John Constant
MSC in User Experience and Service Design
Student Profile
With 12 years of experience in UX Design and Education, I have worked for one of the biggest companies in Ireland and spent several years abroad also. Now settled in Cork and working in eLearning, I am passionate about providing the best possible experience for users in all my designs. By simplifying design and the user experience my aim is to remove all barriers and distractions from my student’s ultimate goal of learning.
Project Overview
The "We All Learn Differently" project aims to break down barriers to accessibility and inclusivity in online education. By following Universal Design for Learning principles and incorporating the UX Design Institute’s seven design principles, this project has developed a set of guidelines to empower course creators, instructors, and designers. These guidelines equip educators with the tools and techniques necessary to create fair and equitable learning experiences for all students.
Background
"We All Learn Differently" is dedicated to equipping educators, designers, and developers with the knowledge and resources needed to create more inclusive and accessible online learning environments. Recognising that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities, learning styles, or backgrounds, this initiative integrates the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and user experience (UX) design. By combining these frameworks, "We All Learn Differently" empowers course creators and instructors to develop fair and equitable educational experiences that cater to the diverse needs of all learners.
Problem/Context
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically shifted education from traditional classrooms to online settings, presenting significant challenges such as technological barriers and maintaining student engagement. Despite these obstacles, educators adapted by implementing innovative online teaching methods like using interactive multimedia and virtual classrooms. While this period of change brought out the best in educators it also exposed some existing issues with online education, most notably issues with accessibility and inclusivity. Unfortunately, these issues remain today, with students still facing difficulties in engaging with online content. This project explores the potential of combining Universal Design for Learning and User Experience Design principles to address these challenges.
Solution
Universal Design for Learning promotes flexible learning experiences tailored to diverse needs, while User Experience focuses on creating intuitive, accessible, and enjoyable user-centred experiences. By integrating Universal Design for Learning and User Experience, educators can create more inclusive and effective online learning environments.
We all learn differently is a set of guidelines that provide actionable recommendations to enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and engagement in online education, ensuring that all learners can effectively participate in their educational journey.
For more information on these guidelines please visit https://johnconstant.github.io/wealllearndifferently/