MyHKS

The Design Process.

Problem Statement

Personally, I’ve always been inspired of design teams working for various Online Learning Platform Firms. Also I myself am a regular user of online learning platforms. Fourth of my skills have been learned from online courses. But not everyone, as I have, have benefited from it. That’s because there’s a gap in the experience that people have when they learn online compared to physical class learning.

Understanding the Problem :

1. It is difficult for first time users to maintain their courses in a reasonable wat.

2. Existing users don’t generally search on the same site for their next course.

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Research

Methods : Userinterviews, Market reviews, Competetive analysis

>>User Interview

I’ve interviewed 10–15 people, ranging from people who have no experience in using the paid learning platforms to frequent users.

• Users are often laid back or ineffective in completing their courses.
• Often video lectures don’t meet the standard demonstrated in the demo.
• Majority users find it pointless if they can’t measure their progress.
• The majority of users are not recommended as to what course to take next.
• Users also struggle by using third party apps to take screenshots / note down what they’re studying for future reference.
• Users feel that they mightn’t seem connected to other users / mentors.

The above were the key issues I could identify from pre-user research. Users also often get in situations when two courses with the same reviews and equally effective demo confuse the user. After the student completes the course. Users would like to have the right path to follow or the next course of the same field. For future references, users usually keep a journal and write relevant sections and images which is the least comfortable way. These lead to Increasing number of users moving to other sites. Also there has been a declining number of subscribers by failing to gain first impression of trust.

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>>Current landing page from other insitutions Analysis

Of the same top few platforms for learning online. I conducted a competitive study that allowed me to understand their business model. For example lading page layout, user flow, accessibility of content etc.

>>Synthesise : Evaluate & Analyse -

Unlike classroom classes, they are always available to watch. Users like to interact with people from around the corner for collaboration and perform guided activities. Users get confused by the platform with too many options. Online learning platform courses affect not only users with consumed knowledge, but also the possibility of building network collaboration and project development to create user confidence. Users want to receive updates about deals and reminders. Users want a functionality that can replace notes physically. Also if users realize that the course is not reflected by the demonstration, they cancel a course.

Challenges to Success

• Create the home that takes into account users based on both search usability and the category.
• Create a built-in, personalized reminder to enable users to complete their courses.
• Enable users to collaborate and network on the platform.
• Help users on picking the best course from many positively reviewed courses.
• Help users make digital notes of whole course for future reference.

The findings of my survey showed that a variety of people had specific needs. The compilation of various observations and specific trends extracted from feedback from the users allowed me to construct three personas that explain such details in a common character

‍My Proposed Solution

>>Developing Design Principles

Takeaways from user research and stakeholder interviews inform the design principals moving forward:

• Stay close to the platform(Harvard Kennedy School), keep HKS’s vision in mind.
• Design for Engagement, understanding that hierarchy of trust before engagement.
• Build what’s useful, time is a resource for our users .

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High-Fidelity Wireframes

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