Learning and User Experience Designer
Introduction to Birding
mLearning module
Designed with beginners in mind, this interactive module was created to initiate an interest in bird watching.
Overview
Problem to solve: Bird populations are in decline. Promoting hobbies like bird watching can increase awareness of changes in the environment and potentially reduce habitat loss.
Audience: Adults curious about bird watching but not sure where to begin.
Tools Used: HowToo
Budget: $0
​I structured the module around a few simple learning objectives and an overarching theme.
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Inspired by friends who became interested in bird watching during the pandemic, I developed a module to demonstrate my course design, development, and implementation skills.
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I chose HowToo because of the platform's minimal cost and ability to design interactive content on multiple devices. Although the platform has limited customization ability, I was able to incorporate interactive and visually appealing content. A strength of HowToo's platform is the integration of accessibility features, therefore I can confidently publish my project knowing that it will be inclusive for a broad set of users.
Process
While creating this module, I used a condensed version of the ADDIE framework.
Analyze
After gathering data from interviews with potential users, I identified the following needs for this project:
People want a hobby that gets them outdoors.
People felt intimidated by bird watching because there are many different species and birds tend to move quickly, making observation difficult.
Bird watching is a mobile hobby, thus the module needed to be mobile-friendly.
Design
I storyboarded my idea in Google Slides and outlined the text for each block in the module. For each block, I highlighted how the content aligned with the learning objectives and the corresponding assessments.
My goal for the assessments was to make them formative and interactive. In this way, users could feel engaged and challenged while participating in low-risk, confidence-building exercises.
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An important part of my design process is the conclusion or, in this case, the wrap-up. Adapted from my environmental education experience, I created a three-part wrap-up that includes a thank you, an invitation, and a challenge. This versatile portion is multifunctional:
The thank you makes the learning experience more personal.
The invitation and challenge portions can be used as a tool to measure the module's efficacy (e.g. number of clicks per link, rate of users that engage with challenge)
The challenge and invitation portions help meet the needs of advanced users who want to deepen their learning experience.
Development
The HowToo platform has an integrated storyboard which allowed me to move blocks around as needed. During this phase I focused on structuring the birding module around the 5E Model, which helped me determine the appropriate content delivery methodology:
Engage - Hook learners by establishing a purpose and accessing prior knowledge.
Explore - Learners can use the interactive elements of the module to discover at their own pace.
Explain - Portions of the module are structured to explain concepts at a high-level to the learner. From here the learner can return to exploration or move on to more detailed elaboration.
Elaborate - Users can extend their knowledge and connect their new learning back to their own lives.
Evaluate - Ultimately, the learner needs to reach learning objectives and the module needs to meet project goals. Embedded engagement checks collect data on user reaction and learning. The wrap-up portion collects data on user behavior and results.
Implement
Implementing this birding module was challenging because I aimed to exclusively use HowToo's free version. Full implemention of this module could be achieved using a separate Learning Management System (LMS) such as Moodle or HowToo's integrated LMS.
I utilized user testing to optimize the delivery methodologies with respect to the needs of the intended audience. During user testing I gained an understanding and appreciation of the advantages of more powerful authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline and Adobe Captivate.
Evaluate
All this work means nothing unless it achieves measurable outcomes. In practice, I would use Kirkpatrick's Training Evaluation Model to evaluate the birding module:
Reaction
Based on my user testing, I found that learners stayed engaged throughout the module and were pleased with the visual appeal that the platform provided. In the future, I could provide an informal survey (like a smile scale) to measure the learner's reaction to the module.
Learning
The interactive questions allow me to measure learning based on the objectives stated at the beginning of the module. The multiple choice questions allow for quick evaluation while the short response questions provide additional insights around the learner's progress.
Behavior
How can we measure a user's post-module engagement with birdwatching? One way is to send a survey a few weeks after the learner used the module that explicitly asks whether they've continued bird-watching. Another possibility is to integrate this module with birding apps like eBird or Merlin. Through the use of the data collected in these apps, one could determine if the learners are continuing to bird-watch.
Results
As stated in the Problem section, the birding module aims to generate a positve environmental impact. This is difficult to measure, especially if the birding module was released in the absence of a partner organization such as a zoo or park system. However, if the module was factored for launch in coordination with a partner organization, data could be collected on whether the learner donates to the organization or signs up for a volunteer position.
A note about ADDIE:
I chose to write about my design process using this framework because it allowed me to clearly explain each step of my process and break down my reasoning. In reality, my process is more iterative than the framework suggests. One could argue, based on the information provided that a SAM or Agile framework is a more appropriate representation of what I did. I am open to using a variety of frameworks depending on what works best for the team and for the product.