Call to Action: Apply the principles of Experience Design (XD) to your educational projects. Identify key “pain points” and “pleasure points” in the student journey, from home to school to after-school activities, and brainstorm ways to optimize these experiences for improved student outcomes. Understand the 7 strands of the ‘Learning Ecosystem’ and how the intertwined nature of those strands should be investigated to elevate student experiences through careful choreography and design. By Including the students’ voices, we’ll be better able to create experiences that work for ALL students Understand how these findings can help us rethink how, when, and where learning happens including the learning environments. We will share answers from students and insights to key questions in each of the 7 strands of the Learning Ecosystem to create a full picture of student experiences (before, during, and after school) from a very diverse cross-section of student populations.

Abstract: Explore the nuanced connections between students’ home life, school experiences, and post-school activities through the lens of Experience Design (XD). This presentation delves into the findings of surveys conducted among high school students from 3 North Carolina Institutions: Palisades High School (Public), Charlotte Lab School (Charter), and Providence Day School (Independent) shedding light on their habits, behaviors, and motivations impacting performance and engagement. By analyzing the journey from before-school routines to after-school activities, we’ll uncover signature moments for improvement, informed by real data. Celebrating the unity and collaboration of diverse perspectives, we will explore the data within the multifaceted Learning ‘Ecosystem’ framework and its 7 intricately woven strands: Safety, Community, Wellness, What Students Deserve, Brain-based Learning, Immersive Learningscapes, and Regenerative Design. Connecting back to the Conference Theme of “Success of Education”, success cannot be achieved until we truly listen to students’ POVs. Join us as we define XD, dissect survey results, and map key insights to reimagine learning environments that elevate student outcomes and satisfaction. Through interactive polling and collaborative brainstorming, participants will leave empowered with fresh ideas to enhance their own process leading educational projects, and contribute to the collective mission of transforming the educational landscape.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain a clear understanding of Experience Design (XD) methodology and its application in the context of education.
2. Define XD and explore how it can be used to improve student and teacher experiences in learning environments.
3. Learn how to analyze survey results effectively, specifically focusing on insights gathered from surveys conducted among North Carolina high school students from 3 very diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and academically different institutions.
4. Explore key observations and trends including safety, health, and full wellness insights.
5. Develop the skills to map insights derived from survey data onto the student experience journey emphasizing safety, health, and full wellness questions.
6. Understand the process of insight mapping and its significance in identifying opportunities for improvement in education outcomes.
7. Explore key insights from survey findings and identify opportunities to translate these insights into impactful design strategies for future learning environments with safety, health, and full wellness in mind.
8. Discuss potential areas for innovation and improvement based on survey results and collaborative brainstorming.