Preliminary Empathy Research

I was able to fill out several discover datasheets while observing the elearning facilitation workshop. There were two in particular that I included at the bottom. 

What did you learn from completing the Discover Datasheet?

• I've received feedback from learners over some items in the course, so I was aware of those. However, I was able to take a more critical look at the content and environment in general when using the datasheet as a lens. I asked myself if there were any problems, needs, or goals in each module.

What surprised you?

• I'm very familiar with the course so I wasn't too surprised with any of my findings except the technology requirements need.

What surprised your client?

• My client wasn't really surprised with any of the findings since they participated as a student.

Identifying a Learning Environment to Apply LEDx

The project I've chosen is the redesign of the elearning facilitation workshop.

I've selected this project because the facilitation workshop is the first experience of elearning that most instructors have. This is an important foundation in teaching online as well as designing online courses.

The workshop covers communication practices, managing content, feedback & assessments, engagement, and practical applications.

The LEDx framework will be very useful in aligning the  content and helping us define our goal for facilitation. Also, the empathy research will be instrumental in helping us look at the course from the learners' perspective.

Client Empathy Discover Datasheet

For this assignment, I observed my colleague, Brett. His office is right next to mine so I talk with him daily. Though I typically see his office everyday, it was interesting to view it from a different perspective. His office is always clean and tidy. What I like about the office is that it's professional yet comfortable. There is art decorating the walls as well as family photos. He is a huge Dr. Who fan and there are a few Dr. Who items in his office that I've never noticed before until now.

Brett has created a space that is his own and shows off his personality but remains very professional.

Empathy Research with Discover Datasheets

For this assignment, I did my empathy research over the elearning facilitation workshop for faculty. I observed the most recently taught course. There were multiple instances of learner feedback and I was able to observe and document a problem in the learning environment. My Discover Datasheet is below.

I was actually surprised that this discussion policy would be an issue with the learners as most instructors I work with have this same policy in their courses. I understand the reasoning behind this policy from the faculty side but it was interesting to see their perspectives as students and how the two differ. It would be interesting to see if these instructors implement this requirement in their courses and what the outcome would be.

Client Discovery Focus Board

The focus board I created was for an instructor I am currently working with. We just finished his ADA checklist for his course, and he wanted to know how to take a proactive approach for creating an ADA compliant online learning environment in the future.

The instructor, Steph Rogers - CeCE's ADA specialist, and I met via a conference call.

The conference call was held in my office.

Getting Focused - First Focus Board

For my focus board, I chose a project I am currently working on - redesigning the eLearning Facilitation Certification Workshop.  This assignment really helped me with reevaluating the course goal. Once that is established, the next step is to determine if the content/assignments are right for that desired outcome.

Discover Interview Reflections

In my position, I don't have many opportunities to see the end product of courses. I work with instructors to design online courses so any opportunity to gain student feedback is limited. However, I recently had the opportunity to observe an online course that is currently being taught. I was quickly able to gain empathy with the learners by a number of ways.


Always the Student

When I first accessed the course, I went through the assignments and content as I would if I were a student. I gained first hand knowledge of the learning environment this way. I made a list of any confusing elements I saw so that I could reference those if brought up by any student.

Fly on the Wall

I observed the interactions between the students and the instructor.

Feedback

I saw that many students had left feedback in the course Q&A. I asked questions regarding whether those concerns had been addressed.

This was a unique experience for me. Though the experience of the learner is always in the back of my mind, I typically work with instructors and they are the ones who I first gain empathy with. It's a juggling act at times; you want to please your client, however, the learner experience is ultimately the goal in this process. Being able to see student feedback in this live course really reminded me of this.