UX Research: The Ideal Experience of E-Learning

The Ideal Experience of E-Learning

Spring 2019 Methods of Contextual Research

E team Researchers : Alexandra Cummings Alexys Scoot Anlu Zhao David Lamm Harrison He Iren Liao

Table of Contents

01”

Introduction

“02

E-Learning Research

: In a Nutshell : Pros and Cons : What’s Working and What’s Not

03”

Framework

“04

Our Takeaways

05”

Possible Opportunities

“06

Meet the Team

01”

Introduction Welcome to 2019. Your groceries are delivered to your door by a complete stranger. The fate of your dating life rests in a right-swipe. Personal transporta9 You pay for tion is one click and two minutes away. your iced coffee with your watch.

The future is, decidedly, HERE. We’ve entered it.

We have arrived.

Industries across the gamut have had to adjust to the demands of today’s ultra-modern, ultra-instant environment. And education is no exception.

E-Learning has spent the past couple decades attempting to spread its wings. It boasts convenience, comfort, ease and accessibility.

Yet, what about quality?

We are six researchers from all over the world, currently living, working and studying in Savannah, Georgia.

For the past ten weeks, we have sought to answer this question:

What is the ideal experience of E-Learning?

“02

E-Learning Research : In a Nutshell

Diving head-first into the virtual classroom experience meant hundreds of hours gathering field and secondary research, conducting observations, carrying out interviews and surveying passers-by. From there, we culled down a whopping 1,300+ data points into digestible morsels of information to confidently serve our hungry readers.

1,300+ data points

So, here’s the rub: The PROs of E-Learning Students like being able to check their answers and see grades instantly, upon online test/quiz submission.

Students like the ability to reference older materials, like lectures, if they can’t remember something or need a refresher .

Professors value the student diversity that E-Learning brings; they enjoy teaching fellow professionals and learners from all over the world.

Students and professors alike report a great appreciation for E-Learning’s sheer convenience: being able to work anytime, anywhere.

The CONs of E-Learning Students and professors both dislike how impersonal online learning feels.

Many feel that online platforms do not lend well to promoting and showcasing creativity.

Students report sensing a lack of “trust” and overall supervision with E-Learning.

Students can easily cheat on online assignments.

Professors reporting feel constantly “on-call” for their students, especially given time differences.

E-Learning : What’s Working

Videos:

Students love videos that professors post and enjoy consuming more engaging and dynamic content.

Instant chat features:

Students want rapid responses and enjoy more informal discussions with their peers over messaging apps, like FaceBook or Slack.

Examples of previous (strong) student work: This helps motivates students by setting the bar high.

Professors extracting points/sentences from students’ work/submissions and highlighting them for the rest of the class: This makes students feel valued and adds personalization.

E-Learning What’s Not Working Discussion boards:

People express incredibly strong distaste for discussion boards and find them useless, confusing and uninspiring.

Fixed content:

Students crave freshness and flexibility.

PowerPoint-type presentations: Many find these boring and uninspiring.

03�

Framework

The people have spoken! And, we listened. Based on our vast collection of data from students, professors, parents, professionals and academia experts, here is what we have constructed as the ideal experience of E-Learning:

The ideal E-Learning experienc should be

SUPPORTIVE & OF-VALUE

SUPPORTIVE I am motivated by others. I want my E-Learning experience to feel like a nurturing and collaborative environment, not just a computer screen. I want my professors to care about me as a person, and I want my classmates to interact with each other. We should be connected.

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I don’t want to feel alone in this space.”

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Technology should function properly and improve my overall experience, not hinder it. Furthermore, E-Learning should support my lifestyle, providing convenience and comfort.

SUPPORTIVE

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Elearning(tech) Support life confort and convenience

personality showing??????

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I think there should be a focus on the challenge of building rapport with our online audience—how can I really show my personality through the computer?

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OF-VALUE My future success rests on the quality of my education. I am investing time and money into my online class, and I want the results to be worthwhile. I want my E-Learning experience to benefit my career, help me reach my long-term goals and allow me to give back to society in fruitful ways.

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Some E-Learning providers promote affordability with their programs; yet, I believe they are too pricey when compared to on-ground classes.

”

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I think E-Learning is increasingly used for self-directed learning, and students can only be successful when they devote a great deal of time to their classes.

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Course content should be

FRESH & INTERACTIVE

Course content should be

FRESH

I experience a lot of, what feels like, “canned content� in my E-Learning classes.

New trends, ideas and advancements are constantly emerging, and I want to see these things reflected in my online courses too. I appreciate professors who regularly update their materials and strive to keep things relevant, exciting and new for us students.

Quote From Prof.

Johm blablabla

Course content should be

INTERACTIVE

Studies show that attention spans are shortening (and I experience this too).

I want to see more content that requires our active and sustained engagement.

This goes beyond simply reading and calls for E-Learning to deliver real-time, relevant material (that I care about) in personalized and responsive ways. I want to be fully immersed in my online class. I feel that E-Learning has barely scratched the surface when it comes to exploring interactive, digital opportunities.

“E-Learning is one of the last horizons that ‘user experience’ has touched.”

Classmates should be

SOCIAL & SYNERGETIC

Classmates should be

SOCIAL

We are, by nature, social animals, and I want E-Learning to enhance this. Communication is a priority, and online classes really restrict our ability to ask questions and talk through issues, topics and ideas.

“The major difference between on-ground and online courses is getting to know the students. Being around them five hours per week is an advantage because I can pick up on their quirks and get a real sense of their personalities.�

“E-Learning cannot replace the value of getting to know classmates and professors personallythat’s the most meaningful part of education.”

“E-Learning is not community-centered, and I will be very antisocial if I only take online classes.�

Classmates should be

SYNERGETIC I often feel siloed when I am working on my online classes, and I think E-Learning lacks personal connections that are important for the collaborative aspects of education. Finding teams to work with online can be a huge burden, and I miss the kind of cooperative partnership that comes with a classroom.

“Teamwork, team-building and making friends with my classmates are valuable components of on-ground learning that E-Learning does not provide.�

“I prefer on-ground courses because in-person communication and socialization are key to forming good relationships and advancing education.�

Professors should be

INVESTED & RESPONSIVE

Professors should be

INVESTED

I am trusting my professors to equip me with the tools I need to be successful. As our leaders and mentors, they should create a class environment that enables us to thrive in our own ways. I want to feel like my educators are devoted to my wellbeing, committed to my growth and “here� for me on this journey.

*INSERT QUOTE FROM JOHN COEN *INSERT QUOTE FROM JOHN COLLETE ABOUT STUDENG TO BE SEEN

Professors should be

RESPONSIVE I am trusting my professors to equip me with the tools I need to be successful. As our leaders and mentors, they should create a class environment that enables us to thrive in our own ways. I want to feel like my educators are devoted to my wellbeing, committed to my growth and “here� for me on this journey.

Student-side:

Nothing kills my enthusiasm more than a professor who does not respond to me. I find it difficult to understand expectations and assignments, and communication is often strained. I would like my questions answered quickly and thoroughly so that I can confidently move forward with assignments.

Professor side: I provide my students with a cell phone number and email address, and I am surprised by how little they take me up on this opportunity for direct contact. I answer messages as quickly as possible, within 24 hours during the week and 48 hours over the weekend.

Virtual Classrooms should be

EFFICIENT ENGAGING HUMANIZED

Virtual Classrooms should be

EFFICIENT

I want E-Learning to help me maximize my productivity. It can be difficult to stay focused, especially when I’m not in a physical classroom, so I expect immediate solutions to my problems. I am extremely frustrated when the E-Learning software does not move as quickly as I am moving, due to bugs, technical delays and faulty connections. I need it to keep up with me and not slow me down.

“We think the platform should be a quick, transparent, straight-forward, intuitive process that allows professors and students to become immediately comfortable and familiar with the online class and its technology.�

Additionally, I always learn best from hands-on approaches.

Virtual Classrooms should be

ENGAGING

The future of technology is so attractive, yet E-Learning does not exude the same kind of sexiness and appeal. With so many cool technological tools at our disposal now, I want to see E-Learning capitalizing on interesting ways to engage students and professors alike. Right now, online classes are rigid, monotonous and boring.

They need “oomph� to draw me in and keep me captivated.

Virtual Classrooms should be

HUMANIZED

I love the community aspects of traditional education, and a lot gets lost when learning moves to an online platform. E-Learning feels entirely impersonal, and it does not teach me the soft skills, coping mechanisms, and problem-solving techniques that are so critical in the real world. We are sorely missing emotional learning from our virtual classrooms, and I am worried about how this affects us students when we emerge into the workforce.

“Right now, Students are treated as data, not humans.�

04”

Our Takeaways

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Overwhelmingly, people seem to want a much more connective, engaging E-Learning experience-- one that is both technologically advanced but still, at its core, very human. They want education that adds value to their personal and professional lives, and they appreciate the convenience and flexibility that online courses provide.

However, our data also showed some students pay services to finish their E-Learning courses for them, and they find it very easy to cheat on their online assignments. A few people expressed that online learning should be an “easier, less stressful� experience, and they simply wanted to attain a degree, rather than take the time to master the subject matter.

05�

Possible Opportunities

Based on our research, we have identified areas of opportunities that could lend well to filling E-Learning’s alleged holes. Between workshop topics, professional trainings and emerging tools on the market, there is unlimited growth potential in this space. We would be happy to discuss further, should you be interested in exploring these insights.

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Meet the Team

Alex moved to Savannah from Washington, D.C. to attain her master’s degree in Design Management at the Savannah College of Art and Design. With a background in journalism, she began her career producing reality television shows for networks like Discovery and Scripps. From there, she moved into the corporate world, where she helped design social impact programs and cross-cultural communications and engagement strategies for clients like Ford, MillerCoors and Carnival Corporation & plc. Alex enjoys staring lovingly at her dog, listening to TED podcasts and rap music, wearing flannel pajamas and going to Whole Foods.

Alexandra Cummings

Alexys Scoot

Anlu Zhao

David Lamm

Harrison He

Iren Liao

Referrence