FutureSkills Learning Platform
Developing a digital learning platform tailored for Vietnamese high school and university students, as well as educators, to enhance computing and digital literacy skills.
Overview
FutureSkills is a digital learning platform designed to equip Vietnamese high school and university students, as well as educators, with essential computing and digital literacy skills. Through interactive courses and hands-on projects, it fosters proficiency in coding, data analysis, and emerging technologies. With a user-friendly interface and industry-aligned curriculum, FutureSkills empowers learners to thrive in Vietnam’s digital economy.
My Role
In 2022, I collaborated with FutureSkills, an edtech company in Vietnam, to consult on product strategy and design the platform. In a blended learning mode, it offers online self-paced interactive modules and in-person instructor-led sessions.
I played a dual role in this project:
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Product Manager: Led market and user research, defined product vision, developed strategies and roadmaps, and planned platform features.
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UX Designer: Designed and tested wireframes and prototypes to ensure an intuitive user experience.
I worked closely with a UI designer to refine the visual aesthetics and collaborated with the CEO, operations team, and training team to align business requirements with user needs and consult on product directions.
Challenge
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As the first platform in Vietnam to blend online learning with in-person interactions, it required a unique approach to fit the local learning and teaching context.
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Vietnamese students and teachers have distinct ways of preparing for and engaging in lessons, which needed to be thoughtfully integrated into the design.
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The platform encompassed three distinct portals for student, teacher, and administrator, each requiring tailored user experiences and functionalities.
Approach
Research
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Analyzed global learning platforms with various models, including Coursera, EdX, Khan Academy, Thinkific, and Skillshare, to identify best practices.
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Collected requirements from operation and training teams.
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Carried out 1-on-1 interviews with teachers and students to identify their goals, challenges, and learning or teaching behaviors. Some key insights stood out
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Students commonly highlight key phrases, take notes directly in textbooks, and rely on Facebook groups or Zalo (a popular Vietnamese messaging app) for class communication.
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Teachers typically review course materials before lessons, take handwritten notes, and track student attendance in every class.
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Design
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Formulated product visions, user stories, main features and wireflows of each portal for student, teacher and educator.
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Created wireframes and prototypes to test with users.
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Inspired by MOOCs like EdX and Coursera, FutureSkills incorporates familiar features like course content navigation, discussion forums, and progress tracking. However, it also introduces unique interactive learning tools suited for Vietnamese teachers and students and its blended learning model, including:
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Hands-on coursework: Interactive exercises, such as drag-and-drop and matching, for active engagement.
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Smart reading tools: Highlighting and note-taking directly in online materials.
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Check-in tool: Recording students’ attendance in a lesson and across lessons
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Final Thoughts
User research is key to authentically bringing an idea into life, where lies innovation. While learning and teaching platforms are common worldwide, the local context and user behavior defines the distinct design.
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Testing & Iteration
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Conducted usability testing with students and teachers.
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Improved usability and removed redundant features such as a separate note-taking space.
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Teachers and students appreciated the discussion feature. However, its necessity was uncertain since they primarily relied on popular messaging platforms for class communication.