3. Prototyping

Introduction

Empathy mapping and frame-storming are incredible ways to start off your design process. What these two exercises help you do is to stretch your imagination and focus on the end-users you are designing for. Through the exercises you make explicit what you think is true about the world. What do you think are the needs of learners? What do you think should be addressed and how? What will motivate learners? At this point, all these thoughts about your design are still beliefs until tested and proven.

One option to test whether your assumptions were true of course is to run your design and do an evaluation at the end of the course or program. Indeed, you will learn valuable lessons for your next design. BUT, what if you were wrong and you have wasted time and resources on the wrong solution. Inspired by the lean start-up approach, we recommend prototyping as a practice to get feedback on your initial design assumptions and learn quickly to minimize risks!

Design skill

You will be able to test design assumptions using a prototype

Learn about it from the best!

Ideo is one of the pioneers in applying prototyping to design processes for human solutions. Check out their introduction to rapid prototyping here: http://www.designkit.org/methods/26

Interested to learn more? A course on prototyping is starting in March 2018: https://www.plusacumen.org/courses/prototyping

Examples of prototyping in Educate!

Teachers prototyping their designs for experience week

In the Experience Week run in Uganda in 2014 teachers prototyped project based learning activities designed by them! Many of them used a role play to demonstrate what the learners would experience and others used poster presentations to highlight key features. After these presentations, other teachers would give feedback and provide suggestions.

Kenya country team gives feedback on prototype of YBE

Early 2016, the Global Design Consultant presented key features of a new YBE module in Kenya to the team. Her presentation included key assumptions about the needs of fellows, a skills map and key delivery strategies.

How you can prototype too!

So how can a designer create a prototype? A prototype is a representation of key design features. This could be a skills map, a demonstration session, a short PowerPoint presentation illustrating the flow of a module, etc. This prototype is then presented to the team or end-users.

Before you develop your prototype, identify 3-5 core assumptions you want to test about your design. These should feature in your prototype.
Select a method to prototype (see video)
Create your prototype.
Create a platform to receive feedback, formulate key questions. Think about a team meeting, a focus group with end-users or customer interviews. Make sure to ask specific questions related to the design features you are bringing out in your prototype.
Draw lessons from the feedback to improve your design. Don't be afraid to tweak or even pivot your initial idea.

8 methods to test your minimal viable product - The Lean Playbook.mp4

Video on different ways of testing your Minimum Viable Product

Assessment #3: Think of a prototyping strategy for your current design

You will make a prototype for a new YBE assessment method. Follow the 5 steps above, using the discussion board as your platform to receive feedback.

What you will share on the discussion board:

3 design assumptions about your new YBE assessment idea.
A visual or written prototype
3 questions for your peers about the prototype (seeking their feedback)

Also review the work of 1 other peer:

Review their prototype
answer the three questions asked

After receiving peer feedback:

Draw lessons from the feedback provided.

Click on the frame below to enter the discussion board.

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