Interactive Learning Pages
Role
UX Designer
Collaborators
Shauna Bybee
Company
McGraw Hill
Tools
Axure
Project Overview
In ALEKS Learning Mode, explanation pages provide an overview of specific topics before students tackle questions and offer guidance to help them reach the correct answer when they get stuck.
However, the long-standing complaint was that the explanation pages lack engagement. To meet this concern, a new model was proposed, allowing students to navigate through interactive steps to progress through the lesson content. These interactive learning pages would feature animations and feedback designed to enhance student engagement.
Project Goal
To develop an interactive learning page concept suitable for students from 5th grade to higher education, serving as an additional learning resource without replacing the current explanation pages.
The current learning page described as “flat” and “not engaging”.
Process
Content Design
Collaborated with the math content team to break down concepts into smaller portions, integrating visual and interactive elements.
Enhanced student engagement by incorporating opportunities for their input or interaction with the content.
Design
Transformed concepts developed by the content team in PowerPoint into prototypes using Axure.
Testing & Iteration
Tested the design concepts were tested for usability with 5th-12th grade students. A total of 6 participants were presented with both the current explanation pages and the interactive learning page concepts.
After reviewing both designs, students were asked to select words from Microsoft’s desirability toolkit to describe their experience with both designs.
Iterated on the design based on feedback from the usability testing.
Outcome
Students found the interactive learning pages to clearly communicate lesson content, though older students preferred the current explanation page for quick review purposes. Additionally, they desired the ability to skip through learning pages if they already knew the material.
Final Design
Lessons Learned
Students prefer content presented in smaller chunks as it feels less intimidating, even when conveying the same information.
When selecting methods to convey educational concepts, cultural sensitivity is crucial, as certain topics and images may not be appropriate or familiar across different cultures.
The solution may not always be a straightforward choice between option A or option B. Instead, it could involve a blend of both options or offering both to cater to different preferences.
Next Steps
Explore integrating more entertaining interactions and multimedia elements into the design, as these elements appeared to resonate well with students.
Conduct more tests with additional grade-level content to ensure the effectiveness of the new model across various educational levels.