The UX in EdTech: Teachers and UX Teams Should Collab

This abrupt distance learning situation has heightened my awareness of the UX work done within the EdTech space. It seems to be crucial to the success of online learning programs. My current COVID-19 teaching experience has me pondering… Do most EdTech companies employ UX teams? Does the team collaborate with actual teachers, students, and parents very often?

I personally do not hear of talk between the UX and EdTech/Teacher world online, and certainly not at my campus. This does not mean it doesn’t exist, I just wonder where the conversation is occurring. I am fairly aware of Edu Twitter, and teachers talk constantly about their collective experience using EdTech tools with students and families, but I never hear UX terminology or categories being used.

I wonder how this gap could be bridged and how more teachers can be accessed for their rich knowledge on the UX of EdTech in the digital and physical classroom.

Teachers deeply desire to create meaningful learning experiences and in distance learning situations, we are intuitively concerned about the experience our students are having beyond our classroom walls. In reality, most teachers have a lot in common with UX designers and researchers when it comes to their lessons, assignments, and classroom culture. We are constantly evaluating or reworking our designs to create the best learning experience.

All of this to say that I am sure teachers and UX teams are collaborating somewhere, but I would love to see it occurring more publically, broadly, and regularly. What do you think? How can educators and UX teams come together more frequently? Do you know where this conversation is actively happening already? Please reach out because I am eager to hear your thoughts.

My conclusion: More teachers are needed in UX.