & Ethnicity: African American / Asian / White
Employment Status: Full-time and Part-time
Experience with Online Learning Platform:
Actively working on a professional certificates
Started but not finished a processional certificate program
Background
For this project, we are focusing on the Online Professional Certificate programs. Professional Certificates on Athena are designed to help learners get job-ready for an in-demand career in less than a year. Many programs also provide a pathway to an industry-recognized certification. They are affordable, flexible, and credible that many people such as career-path changer, newbies in an industry, students are interested in enrolling.
Design Outcome
The solution is to increase motivation to finish a Professional Certificate Program after enrollment
Feature 1
Two Modes of Study
Classical & Adventure Study Mode: Choose the way you want to study the course!
Feature 2
Dynamic Pathway
Create course pathways in a map format, adding interactions and fun actions into the learning process.
Feature 1
Two Modes of Study
Classical & Adventure Study Mode: Choose the way you want to study the course!
Feature 3
Tasks in Bundles
Tasks after class can be grouped in bundles by personal preference, offering the flexibility to the learners to study in their own speed.
Feature 4
Time You Entered Will be Fully Utilized
Tasks after class can be grouped in bundles by personal preference, offering the flexibility to the learners to study in their own speed.
Finding 1:
Learners who don't depend on reminders or external motivators complete courses
Finding 2:
Platforms that provide fun experiences for users are the ones that attract most people and tend to have a higher retention rates.
Finding 3:
Learners like to feel that they have agency in their learning and career advancement
Finding 4:
Learners like to break down life goals into small, measurable tasks
Finding 1:
Learners who don't depend on reminders or external motivators complete courses
Finding 2:
Platforms that provide fun experiences for users are the ones that attract most people and tend to have a higher retention rates.
Finding 3:
Learners like to feel that they have agency in their learning and career advancement
Finding 4:
Learners like to break down life goals into small, measurable tasks
Insight 1: Autonomy
Learners require varying resources, timelines, and levels of interaction to be successful in a course
Insight 2: Flexibility
Learners should be able to approach the course in a way that makes them most successful
Insight 3: Empowerment
Make learners feel that they have agency in their learning and career advancement
Insight 4: Quantifiability
Learners should be able to break down life goals into small, measurable tasks
Final Revision
Dynamic Pathway (Adventure Mode)
Before
After
“I really love the pathways that are like a map… because they are much more fun and interactive and way less syllabus based..”
- Quotes from User Testing Session
Study in Bundles (Classic Mode)
Before
After
“You wanna give people the freedom to learn how they wanna learn.”
- Quote from User Testing Sessions
Mode Selection (Home Page)
Before
After
“Course selection is very important in giving autonomy for the users .”
- Team Discussion
Next Steps
Further research and validation on the length of time people will input.
Feasibility of syncing learners’ calendar with the website so that the learning time is more tailored.
Determine what courses/tasks can be taken simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
Foster Engagement and Connection:
Create a supportive community for learners to connect and share experiences is very important. Implementing regular feedback and recognition systems to acknowledge progress will help the design team get rid of the dilemma.
Simplify the Learning Journey:
When it comes to a point when the task is too big to synthesis, breaking down the program into manageable milestones can reduce overwhelm. Open to diverse learning resources catering to different preferences.
Optimize Collaboration and Communication:
In order to communicate our ideas smoothly on Figma, I organized our design file in a way that is clear in logic and representation.
By doing so, the collaboration process is much smoother without confusion and misunderstanding. Embrace ambiguity and utilize frameworks for effective design decision-making.
Next Steps
Further research and validation on the length of time people will input.
Feasibility of syncing learners’ calendar with the website so that the learning time is more tailored.
Determine what courses/tasks can be taken simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
Foster Engagement and Connection:
Create a supportive community for learners to connect and share experiences is very important. Implementing regular feedback and recognition systems to acknowledge progress will help the design team get rid of the dilemma.
Simplify the Learning Journey:
When it comes to a point when the task is too big to synthesis, breaking down the program into manageable milestones can reduce overwhelm. Open to diverse learning resources catering to different preferences.
Optimize Collaboration and Communication:
In order to communicate our ideas smoothly on Figma, I organized our design file in a way that is clear in logic and representation.
By doing so, the collaboration process is much smoother without confusion and misunderstanding. Embrace ambiguity and utilize frameworks for effective design decision-making.
Challenge
Problem Statement
How might we optimize the flexible and customizable learning experience fits into Emily's busy schedule with motivations?
Background
For this project, we are focusing on the Online Professional Certificate programs. Professional Certificates on Athena are designed to help learners get job-ready for an in-demand career in less than a year. Many programs also provide a pathway to an industry-recognized certification. They are affordable, flexible, and credible that many people such as career-path changer, newbies in an industry, students are interested in enrolling.
Background
For this project, we are focusing on the Online Professional Certificate programs.
Professional Certificates on Athena are designed to help learners get job-ready for an in-demand career in less than a year.
Many programs also provide a pathway to an industry-recognized certification. They are affordable, flexible, and credible that many people such as career-path changer, newbies in an industry, and students are interested in enrolling.
Mid-term Client Presentation
Present research insights,
opportunities,
guiding principles,
early design concepts and early features
Sprint 2: Prototype, Iterate, User Test
Concept storyboards
User flow
Low-fi Prototypes
Concept Validation Interviews
Findings Synthesis
Hi-fi Prototypes
Hand-off Presentation to Client
Sprint 1: Foundational Research and Problem
Understand the Current User Journey
Foundational Research
Competitive & Comparative Analysis
Social Listening
Initial User Interviews
Research Synthesis
Design Process
Design Outcome
The solution is to increase motivation to finish a
Professional Certificate Program after enrollment
Sprint 1: Foundational Research and Problem
Feature 1
Two Modes of Study
Classical & Adventure Study Mode: Choose the way you want to study the course!
Feature 2
Dynamic Pathway
Create course pathways in a map format, adding interactions and fun actions into the learning process.
Sprint 1: Foundational Research and Problem
Feature 1
Two Modes of Study
Classical & Adventure Study Mode: Choose the way you want to study the course!
Feature 3
Tasks in bundles
Tasks after class can be grouped in bundles by personal preference, offering the flexibility to the learners to study in their own speed.
Sprint 1: Foundational Research and Problem
Feature 4
Time You Entered Will be Fully Utilized
Tasks after class can be grouped in bundles by personal preference, offering the flexibility to the learners to study in their own speed.
Sprint 1: Foundational Research and Problem
Sprint 1: Understand the current journey
Open an in-progress online learning course
Start next required task on syllabus
Close Athena
The task is too difficult and lengthy to complete
Continue
Redundant steps to continue the completed courses. Feel less motivated to continue.
Complete
Users are lacking of flexibility to finish the tasks assigned by the courses due to long work at weekdays.
Sprint 1: Understand the market
(Blurred for NDA purposes)\
Competitor Analysis: We have conducted extensive market competitor analysis to understand the market by using SWOT Analysis, and conducted a comparative analysis on each competitor’s design styles and flows.
Social Listening: We went online to different social media platforms such as Youtube, Tiktok, Quora, and Reddit to learn about people’s opinions on online learning platforms.
Finding 1:
Learners who don't depend on reminders or external motivators complete courses
Finding 2:
Platforms that provide fun experiences for users are the ones that attract most people and tend to have a higher retention rates.
Finding 3:
Learners like to feel that they have agency in their learning and career advancement
Finding 4:
Learners like to break down life goals into small, measurable tasks
Sprint 1: Understand the users
Participants
Age: 19-40
Race & Ethnicity: African American / Asian / White
Employment Status: Full-time and Part-time
Experience with Online Learning Platforms:
Actively working on professional certificates
Started but not finished a professional certificate program
PRIMARY RESEARCH: INITIAL INTERVIEW
With an understanding of the product and current market from secondary research, we constructed a discussion guide for a 30-minute interview. The interviews have been conducted with 6 participants through a platform called dScout. In the interview, our objectives are:
What exactly are the moments of friction/ challenges that stand in the way of completing the course for a user?
Do the concepts of everyday challenges and moments of friction differ for users and in what ways?
What motivates learners to complete a task that requires effort, time, technology, and mental and physical energy?
What emotions come to users’ minds when thinking about completing a course online?
Insights & HMW
Insight 1
Learning fits into life, not life fits into learning.
"I prioritized hanging out with friends over coursework ." Yao
Daniel found time to work on Sundays but still prioritized almost all else over coursework
Insight 2
Intrinsically motivated learners are most successful
"I don't think there is anything in particular that's holding me back from wanting to start another course."
-Grace
"I assumed if I was gonna pay for it, I was gonna hold myself more accountable [but] I didn't."
-Daniel
Insight 3
Completing a course and achieving personal goals do not always align.
"Unless it's last minute, like today is, who cares how your mood is? You kinda have to get it done."
-Rachel
"But as you as you were asking me the questions earlier, I think it is pretty interesting and pretty helpful to think about goals."
-Daniel
Finding 1: Autonomy
Learners require varying resources, timelines, and levels of interaction in order to be successful in a course
Finding 2: Flexibility
Learners should be able to approach the course in a way that makes them most successful
Finding 3: Empowerment
Make learners feel that they have agency in their learning and career advancement
Finding 3: Empowerment
Learners should be able to break down life goals into small, measurable tasks
Who are Athena users?
EMILY
Age: 32
Occupation: Business Analyst
Education: Bachelor
Employment Status: Full time
Household: Mother of two kids
GOALS
Emily is looking for a career shift since she has reached the senior level of Business Analysis in her current company, there is not much space for growth in her career. She would like to learn more about data science analysis since it has been a trendy and rising field recently with a decent pay. In order to take a career shift while working full time, she needs to take a flexible and motivated professional certificate program that is recognizable by employers.
Pain Points
Lack of motivation to continue the courses.
Don't have enough time to complete a whole task.
Emily only has time at night to watch the course videos and do assignments.
Challenge
Problem Statement
How might we optimize the flexible and customizable learning experience fits into Emily's busy schedule with motivations?
GUIDING PRINCIPLE: Empowerment
Redesign the learning pathway for “classic” and “adventure” modes that represents regular learning pathway and game-mode learning pathway for different learning habits.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE: Quantifiability
Add the feature of taking courses in a bundle, enable the users to approach the course in a way that makes them most successful. The system will estimates the time and create the bundles for the users, supported with AI.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE: Empowerment
A wrap-up page will provide information on pathway learners have learned in a week, to-do lists, progress on each course, and the calendar they have created.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE: Flexibility
Learning is one of the modes of learning for learners who have a small chunk of time to learn new content. “Snackable” content will be generated based on available time blocks.
Sprint 2: Concept Validation
Participants
Age: 22-43
Race & Ethnicity: African American / Asian / White
Employment Status: Full-time and Part-time
Experience with Online Learning Platform:
Actively working on a professional certificates
Started but not finished a processional certificate program
©Mikayla Mai 2024
Chicago, IL
Next Steps
Further research and validation on the length of time people will input.
Feasibility of syncing learners’ calendar with the website so that the learning time is more tailored.
Determine what courses/tasks can be taken simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
Foster Engagement and Connection:
Create a supportive community for learners to connect and share experiences is very important. Implementing regular feedback and recognition systems to acknowledge progress will help the design team get rid of the dilemma.
Simplify the Learning Journey:
When it comes to a point when the task is too big to synthesis, breaking down the program into manageable milestones can reduce overwhelm. Open to diverse learning resources catering to different preferences.
Optimize Collaboration and Communication:
In order to communicate our ideas smoothly on Figma, I organized our design file in a way that is clear in logic and representation.
By doing so, the collaboration process is much smoother without confusion and misunderstanding. Embrace ambiguity and utilize frameworks for effective design decision-making.
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