Enhancing learning platform with disruptive design ideas

Summary:

The primary objective driving this project was to pioneer a revolutionary design concept for a learning platform, one that transcends traditional paradigms and fosters a dynamic and engaging educational experience. Our overarching goal was not merely to develop a platform, but to architect a transformative tool that empowers learners and educators alike to thrive in the digital age.

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As the first step in my design thinking process, I conducted desk research to identify current trends, patterns, and forecasts in educational technology. This initial step was crucial to gather insights that could inform my design decisions later on. By analyzing industry reports, case studies, and academic research, I gained a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the field. This allowed me to generate innovative ideas that would meet the needs of users and stand out in a crowded market.

Based on the insights gathered from my desk research, I was able to identify several key issues within the market, which in turn allowed me to develop a clear problem statement. By synthesising the information, I gained a better understanding of the needs and pain points of the target audience, and the gaps in the current solutions available in the market. This enabled me to define a specific problem that I could focus on solving through my design thinking process.

With the help of the problems identified, I used the Five Why's to dig deeper on the root of the problem. The Five Whys is a problem-solving technique used to identify the root cause of a problem by asking "why" five times. It is a simple yet powerful tool that can help to uncover the underlying causes of a problem and develop effective solutions.

The Five Why's gave me enough information to formulate the How Might We questions, and make a selection of the most relevant ones.

To generate ideas and facilitate brainstorming, I utilised the brainwriting technique to ideate on the questions I had chosen. Brainwriting is a collaborative and structured ideation method that encourages individuals to contribute ideas independently before sharing them with the group.

To effectively connect and organise the ideas generated through brainwriting, I employed mind maps. Mind maps are visual tools that allow for the hierarchical organisation of concepts, making it easier to identify relationships and connections between ideas.

By creating a mind map, I visually represented the main problem statement or topic in the center and then branched out with related subtopics or ideas. This helped me to explore different perspectives and identify potential solutions based on the connections between the ideas. Mind maps allowed me to have a holistic view of the ideation process and facilitated further exploration and refinement of the generated ideas.

Based on all the information collected, I was able to sketch out the wireframes with the ideas I came up with.

Currently, the design concept has been developed up to the wireframing stage. However, there is potential to further advance the project through testing and creating high-fidelity prototypes. This would allow for a more detailed exploration and validation of the design concept, and provide an opportunity to refine and iterate on the wireframes. By continuing with these next steps, it would be possible to further develop the design and ensure that it meets the needs of the intended users and effectively addresses the identified problems.