User experience (UX) in LXD. The growing complexity and interconnectedness of our now global society has challenged the effectiveness of traditional education systems. The traditional system is designed for the needs of the industrial era. The old model was built upon the idea that a worker his job was to apply the basic skills they had learned. To be successful now and in the future we need to go beyond that—and teach people how to learn, engage, and create. As Einstein said, ‘We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.’ The new model is about the constant creation of knowledge and empowering individuals to participate, communicate, and innovate.
UX in LXD
I believe that human-centered methodologies and multi-disciplinary teams bring solutions to education. We need to design learning (tools, environments and curricula) that enables more engaging learning experiences (LX). That’s why it is time to use user experience (UX) data to create a valuble LX.
Learning is a personal process. I want to keep the learning design process creative and consider the individual aspects of every experience. When people talk about curriculum they are usually talking about instructional materials. With all the new learning opportunities, like; projects, adaptive learning, simulations and games, I like to think in terms of learner experiences. Learned from software development and design: a user experience (UX) involves a person’s behaviors, attitudes, and emotions about using a particular product, system or service. For instructional designers it is useful to consider the experience when contemplating learning progressions and environments.
LXD
Learning experience design (LXD) is the process of ‘co-create the educational vision’ by serving as a translator between stakeholders. It’s not enough for us to understand teaching and learning, we need to make sure that technologists, project managers, content experts, and writers can be effective in their work by having a complete understanding of all other aspects of the LX.
Based on research there are 8 design principles that can serve as pin-points in a natural learning approach:
– whole-brain learning is best (no more right vs. left);
– novelty and necessity are great motivators;
– stories make learning more memorable;
– emotions play a huge role in students’ success;
– social interactions support learning;
– memory exercises make learners more aware;
– providing many routes to the ‘right answer’ inspires more
creativity;
– simple, intuitive tools engage learners best.
context and flow
Teacher must understand how to create the connections for the learner. To be successful in this you must know that context and flow are key to a quality LX for students. They encourage relevance and immediate application whenever possible. In a LX students are able to choose their own adventure and are free to experiment and fail. The fun approach helps students understand.
A great LX is not just about content or pedagogy, it is about every single element of the educational environment or product working in harmony and in service to the learner’s needs.
