InnovateEdTech sessions: Ed Jones & Caroline Thiriau

There were a number of fascinating and insightful workshops during last year’s Innovate EdTech conference. Here are two of the many excellent sessions that were recorded during the event.

In the first presentation by Ed Jones of Cambridge Assessment English you’ll get a peek into the intriguing world of User Experience (UX) and see how it impacts reading comprehension. Caroline Thiriau from Cambridge University Press gives a publisher’s perspective and explains how data analysis can enrich our understanding of online learning.

How UX helped me learn English

What if the only way you can learn more about your chosen discipline is through content in a foreign language? Fabricio Teixeira is a UX designer from São Paulo. As he developed his career in UX, he found that the lack of content available in his native language motivated him to learn a new one. We came across Fabricio’s story and asked him to repost it on ELTjam, as we felt it would be relevant for many of you, and we loved the combination of ELT and User Experience.

ELT video games

ELTjam LXD Session: Lindsay Clandfield and the game changers

ELT EdTech, if we use a video game metaphor, is like Pong. (Lindsay Clandfield)

Possibly the best quote on the state of ELT digital products ever. Lindsay was one of the four speakers that addressed the topic of Learner Experience Design (LXD) at our ELTjam Session on the 13th April. His 10-minute spot covered the growing influence of video games and the surprise survival of the fitness industry. Find out how Lindsay tied it all together…

Learner Experience Design

ELTjam LXD Session: Nick Robinson

On the evening of the 13th April, amidst the noise and tomfoolery of the 50th IATEFL Conference, we hosted an underground ELTjam Session on Learner Experience Design (LXD). We invited four speakers to share their thoughts on the subject, while the audience supped on craft ales. First up was our very own Nick Robinson. Here is his opening salvo from that night …

we need to talk about learner experience design

We need to talk about LX

Frustration, anger, confusion, boredom and repetition are all hallmarks of bad user experience (UX); unfortunately, they’re often hallmarks of language learning too, especially when it takes place digitally. But bad UX is not the only reason digital language learning products fail – sometimes it’s the content, sometimes it’s the pedagogy, sometimes it’s the lack of human interaction. Bad UX alone fails to address the complexities of language learning. We need to start talking about bad learner experience (LX). Bad LX could be defined in a number of ways, but at its most basic it’s this: not only did you fail to learn something; you had a horrible time trying.

ELTjam’s top 5 posts of 2015

As 2015 draws to a close, we look back at our most popular posts of the year. As ever, we’ve had some gems this year, so here’s your chance to make sure you haven’t missed out. And this year’s number one post was also the most-read ELTjam post ever.

So here, in reverse order, are the TOP 5 posts of 2015. Can you guess what #1 is?

product

It’s not about Content or UX, it’s about Product

Publishers often seem to struggle to look beyond content as the primary driver of their products, while for tech companies it’s often not much more than an afterthought. End result? Products that fall flat, create poor experiences and don’t live up to their full potential. How can we move towards a more unified product-driven approach?

Will your app win the next YUDU award?

There’s a steady stream of great new apps every week, so how do you decide whether an app is worth the space it takes up on a device? More importantly, how do students and teachers decide which apps should stay and which apps should go? Is there any absolute standard we can employ? Laura Summers reflects on the winners of the YUDU Design & Technology Awards