HvA GrowSMART Tool invites teacher-researchers to professionally develop themselves, through reflective conversations and stay engaged and interested in their work.
Tools
Figma, Trello, Miro
Role
Product Designer
Timeframe
8 mos
Project Overview
Prologue
Problem Statement
How can we support teacher-researchers with a tool or concept to determine their next steps in their professional development towards research-related career paths?
Target Group
The target group is teacher-researchers, who are employees with both teaching and research tasks.
Team Structure
Lisa
Product Owner
Me
Designer
Sherifa
Storyteller
Frankie
Scrum Master
Marzi
Project Lead
Sola
Campus Liaison
My Responsibilities
Design
Designed all related digital and physical materials
User Research
Conducted user interviews and held focus group sessions
Insights
Analysed interview outcomes and created diagrams
Facilitation
Served as Scrum Master for one sprint and facilitated some sessions
Tool Impact
Exploration
Understand the Challenge
Exploration represents the phase of unpacking and attempting to understand the project challenge. It details the team's introduction to the project challenge, the partners and how we created concepts to support an in-depth comprehension of the presented challenge.
Sprint Goals
Ideation
Ideated on the assumptions that influence the challenge from the design team’s perspective.
Dark Side
Applied the Dark side methodology to examine plausible assumptions and prospective ideas of creating a conversational object.
Insights
Through multiple iterations, created “Assumption Boxes” to align the design team and partners on a common understanding of the problem.
How did we do it?
Through an interactive activity, 3 assumption boxes to our partner, all 3 representatives independently selected what assumption/fact was a priority that needed to be addressed and compared it in plenary.
Outcomes
At the end of this sprint, the design team and partners converged to a basic understanding on the needs of the partner.
User Research - First Phase
Sprint Goals
Our primary goal for this sprint is to take a deep dive into the experiences of Teacher-Researchers within HvA through in-depth research
Interviews - First Phase
5 Teacher-Researchers (TRs) were interviewed based on the following factors, informed by insights from our previous sprint.
Personal Background
Research Background
Co-creation
Evaluation
1st Translate Session
We explored our collective ideas and understanding of the problem, our priorities, and our provisional direction toward a solution. Using the insights and questions posed by the coaches, we were able to map out our next steps.
Dark Side Activity
Through this activity, we listed out all the problems associated with our challenge in a bid to have a collection of new creative ideas.
Literature Review
A collection of literature and documentation on HvA’s operational working (including competence) structure to the European competence framework for researchers.
Problem Tree
Drawing from literature reviews, the team mapped core problems as institutional challenges (the trunk) and practical problems as actionable solutions (the branches).
I created this tree using cardboard in the HvA Makers Lab with a special printer that can cut designed shapes on different materials.
Outcomes
Through our conversational object below, we were able to prioritize which challenges are feasible to address by the team within our given time frame.
User Research - Second Phase
Sprint Goals
Our primary focus was to consolidate our insight, gain a deeper understanding of stakeholder interests and challenges related to setting shared goals.
Interviews - Second Phase
We engaged with the partner to have an institutional outlook to the challenge. As part of the process we used the opportunity to validate our initial findings and initial draft of personas with our partner.
2nd Translate Session
We held a translate session with translation coaches to receive feedback on our priorities, our direction and the progress we were making on this project.
Focus Group
The team engaged a group of 7 teacher-researchers to explore their individual and collective motivations and pain points, which played key roles in the creation of our empathy and affinity maps (sample empathy map from one of our personas).
Personas
Based on insights from our research, we created 4 personas, 2 of which were approved by our partners as priorities and validated by some teacher-researchers. Here, you can find the pain points and needs of one of our personas.
Hi! I'm Alfred
My focus has been on research.
Hello! I'm Mira
My focus has been on both teaching and research.
Initial Prototype
Unexpected Twist
This sprint started with an unexpected twist in the direction of the research team. What we believed was the start of our solution (a digital hub space) was not in alignment with the needs of our partner.
With the existing Committee on Teaching and Learning (CTL) doing similar projects to what has been proposed by the team, we had to revisit the drawing board and think of other innovative ways to address this challenge.
The Hub
Our initial idea was to offer our partners a digital space “The Hub” that offers a space for collaboration and research and education themed co-creation and at the same time be a one stop space for tailored and structured information on research related opportunities and tasks.
Projects
Training &
development
Funding
information
Resources
Collaborative
spaces
Administrative
support
Evaluation
AI Assistance
Reassessing Needs
Following an internal review and in consultation with our partners, the team reassessed the needs of our target groups which altered our general research question and took another deep dive into the extensive research conducted over the past weeks.
Setting New Goals
We engaged with the partner to have an institutional outlook to the challenge. As part of the process we used the opportunity to validate our initial findings and initial draft of personas with our partner.
Prototyping
To design and deliver a draft prototype of a reflection tool.
Value Proposition
A proposed structure of a Hub and what its added value to the CTL will be.
Ideation
Ideate on a reflection or directional tool and its relevance to the personas.
Expert consultation
Conducted consultation and stakeholder engagement regarding the tool to align on needs, expectations, and deliverables. The team also held a co-creation session with internal experts to discuss the possible directions of the reflection tool.
Defining our Tool
We brainstormed on the applicable theories relevant to the creation of a tool that will offer reflection opportunities for Teacher-Researchers on their personal and professional growth and to support collaboration and evaluation.
User Experience
Generate a user-friendly and playable activity to facilitate the uptake of the tool.
Outcomes
By the end of this sprint, the team had extensively sought advice from internal and external coaches on the best ways to create a useful tool, which enabled us to achieve the following:
A finalized outline of the tool’s structure, components and flow of activities.
Generated initial designs of reflection cards, journey wheel and a potential placement.
A draft script of a playable script for our established a user-friendly navigation system.
1st Iteration
This is the first iteration of our product development.
Education
Research
Foundational
Intermediate
Advanced
Expert
Personal
Development
Personal Development
Personal development in applied sciences involves self-discovery and skill refinement. It includes exploring diverse interests, seeking new perspectives, and building connections with mentors and peers. Continuous learning and evolution are crucial for excelling in applied sciences.
Where on Growth Wheel do you stand? and What support do you need to advance?
What does personal development mean to you?
What skillsets/knowledge do you want to develop as a teacher-researcher?
What development opportunities are available for me within HvA based on your personal goals?
How might research-related tasks support my personal development?
Why a Doughnut?
The idea of creating a tool resembling a doughnut came to us during our literature review process. HvA TRs have a career wheel that focuses on various activities across five different scopes.
Evaluation & Refinement
Sprint Overview
We started to tidy up our solution. We focused on generating our primary scenarios for the tool and collecting as much feedback as possible as input towards improving it. The team also refined the themes-based questions for the reflection guide cards from Sprint 3 and gave our toolkit prototype an upgrade, all based on the invaluable feedback from both our internal and external stakeholders.
Sprint Goals
With our main goal being developing a user-friendly, workable and playable version of our reflection tool, we set our targets on the following sub-goals:
Improve Structure
Create a clear structure for cards, both design and content.
Better UX
Improved prototype with a better and more intuitive user experience.
Better Visuals
Enhanced visual design elements for a polished and professional appearance.
More Comprehensive
Expanded the toolkit, providing a more comprehensive resource for users.
Iterative Simulations
We conducted 2 co-creation sessions (1-on-1 and Group meeting settings) with our potential end users to interact with the prototype and collect their feedback.
The team engaged in a collaborative brainstorming session, seeking insights into what worked well, what could be improved, and where adjustments needed to be made.
Co-creation Feedback Sessions
The team held translation and feedback sessions with internal coaches where the use of the tool was simulated. This offered an opportunity for them to interact with the product based on which their feedback was incorporated into fine-tuning the tool ahead of the sprint review.
Enhanced Visual Design
Developing a Manual
We develop a manual for the tool with a detailed description of how to use the toolkit with detailed scripts based on the 3 primary scenarios where the toolkit is applicable.
Post-Reflection Template
Develop a post-reflection template that provides a plan for user feedback and data collation.
Upgraded Visuals
Upgraded the visuals of the designs of all components of the toolkit increasing the appeal and branding elements.
Redesigned Doughnuts
The growth doughnut serves as a visual aid for professional development. The left doughnut represents our base version, while the right one is the extended model.
Reflection Cards
The reflection cards serve as conversational guides and starters (conversational object).
Post Reflection Template
The post reflection template will serve as a space to document outcomes of every exercise and will be the basis for accountability in participant development process.
Outcomes
At the end of this script, we had an upgraded version of the product based on which we did a final sprint simulation with our partners at a sprint review.
Partners from HvA HR engaging with the tool in a simulated scenario involving a manager and 4 Teacher-Researchers.
Colorful Dot Stickers
Colorful dot stickers are used by each teacher-researcher to indicate their level of expertise in different areas. In a group session, each TR chooses one color, allowing the facilitator to understand each TR’s condition.
2nd Iteration
At this point, we reached the second iteration of our product.
Product Delivery
Sprint Overview
The past couple of months have been an intensive experience of design research but it has also been an incredible learning for the team and for our partners as well.
After a lot of demanding work, ideation, readjustment, innovation, and prototyping, we are at the final phase of the HvA Career Development Path project.
Sprint Goals
Following the success of Sprint 4, and to wrap up this project, our Sprint 5 goal was clear:
Final Prototype
We must finetune our prototype.
Documentation
Prepare and compile all documents pertaining to our project for handover.
Showcase
Prepare for our final showcase.
Co-Validation with Partner
Before and at the final sprint reviews, We conducted final checks on activity scripts, Post reflection template, manual on the use of the tool and general design of the toolkit.
Final Prototype
Together with our partner, we named our product HvA GrowSMART. The only change we made was reducing the size of the cards.
New Reflection Cards
We have redesigned our reflection cards based on the received feedback.
One-Page Manual
We prepared a booklet as the manual for HvA GrowSMART, but also created a simplified version for our showcase.
Final Iteration
At this point, we reached the final iteration of our product.
promotional materials
We recorded campaign videos, and through storytelling, we prepared materials for our showcase.
Outcomes
In finalizing this version, we ensured the toolkit not only offered valuable insights but also provided an exciting and fun experience. Together with our storyteller, we unveiled our hard work at the showcase and in the project space.
Showcase
Recap
