Making the training more engaging with downloadable resources

The problem

Feedback from previous sprints had highlighted that users were interested in more interactive elements in the training to help them feel more engaged.

We learned from users that they wanted:

ways to put their learning into practice
to share useful outputs with their colleagues
to be able to feel challenged and have take-aways
to print parts of the training for later or offline study

Users had previously suggested we could explore things like interactive glossaries and scenario based activities.

Our approach

We held a general ideation to explore the theme of engagement and interactivity, one of our hypotheses was to introduce downloadable resources in the training. However, there were many ways we could approach it.

Ideation workshop

We ran an ideation workshop with the team and our policy colleagues to explore what downloadable resources we could explore adding, and what we would like the aims of the resources to be.

We decided that downloadable resources:

should supplement and complement the learning
enable practical application of techniques
to enable learning between practitioners

We sketched some potential ideas and voted on the ones we were most confident met user needs and met the principles we had decided on as a team.

Some of the themes were:

activities that complemented the learning
printable versions of the training content
key takeaway hand-outs
diagrams
step-by-step guides

We would convert the top voted ideas into low-fidelity prototypes to continuously refine and iterate.

Prototyping

Low fidelity prototypes

We initially used LucidBoard to create low-fidelity throwaway prototypes. It meant we could create many versions rapidly and focus on progressing the ones we were most confident with. A diagram of a brain that has empty labels to show each part of the brain A worksheet that has sections for someone to reflect on their learning, things they can talk to a manager about, and an action plan to fill in Two activity cards, one shows a set of tasks to complete in a setting, and the other is a reflective activity

Mid fidelity prototypes

We shared the prototypes regularly with the team to get feedback. We applied feedback and then iterated the prototypes into a higher fidelity. A detailed activity sheet with a picture of a brain with empty labels for someone to fill in A learning log activity sheet, with a space to write what you have learned, a space for writing notes from a meeting with a manager, and a space for an action plan A set of cards with different activities for someone to try. Such as suggestions for things to do in a setting, and questions for someone to answer

Feedback to apply for high fidelity prototypes

The feedback we had to consider for our final prototypes was:

settings are likely to need to conserve colour ink for printing, so avoid large splashes of colour
use less child-like imagery
avoid large images as they're unnecessary and will be ink-hungry

High fidelity prototypes

Resources

We took 4 different resources into testing. A diagram of a brain that has empty labels to show each part of the brain and a section asking to write down a fact about brain development A page detailing 5 key learnings from module 2 A learning log activity sheet, with a space to write what you have learned, a space for writing notes from a meeting with a manager, and a space for an action plan A set of cards with different activities for someone to try. Such as suggestions for things to do in a setting, and questions for someone to answer

On-page design

We also had to design a place for the resources to sit on the page. Originally, we hypothesised that the accordion component would work well. After we decided we would keep further reading at the end of a module as to not distract users from the core learning, and that we would likely include 1 or 2 resources in the new section; we decided to expose the resources at the bottom of the page instead.

For the design of this section, we adapted the pattern used by gov.uk to display documents on a page. A part of a webpage showing a paragraph of text about the brain, and a separate section for learning resources, with a worksheet to download

How it tested

2 out of 4 participants positively reacted to the diagram activity sheet
2 out of 4 participants found the thumbnail design in the resources section useful
3 participants said they would use the diagram worksheet
3 participants said they would print out the worksheet
All participants were able to download the key takeaways resource with ease
Overall, the key takeaways resource was positively received by participants
Generally, participants liked the flashcards resource
3 participants appeared to have a good idea of what to expect when clicking in to the learning log worksheet

Next steps

We need to develop the resources further before adding some into the service
We need to understand how we will validate interactions when they are live
We need to think about improving the mobile experience for users downloading resources
We need to consider the most inclusive file types for the resources

Other manuals

Standards and assurance

Working in DfE

The problem

Our approach

Ideation workshop