Higher education is evolving, and with AI, personalized learning can be scaled to drive greater engagement and adaptability for all learners.
Role
Industry
Duration
My Role
As a UX designer focused on improving higher education, I used AI tools like ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity for rapid research, quickly identifying key pain points to shape an actionable, A.I-powered solution.
Following a user-centric approach, I turned insights into user personas, mapped screen flows, and iterated through sketches to high-fidelity UI designs, crafting an intuitive solution for both educators and students.
In a focused 3-week sprint, I used AI tools to fast-track research, design, and presentation, dedicating 5 hours daily to efficiently deliver an end-to-end solution for key challenges in higher education.
Existing Challenges
Student engagement: This remains a major challenge in higher education, where one-size-fits-all models overlook individual learning needs—leaving some students behind while others stay unchallenged.
Personalized learning: This is vital but hard to scale with limited instructor time. As enrollment drops and competition grows, true personalization becomes a key differentiator for higher education.
Educator's Workload: University educators face overwhelming workloads, forcing compromises between quality instruction and student support, ultimately impacting education standards.
Why A.I is the Solution
Personalized learning experience: A.I offers a unique opportunity to address these challenges by providing personalized learning pathways that adapt to individual student needs and circumstances.
Real time engagement: This innovative solution combines real-time engagement detection with personalized learning pathways to create a responsive educational environment that adapts to individual student needs.
Analyze Student cues: The system adapts in real time by analyzing student cues—facial expressions, voice patterns, and interactions—to enhance learning.
Persona Insights: Understanding Educators and Students
Educators
Goal: To enhance teaching, improve student outcomes, foster a positive environment, and allocate more time for research and professional duties.
Pain Points: Struggles with grading, diverse student needs, early intervention, and limited resources for personalized learning.
Needs: AI-driven system for personalized learning, progress tracking, and curriculum improvement.
Student
Goal: To succeed in the selected subject, achieve good grades, and graduate on time while balancing their academic, work, and personal life.
Pain Points: Struggles with grasping core concepts, staying motivated, managing exam anxiety, and navigating academic support.
Needs: Personalized learning and support, strong connections, and accessible materials.
Low Fidelity Wireframes
The low fidelity wireframes illustrate the typical interaction flow for students and educators using the personalized learning pathways feature.
High-Fidelity Mockups
The minimal, intuitive design offers clear affordance, helping educators track engagement, spot gaps, and plan effectively.
Final Outcome & Thoughts
Based on industry trends, APAES shows strong potential to transform higher education. Key data highlights include:
30% improvement in student learning outcomes with AI tutoring.
25% reduction in dropout rates via personalized learning.
32% increase in student engagement using adaptive tools.
70% less time spent on grading thanks to AI automation.
These statistics underscore APAES's capacity to enhance educational experiences by improving learning outcomes, boosting engagement, increasing retention, and streamlining educator workloads.
