Kumu Connect
Kumu: Teacher in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
Designed an AI-assisted lesson generation tool for substitute teachers when unexpectedly covering a class.
This project is part of the the educational efforts of Ka Moamoa Lab, in collaboration with a K-9 Hawaiian Immersion Language School in Oahu, Hawaii.
The partnership focuses on enriching students' learning experiences through local Hawaiian language and culture (place-based education).
PROBLEM SPACE AND CONTEXT
01 Reframing Traditional UX Methods.
Throughout this project, we critically examine standard UX methods and learn from Indigenous scholars about appropriate research practices that elevate Indigenous knowledge systems, promote equity, and co-creation with the community.
02 User Problem
How can we help substitute teachers deliver culturally relevant Computer Science (CS) lessons, when unexpectedly covering a class, to ensure students’ continuity and meet HIDOE’s CS education requirements?
SOLUTION AND IMPACT OVERVIEW
Use Kumu Connect AI to generate plans and edit them using Document Editor that aligns with teachers' mental models.
FOR TEACHERS (USERS)
Teachers expressed this solution helps them save time, feel less stressed, and more equipped when creating sub plans.
“You guys listened! - it would take me at least an hour [to create one] for one day's worth of plans. That took 10 seconds. And if I'm sick, this would be amazing.”
FOR COMMUNITY & RESEARCH
We were able to gather our findings and give back to community based by successfully publishing an academic paper.
READ PAPER
DESIGN
We sketched our ideas and tested them with teachers to assess feasibility
We explored solutions to support substitute teachers. Concept 1, raised concerns about laptop accessibility and lesson prep time. Teachers favored Concept 2, a centralized communication platform for managing sub arrangements, and Concept 3, which helps save time and effort in preparing sub plans.
User Flow
FEEDBACK AND ITERATIONS
CHALLENGE 1
If a generated sub plan is the answer, what should be the question?
Teachers needed more guidance when providing prompts to generate the sub plan.
CHALLENGE 2
How can we improve sub plan layout to prevent confusion and misinterpretation?
The generated sub plan had 2 kinds of information. First, was the generated content and second was the pre uploaded teaching materials. But users reported this was unclear in the 1st iteration.
CHALLENGE 3
Changes in the AI edit pattern to suit the new layout.
Changes in the layout meant the AI design pattern would have to change to reflect this. Following the document editor layout allowed for the contextual presence of the AI pattern, as opposed to the AI edit being overlayed.
REFLECTION
1
Relationships and trust matter, both within the team and with our partner school. This foundation of trust and understanding was the bedrock of the project's impact.
2
There is a balance between breaking the grid in design and adhering to good design practices. Innovative design needs testing and refinement to ensure usability.
3
Identifying what is possible and available to build within the environment is as important as having a future vision. Understanding what can be integrated into existing systems is crucial, rather than introducing technology thar can be perceived as invasive.