World Usability Day 2015Megan Schwarz

Lifelong Learning in UX

“You sell your expertise, you have a limited repertoire. You sell your ignorance, it’s an unlimited repertoire.”

-Richard Wurman

@megan_schwarz

Learning is a process that leads to change, occurs as a result of experience and increases the potential for improved performances and future learning.

Ambrose, et al, How Learning Works

@megan_schwarz

Zone of Proximal Development

what I can do now

what I can do with guidance

what I can’t do yet

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Vygotsky

Where Do I Start?

@megan_schwarz

Methods for Continuous LearningREFLECT

UNLEARN

RELEARN

TEACH

VULNERABILITY@megan_schwarz

Methods for Continuous LearningREFLECT

UNLEARN

RELEARN

TEACH

VULNERABILITY@megan_schwarz

Process of Metacognition

ASSESSthe task

EVALUATEstrengths & weaknesses

PLANAPPLYstrategies

REFLECTand adjust if needed

MONITORperformances

BELIEFSabout intelligence and learning

Ambrose, et al, How Learning Works

@megan_schwarz

Assess the Task1.Do I understand the task?

2.Do I know what methods need to be applied to complete the task successfully?

3.If not, do I know how to discover new methods for completing this task?

ASSESSthe task

@megan_schwarz

Evaluate Strengths & Weaknesses1.What does this task require of me?

2.Do I have the skills necessary to complete this task?

3.If not, how can I get the help I need in order to accomplish this task?

EVALUATEstrengths & weaknesses

@megan_schwarz

Plan1.How much time do I have to complete the task?

2.What should I start doing first?

3.Do I have everything I need to succeed?

PLAN

@megan_schwarz

Monitor Performance & Apply Strategies1.Are my methods working towards solving this problem?

2.Am I applying these methods correctly?

3.Are there any other methods I should be considering that would work better?

MONITORperformances

APPLYstrategies

@megan_schwarz

Reflect & Adjust if Needed1.Is the cost of changing strategies part way through worth the gain?

REFLECTand adjust if needed

@megan_schwarz

1.Am I smart?

2.Is my intelligence gained or fixed?

3.Am I good at my job?

4.Am I a fast or slow learner?

Beliefs About Intelligence & Learning

ASSESSthe task

EVALUATEstrengths & weaknesse

s

PLANAPPLYstrategies

REFLECTand adjust if needed

MONITORperformanc

es

BELIEFSabout intelligence and learning

@megan_schwarz

Methods for Continuous LearningREFLECT

UNLEARN

RELEARN

TEACH

VULNERABILITY@megan_schwarz

“The kinds of nets we know how to weave determine the kinds of nets we

cast. These nets in turn, determine the kinds of fish we catch."

Eisner, Cognition & Curriculum Reconsidered

The Danger of the Known

@megan_schwarz

Knowledge Structure

Prior knowledge can be incorrect, insufficient, inactive or inappropriate(even in expert knowledge structures)

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Knowledge Gaps

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“I Don’t Know Yet”

@megan_schwarz

Methods for Continuous LearningREFLECT

UNLEARN

RELEARN

TEACH

VULNERABILITY@megan_schwarz

Go Back to the Basics

@megan_schwarz

Learn From OutsidersArchitecture

Writing

Education

Design

Engineering

Anything!

@megan_schwarz

Try New MethodologiesLearn from each other

Draw from other fields

Collaborate with non-UX team members

Adapt an existing method or make up your own

Great resource!

@megan_schwarz

Think Differently

@megan_schwarz

Take a ClassContinuous learning courses

Free online classes (e.g. Coursera)

Workshops, interactive sessions, lectures

@megan_schwarz

Methods for Continuous LearningREFLECT

UNLEARN

RELEARN

TEACH

VULNERABILITY@megan_schwarz

Give a Talk Putting together a talk is another kind of net, it will yield you new insight into your work and work process

@megan_schwarz

Forces you to make the unconscious, conscious

Mentor

Unconscious Incompetent

Conscious Incompetent

Conscious Competent

Unconscious Competent

Stages of Expertise

@megan_schwarz

Look to be Challenged

@megan_schwarz

Methods for Continuous LearningREFLECT

UNLEARN

RELEARN

TEACH

VULNERABILITY@megan_schwarz

“We’ve lost our tolerance for discomfort and vulnerability, but it’s where the

juice happens.”

Brene Brown

@megan_schwarz

Vulnerability Insecurity Shame

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Why?We have a strong desire to belong

Self-esteem acts as a measuring stick for how we think we are fitting in

Abrams, et al, The Social Psychology of Inclusion and Exclusion

@megan_schwarz

Correlation

Self-Esteem

Belonging

@megan_schwarz

Learning = Vulnerability

Embrace the discomfort

@megan_schwarz

Methods for Continuous LearningREFLECT

UNLEARN

RELEARN

TEACH

VULNERABILITY@megan_schwarz

Stop striving to be an expert UX designer

Start striving to be an expert learner

@megan_schwarz