CASE STUDY

Transforming STEM Skills Learning Platform: A Case Study

BRIEF:

The client is an innovative online learning application developed by educational researchers to address critical gaps in foundational STEM skills for undergraduate students. The platform focuses on helping students build mastery in essential mathematical and scientific skills crucial for success in STEM courses. The application targets a wide range of students, including those from Historically Black Institutions, students with less STEM preparation, and students with disabilities, aiming to improve their cognitive learning abilities and fundamental skill fluency.

CHALLENGE:

The client's learning platform faced significant usability and user experience challenges that hindered its effectiveness and adoption:

Cluttered and outdated user interface that failed to engage students
Difficult integration with existing course management systems
Limited support for student self-regulation and progress tracking
Complex account setup process for students and instructors
Inconsistent design across different application sections
Minimal features for student motivation and performance visualization
Lack of intuitive navigation and streamlined task flows
Insufficient support mechanisms for students encountering difficulties
Limited accessibility across various devices and screen sizes

These challenges prevented the platform from fully realizing its potential to improve students' STEM skills and create a positive learning experience.

APPROACH:

To address the comprehensive challenges, dreamworx conducted an extensive research and design intervention:

1. Goals and Objectives Study

Analyzed the core mission of improving STEM student skills
Mapped out detailed objectives for student skill development
Identified key performance indicators for learning outcomes

2. Stakeholder Interviews with Professors

Conducted in-depth interviews with key stakeholders
Captured insights from instructors across multiple institutions
Explored pain points in current application usage
Gathered detailed requirements from educational professionals

3. Competitive Study and Benchmark Analysis

Researched competing platforms like ALEKS, Brilliant.org, and iXL
Analyzed best practices in educational technology
Identified unique value propositions of top learning platforms
Benchmarked user experience and feature sets

4. User Research through Interviews

Conducted comprehensive interviews with students
Mapped user personas across different STEM disciplines
Analyzed student learning behaviors and challenges
Explored motivational factors in online learning platforms

5. Heuristic Evaluation

Systematically reviewed existing application interface
Identified usability issues and design inconsistencies
Assessed compliance with educational technology best practices
Developed detailed recommendations for improvement

6. Task Flow Diagram

Mapped detailed user journeys for students and instructors
Simplified complex interaction processes
Identified opportunities for streamlining user experiences

7. Conceptual Flow Diagram

Created holistic visualization of platform interactions
Designed intuitive navigation pathways
Ensured logical progression of learning activities

8. Responsive Application Design

Developed wireframes for mobile and desktop applications
Ensured consistent experience across different devices
Focused on intuitive, accessible design principles

9. User Interface Design

Created clean, engaging interface design
Implemented responsive design for various screen sizes
Developed visually appealing learning environment

10. Iterative Design

Designed comprehensive dashboard for student progress
Created intuitive test module with clear navigation
Developed analytics pages for detailed performance tracking

SOLUTION:

The redesigned platform successfully addressed the initial challenges by:

Implementing a clean, intuitive user interface
Simplifying integration with course management systems
Enhancing student motivation through visual progress tracking
Streamlining account setup and assignment processes
Developing responsive design for multiple devices
Creating comprehensive support mechanisms
Introducing features for student self-regulation
Improving overall user experience for both students and instructors
Developing a flexible, scalable platform for STEM skill development

The solution transformed the client's platform from a cluttered, difficult-to-use application to a sophisticated, user-centric learning platform. By focusing on student needs, intuitive design, and comprehensive feature set, the platform now offers an effective tool for improving STEM skills across diverse educational contexts.

Ready to Elevate Your Lean UX App Design

Our proven expertise in Lean UX methodologies can transform your application experience. Our structured approach combines user research, iterative prototyping, and data-driven design to deliver intuitive, human-centered solutions. Contact reachus@dreamworx.in to discover how we can optimize your app's usability, engagement, and business impact through strategic Lean UX design.